The IFCN welcomes new applications to its Code of Principles beginning Jan. 16, 2024. Our website is currently under renovation, so new signatories should begin the application process by emailing their interest to info@ifcn.org with "New Signatory" in the subject line.

Chequeado

Organization: Chequeado
Applicant: Martín Slipczuk
Assessor: Ramón Salaverría

Background

Active since 2010, Chequeado is a very consolidated Argentinian fact-checking organization. It complies with all the standards required by IFCN. 

Assessment Conclusion

Chequeado complies with all the requirements of the IFCN Code of Principles. The overall recommendation to the Board is to renew their accreditation one more year.

on 14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago)

Ramón Salaverría assesses application as Compliant

A short summary in native publishing language

Activa desde 2010, Chequeado es una organización argentina de fact-checking muy consolidada. Cumple con todos los estándares requeridos por IFCN.

Section 1: Eligibility to be a signatory

To be eligible to be a signatory, applicants must meet these six criteria

  • 1.1 The applicant is a legally registered organization, or a distinct team or unit within a legally registered organization, and details of this are easily found on its website.
  • 1.2 The team, unit or organization is set up exclusively for the purpose of fact-checking.
  • 1.3 The applicant has published an average of at least one fact check a week over the course of the six months prior to the date of application. For applicants from countries with at least 5 or more verified signatories need to have at least a fact check a week over the twelve months of publishing track. Consult to factchecknet@poynter.org for confirmation.
  • 1.4 On average, at least 75% of the applicant’s fact checks focus on claims related to issues that, in the view of the IFCN, relate to or could have an impact on the welfare or well-being of individuals, the general public or society.
  • 1.5 The applicant’s editorial output is not, in the view of the IFCN, controlled by the state, a political party or politician.
  • 1.6 If the organization receives funding from local or foreign state or political sources, it provides a statement on its site setting out to the satisfaction of the IFCN, how it ensures its funders do not influence the findings of its reports.

Criteria 1.1
Proof you meet criteria
Please explain where on your website you set out information about your organization’s legal status and how this complies with criteria. Attach a link to the relevant page of your website.

Chequeado
10-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

Our legal documentation and accounting balances can be found at https://chequeado.com/rendicion-de-cuentas/. This section also includes how we make our decisions in terms of strategy and investing the resources we collect. 

Files Attached
picture_as_pdf LVP-Estatuto.pdf (1 MB)
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

As it can be read in their 'About us' page (Conocenos), the Argentinean organization Chequeado self-defines as "a non-governmental, non-profit, non-partisan organization which mission is to contribute to improving the quality of public debate to strengthen the democratic system" (asessor's translation). Besides fact-checking, the applicant also develops education and innovation programs, willing to "contribute to improving the quality of public debate to strengthen the democratic system." Active since October 2010, it is a legally registered organization bound to Fundación La Voz Pública. 


done_all 1.1 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 1.2
Proof you meet criteria
Please answer the following questions – (see notes in Guidelines for Application on how to answer)

 1. When and why was your fact-checking operation started?
 2. How many people work or volunteer in the organization and what are their roles?
 3. What different activities does your organization carry out?
 4. What are the goals of your fact-checking operation over the coming year?

Chequeado
10-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

1. Chequeado was launched in 2010, founded by three Argentines (Julio Aranovich, José Bekinschtein and Roberto Lugo) with the aim of contributing data to the public debate, at a moment when the polarization already made it difficult for citizens to access unbiased information. At that time, also, the public statistics office (INDEC) was intervened and did not publish trustworthy statistics on a series of subjects. There were very few fact checking organizations at that time, but they served as an inspiration to the founders and the first staff at Chequeado. Among them were FactCheck.org and Politifact from the United States, Channel 4 News Fact Check from the United Kingdom, and Les Décodeurs from France. Over the years, Chequeado has gone beyond the journalistic and fact checking work, which is still at its heart, and also developed an innovation program, an education program and an impact and new initiatives program. Its aim is to provide reliable and relevant data on public debate subjects so that citizens can have easy access to the information. It regularly publishes fact checks (since 2010) and debunks (since 2014) as well as journalistic pieces in other formats that help provide evidence for citizens' decision making, such as explainers.

2. There are 39 people working directly in the organization. There are 5 main directive roles (Executive and Journalist Director, General Director, Director of Impact and New Initiatives, Director of Administration and Management, and Director of Institutional Communication), as well as 5 chiefs of the different areas (Media, Education, Human Resources, Innovation and Communication). There are also 8 fact-checkers, 4 people working on fundraising and administration, 4 developers working on product development, 4 education specialists, a community manager, a video editor, a communication assistant, an executive director assistant, a project leader, a designer, a coordinator of investigation, a coordinator of new projects and analyst of new projects. There are also consultants that collaborate with the different projects, such as audiovisual producers, designers and journalists.

3. Chequeado conducts journalistic work, as well as an educational program to stimulate critical thinking, an innovation program to experiment with new formats with greater impact and develop automatization tools for fact checking and also an impact and new initiatives program to rigorously evaluate the different projects it undertakes.

Each program carries out different activities that usually also involve the rest of the areas at some point. Some of these projects led by them are:
- Media: fact checking of public figures, dubunking of viral contents, data journalism, explicative journalism, investigative journalism and promise tracking.

- Education: courses for journalists, content and training on media literacy and critical thinking for teenagers and teachers, and training for media practitioners.

- Innovation: automatization of fact checking processes, design production, new formats development and data visualizations

- Impact and new initiatives: impact measurement, academic research, special projects management and coordination of LatamChequea.

The organization also produces research on fact-checking and several platforms oriented to improving access to information. They can be found in https://chequeado.com/proyecto/

4. There are many goals for 2022-2023. Some of the most relevant are:

- Lead wide alliances in Argentina with media organizations in order to limit the spread of disinformation, specially during the 2023 elections.

- Strengthen collaborative work with LatamChequea.

- Develop new editorial and narrative products to reach new audiences and strengthen the role of Chequeado as a watchdog to hold public figures accountable, and fight dis-misinformation.

- Advance the process of fact-checking automation.

- Develop new educational innovation initiatives to impact thousands of teenagers in the field of media literacy and journalists.

Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

Chequeado has presented information on all aspects requested to qualify this criterion as compliant:

1. The year (2010) and the reasons why this fact-checking operation started.

2. The amount of people (39 employees, three more than in the previous assessment for IFCN) who work in the organization, indicating their respective roles.

3. The typology of activities carried out by Chequeado, all of them consistent with the values of the IFCN Code of Principles..

4.The goals of Chequeado over the coming year, which, among other, comprise (1) leading alliances Argentinean media organizations to tackle the spread of disinformation, specially during the 2023 elections; (2) strengthening collaborative work with LatamChequea; (3) developing new fact-checking products and formats; (4) advancing on automated fact-checking; and (5) developing new media literacy initiatives targeted to young people.


done_all 1.2 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 1.3
Proof you meet criteria
- The applicant has published an average of at least one fact check a week over the course of the six months prior to the date of application.
- For applicants from countries with at least 5 or more verified signatories need to have at least a fact check a week over the twelve months of publishing track.
- Consult to factchecknet@poynter.org for confirmation.

Chequeado
10-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

Chequeado publishes well beyond a fact check a week, with an average of more than two a week from May to October. Every fact-check published in this period relates to the public interest as defined by the IFCN: "relate to or could have an impact on the welfare or well-being of individuals, the general public or society". These pieces are complemented by explainers and debunks of viral disinformation (like the ones for Third Party Fact-Checking initiative, through which publishes around 40 debunks per month) and other articles related to data and public debate analysis (https://chequeado.com/notas/).

Files Attached
insert_drive_file Chequeado IFCN 2022.... (22 KB)
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

On the occasion of this assessment, Chequeado has presented a spreadsheet with 52 fact-checks published over a period of six months (from May 22, 2022 to October 28, 2022), almost ten times the minimum amount of evidences requested. The last fact-check included in the file was published six months before this assessment was performed, in April 2023. Nevertheless, it has been confirmed that the applicant's activity of fact-checking has maintained the same pace since then. Fact-checks have been presented with full clarity and detail.


done_all 1.3 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 1.4
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will assess compliance through a review of the fact checks published over the previous three months. No additional information required.

Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

More than 75% of Chequeado’s fact checks focus on claims related to issues that relate to or could have an impact on the welfare or well-being of individuals, the general public or society in Argentina. Chequeado’s editorial output is not, in the view and knowledge of the assessor, controlled by the state, any political party or politician.


done_all 1.4 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 1.5
Proof you meet criteria
Please explain any commercial, financial and/or institutional relationship your organization has to the state, politicians or political parties in the country or countries you cover. Also explain funding or support received from foreign as well as local state or political actors over the previous financial year.

Chequeado
10-Nov-2022 (1 year ago)

There is no relationship at the institutional level, as Chequeado does not receive funds from government offices nor intervene in government’s projects. We have only held conversations in terms of improving open data projects by the government, or general recommendations on Access to Information but no official commitments are involved.

In terms of public officers, there had been cases of former donors or members of the Board, but both the financial and institutional relationships were terminated once they took office.

Chequeado does accept funding from foreign Embassies or delegations based in Argentina, from countries such as the Netherlands, New Zealand, the UK and the United States, among others, which were donors in the past, as part of its funding diversification strategy. Chequeado is transparent about it’s funding, which can be found on our website, and any conflict of interest is stated. The diversification of the funding sources is a key part of Chequeado’s strategy to assure its independence from any interest.

Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

According to the information provided for this assessment, Chequeado does not receive funds from Argentinian government, politicians or political parties. However, it accepts funding from international organizations, foreign embassies or delegations based in Argentina. This foreign funding is disclosed in the 'International Cooperation' section of their Funding page (Financiamiento).


done_all 1.5 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 1.6
Proof you meet criteria
If you confirmed the organization receives funding from local or foreign state or political sources, provide a link to where on your website you set out how you ensure the editorial independence of your work.

Chequeado
10-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

Chequeado provides full and transparent disclosure of all the relevant information about its funding scheme. This information is available a their 'Funding' page (Financiamiento).


done_all 1.6 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Section 2: A commitment to Non-partisanship and Fairness

To be compliant on nonpartisanship and fairness, applicants must meet these five criteria

  • 2.1 The applicant fact-checks using the same high standards of evidence and judgement for equivalent claims regardless of who made the claim.
  • 2.2 The applicant does not unduly concentrate its fact-checking on any one side, considers the reach and importance of claims it selects to check and publishes a short statement on its website to set out how it selects claims to check.
  • 2.3 The applicant discloses in its fact checks relevant interests of the sources it quotes where the reader might reasonably conclude those interests could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided. It also discloses in its fact checks any commercial or other such relationships it has that a member of the public might reasonably conclude could influence the findings of the fact check.
  • 2.4 The applicant is not as an organization affiliated with nor declares or shows support for any party, any politician or political candidate, nor does it advocate for or against any policy positions on any issues save for transparency and accuracy in public debate.
  • 2.5 The applicant sets out its policy on non-partisanship for staff on its site. Save for the issues of accuracy and transparency, the applicant’s staff do not get involved in advocacy or publicise their views on policy issues the organization might fact check in such a way as might lead a reasonable member of the public to see the organization’s work as biased.

Criteria 2.1
Proof you meet criteria
Please share links to 10 fact checks published over the past year that you believe demonstrate your non-partisanship.
Please briefly explain how the fact checks selected show that (I) you use the same high standards of evidence for equivalent claims, (II) follow the same essential process for every fact check and (III) let the evidence dictate your conclusions.

Chequeado
10-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

https://vivo.chequeado.com/archivo/discurso-presidencial-de-apertura-de-sesiones-legislativas-2022

https://chequeado.com/ultimas-noticias/larreta-se-bajo-la-tasa-de-desempleo-femenino-del-134-al-95/

https://chequeado.com/ultimas-noticias/rodriguez-larreta-hoy-las-tasas-de-delitos-en-la-ciudad-son-las-mas-bajas-en-30-anos/

https://chequeado.com/ultimas-noticias/axel-kicillof-buenos-aires-es-la-provincia-que-mas-produce/

https://chequeado.com/ultimas-noticias/cristina-fernandez-de-kirchner-sobre-la-ciudad-de-buenos-aires-es-la-que-mas-gasta-dolares-y-no-los-produce/

https://chequeado.com/ultimas-noticias/mauricio-macri-sobre-el-actual-gobierno-practicamente-ha-aumentado-un-50-mas-el-empleo-publico-a-nivel-nacional/

https://chequeado.com/ultimas-noticias/mauricio-macri-mi-gobierno-saco-los-impuestos-internos-que-beneficiaban-aun-mas-a-tierra-del-fuego/

https://chequeado.com/ultimas-noticias/maria-eugenia-vidal-al-comparar-la-gestion-de-cambiemos-y-del-frente-de-todos-en-junio-de-2019-el-salario-privado-era-de-us-930-hoy-es-de-520/

https://chequeado.com/ultimas-noticias/gabriela-cerruti-no-hay-ninguna-instancia-judicial-en-que-la-justicia-argentina-diga-que-el-fiscal-nisman-fue-asesinado/

https://chequeado.com/ultimas-noticias/que-dijo-sergio-massa-chequeos-a-los-dichos-del-nuevo-ministro-de-economia/


Chequeado is committed to non partisanship since its beginning and it strives to provide unbiased and accountable information, in order to allow its audience to have access to good data with all the necessary context.

The claims that are fact checked are selected according to their impact and relevance, and cover all relevant members of the public debate. We have a public method, which includes asking the person who is being fact checked about the source of their information, which allows each person to the same possibility to answer, and their claim will have the same treatment, as we follow the same method in all cases (the method can be seen here: https://chequeado.com/metodo/). Every factcheck resorts to the best information available, which is also validated by the experts that are asked in the process. Chequeado has never supported a candidate in any election nor advocated or taken partisan positions on any issues, except on its commitment to public transparency and access to information.

We also have a public policy on how we select phrases and process the information: https://chequeado.com/politica-de-imparcialidad-y-equidad/

The balance can be seen in this selection of pieces in which Chequeado fact checked members of the governing party, and the main opposition parties. All the fact-checks respond to a search for balance and impartiality, and they were all treated equally. This selection includes, for example, those produced during the live collective fact-checks of the Presidents annual speech in Congress.

Ratings are only evidence guided, and are discussed thoroughly only after the information gathered is analysed and contextualised with the support of the experts. If new evidence arises, stronger than the previous one, then modifications are made to present the best possible evidence, with the needed explanations for changes.

Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

As requested, Chequeado has proved sufficiently its non-partisanship by providing ten examples of fact-checks to political leaders and parties from all the political spectrum in Argentina. Regardless the ideological alignment of the institution, political party or person, Chequeado applies a consistent and sound fact-checking methodology.


done_all 2.1 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 2.2
Proof you meet criteria
Please share a link to a place on your website where you explain how you select claims to check, explaining how you ensure you do not unduly concentrate your fact-checking on any one side, and how you consider the reach and importance of the claims you select to check.

Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

Chequeado has a comprehensive Impartiality and Equity Policy (Política de imparcialidad y equidad), which is deemed sound, reliable and transparent. This policy not only explains how the claims are selected by the team members, but also the procedure to receive claims from users.


done_all 2.2 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 2.3
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will assess compliance through a review of the fact checks published over the previous year. No additional information required.

Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

After a review of the fact-checks submitted by the applicant (May.-Oct. 2022), as well as a random sample of fact-checks published more recently, no evidence of any commercial interest that could influence the fact-checking activity of Chequeado has been found.


done_all 2.3 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 2.4
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will assess compliance through a review of the fact checks published over the previous year. No additional information required.

Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

Following the same assessment procedure described in the criterion 2.3, no traces have been found of political or ideological interests that might influence the fact-checking activity of Chequeado.


done_all 2.4 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 2.5
Proof you meet criteria
Please share a link to a place on your website where you publish a statement setting out your policy on non-partisanship for staff and how it ensures the organization meets this criteria.

Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

Chequeado sets out its Impartiality and Equity Policy (Política de imparcialidad y equidad) for staff on its site. According to this policy, "being part of the Chequeado staff implies a commitment not to be affiliated with any party. Furthermore, all our journalists are independent professionals and their profiles are public" (asssesor's translation).


done_all 2.5 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Section 3: A commitment to Standards and Transparency of Sources

To be compliant on sources, applicants must meet these four criteria

  • 3.1 The applicant identifies the source of all significant evidence used in their fact checks, providing relevant links where the source is available online, in such a way that users can replicate their work if they wish. In cases where identifying the source would compromise the source’s personal security, the applicant provides as much detail as compatible with the source’s safety.
  • 3.2 The applicant uses the best available primary, not secondary, sources of evidence wherever suitable primary sources are available. Where suitable primary sources are not available, the applicant explains the use of a secondary source.
  • 3.3 The applicant checks all key elements of claims against more than one named source of evidence save where the one source is the only source relevant on the topic.
  • 3.4 The applicant identifies in its fact checks the relevant interests of the sources it uses where the reader might reasonably conclude those interests could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided.

Criteria 3.1
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the applicant’s use of sources in a randomised sample of its fact checks to assess compliance. No additional evidence is required.

Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

Chequeado has a sound and widespread use of links and embedded social media posts to back fact-checks. These resources allow users to track and verify by themselves the relevant information published. 


done_all 3.1 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 3.2
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the applicant’s use of sources in a randomised sample of its fact checks to assess compliance. No additional evidence is required.

Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

After a random review of fact-checks and according to the assessor's knowledge, the sources used by Chequeado to back fact-checks are sufficiently diversified, relevant and sound. 


done_all 3.2 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 3.3
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the applicant’s use of sources in a randomised sample of its fact checks to assess compliance. No additional evidence is required.

Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

Chequeado provides details about the sources used to back its statements. After a random review of a number of fact-checks published over the previous year (May. 2022 - Apr. 2023), the overall assessment for this criterion is positive.


done_all 3.3 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 3.4
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the applicant’s use of sources in a randomised sample of its fact checks to assess compliance. No additional evidence is required.

Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

Chequeado provides adequate context on the sources used to back its fact-checks. When some contextualization of the information sources is needed, it is reasonably provided. All in all, this criterion is assessed as compliant.


done_all 3.4 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Section 4: A commitment to Transparency of Funding & Organization

To be compliant on funding and organization, applicants must meet these five criteria

  • 4.1 Applicants that are independent organizations have a page on their website detailing each source of funding accounting for 5% or more of total revenue for its previous financial year. This page also sets out the legal form in which the organization is registered (e.g. as a non-profit, as a company etc).
  • 4.2 Applicants that are the fact-checking section or unit of a media house or other parent organization make a statement on ownership.
  • 4.3 A statement on the applicant’s website sets out the applicant’s organizational structure and makes clear how and by whom editorial control is exercised.
  • 4.4 A page on the applicant’s website details the professional biography of all those who, according to the organizational structure and play a significant part in its editorial output.
  • 4.5 The applicant provides easy means on its website and/or via social media for users to communicate with the editorial team.

Criteria 4.1
Proof you meet criteria
Please confirm whether you are an ‘independent organization’
or ‘the fact-checking section or unit of a media house or other parent organization’ and share proof of this organizational status.

Chequeado
10-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

Chequeado is an independent organization. https://chequeado.com/financiamiento/

Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

Chequeado is committed to the accountability and transparency of its funding. It has a comprehensive section on its website (Financiamiento) with detailed information about the financial aspects of their fact-checking organization.


done_all 4.1 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 4.2
Proof you meet criteria
If your organization is an “independent organization”, please share a link to the page on your website where you detail your funding and indicate the legal form in which the organization is registered (e.g. as a non-profit, as a company etc).
If your organization is “the fact-checking section or unit of a media house or other parent organization”, please share a link to the statement on your website about your ownership.

Chequeado
10-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

As an independent organization, Chequeado provides detailed and transparent information about its ownership and funding scheme in the 'Funding' (Financiamiento) and 'Accountability' pages (Rendición de cuentas). 


done_all 4.2 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 4.3
Proof you meet criteria
Please share a link to where on your website you set out your organizational structure, making clear how and by whom editorial control is exercised.

Chequeado
10-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

In the 'About us' page (Conocenos), Chequeado informs in detail about its team of staff members and employees, as well as the founding members, indicating their respective level of responsibility.


done_all 4.3 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 4.4
Proof you meet criteria
Please share a link to where on your website you set out the professional biographies of those who play a significant part in your organization’s editorial output.

Chequeado
10-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

The bios of all staff members and employees (39) of Chequeado are available in the 'About us' page (Conocenos) and a dedicated Staff page (Staff).


done_all 4.4 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 4.5
Proof you meet criteria
Please share a link to where on your website you encourage users to communicate with your editorial team.

Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

Chequeado encourages users to communicate with the organization through its 'Join us' page (Sumate). Besides, the applicant can be contacted through several social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) and mobile messaging apps (WhatsApp), as well as staff members' emails, which are openly disclosed.


done_all 4.5 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Section 5: A commitment to Standards and Transparency of Methodology

To be compliant on methodology, applicants must meet these six criteria

  • 5.1 The applicant publishes on its website a statement about the methodology it uses to select, research, write and publish its fact checks.
  • 5.2 The applicant selects claims to check based primarily on the reach and importance of the claims, and where possible explains the reason for choosing the claim to check.
  • 5.3 The applicant sets out in its fact checks relevant evidence that appears to support the claim as well as relevant evidence that appears to undermine it.
  • 5.4 The applicant in its fact checks assesses the merits of the evidence found using the same high standards applied to evidence on equivalent claims, regardless of who made the claim.
  • 5.5 The applicant seeks where possible to contact those who made the claim to seek supporting evidence, noting that (I) this is often not possible with online claims, (II) if the person who makes the claim fails to reply in a timely way this should not impede the fact check, (III) if a speaker adds caveats to the claim, the fact-checker should be free to continue with checking the original claim, (IV) fact-checkers may not wish to contact the person who made the claim for safety or other legitimate reasons.
  • 5.6 The applicant encourages users to send in claims to check, while making it clear what readers can legitimately expect will be fact-checked and what isn’t fact-checkable.

Criteria 5.1
Proof you meet criteria
Please provide a link to the statement on your website that explains the methodology you use to select, research, write and publish your fact checks.

Chequeado
10-Nov-2022 (1 year ago)
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

Chequeado's fact-checking methodology is sound and reliable, consistently applied and publicly disclosed on its website (Método).This methodology is used as reference by some fact-checking organizations in Latin America.


done_all 5.1 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 5.2
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the methodology used in a randomised sample of your fact checks to assess compliance with these criteria. No additional evidence is required.

Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

Based on a random review of a number of fact checks published over the year prior to this assessment, no examples of infringement have been found that Chequeado does not comply with this criterion.


done_all 5.2 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 5.3
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the methodology used in a randomised sample of your fact checks to assess compliance with these criteria. No additional evidence is required.

Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

Based on a number of randomly selected fact checks published by the requesting organization over several months, the assessor concludes that Chequeado is committed to transparency and fairness when processing claims.


done_all 5.3 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 5.4
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the methodology used in a randomised sample of your fact checks to assess compliance with these criteria. No additional evidence is required.

Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

After reading a number of fact-checks, the overall impression of this assessor is that Chequeado uses the same fact-checking standards, regardless of who made the claim.


done_all 5.4 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 5.5
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the methodology used in a randomised sample of your fact checks to assess compliance with these criteria. No additional evidence is required.

Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

In the random sample of the applicant's fact-checks examined, no examples were found of the objectionable situations indicated for this criterion. 


done_all 5.5 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 5.6
Proof you meet criteria
Please describe how you encourage users to send in claims to check, while making it clear what readers can legitimately expect will be fact-checked and what isn’t fact-checkable. Include links where appropriate. If you do not allow this, explain why.

Chequeado
10-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

There are several channels through which our readers can share claims with us to fact-check.

We have a platform to receive suggestions from reader that is called Chequeo Colectivo (http://chequeado.com/colectivo/) where we answer and classify the suggestions according to whether they have already been fact checked, if it is in process or if it can not be fact checked.

We also receive emails through our contact form (https://chequeado.com/sumate-como-chequeadista/) with suggestions and we have a WhatsApp line where our readers can send us suggestions (https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=5491136790690&text=&source=&data=). We also post the WhatsApp line link regularly on social media (https://twitter.com/search?q=chequeado.com%2Fwhatsapp%20%40chequeado&src=typed_query&f=live)

We can also be reached in social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter. We respond to the extent of our capabilities and indicate whether the requested claim is checkable or not.

Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

As requested, Chequeado has provided detailed information about how it allows users to send claims and corrections through different means of contact. Chequeado has a 'Collective fact-checking' `feature (Chequeo Colectivo), where it actively invites users to contribute with their ideas and suggested topics to be fact-checked.


done_all 5.6 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Section 6: A commitment to an Open & Honest Corrections Policy

To be compliant on corrections policy, applicants must meet these five criteria

  • 6.1 The applicant has a corrections or complaints policy that is easily visible and accessible on the organization’s website or frequently referenced in broadcasts.
  • 6.2 The policy sets out clear definitions of what it does and does not cover, how major mistakes, especially those requiring revised conclusions of a fact check, are handled, and the fact that some complaints may justify no response. This policy is adhered to scrupulously.
  • 6.3 Where credible evidence is provided that the applicant has made a mistake worthy of correction, the applicant makes a correction openly and transparently, seeking as far as possible to ensure that users of the original see the correction and the corrected version.
  • 6.4 The applicant, if an existing signatory, should either on its corrections/complaints page or on the page where it declares itself an IFCN signatory inform users that if they believe the signatory is violating the IFCN Code, they may inform the IFCN, with a link to the IFCN site.
  • 6.5 If the applicant is the fact-checking unit of a media company, it is a requirement of signatory status that the parent media company has and adheres to an open and honest corrections policy.

Criteria 6.1
Proof you meet criteria
Please provide a link to where you publish on your website your corrections or complaints policy. If you are primarily a broadcaster, please provide evidence you frequently reference your corrections policy in broadcasts.

Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

Chequeado has a sound 'Updates and Corrections Policy' (Política de actualización y correcciones). In case any mistakes are found, the applicant encourages users to send claims and corrections through different means of contact (mail, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp). Chequeado commits itself to responding in less than 48 hours.


done_all 6.1 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 6.2
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the corrections policy to verify it meets critera. No additional information needed.

Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

The corrections policy is very sound and it is explained with full detail, so that readers can know in advance how their claims will be handled.


done_all 6.2 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 6.3
Proof you meet criteria
Please provide a short statement about how the policy was adhered to over the previous year (or six months if this is the first application) including evidence of two examples of the responses provided by the applicant to a correction request over the previous year. Where no correction request has been made in the previous year, you must state this in your application, which will be publicly available in the assessment if your application is successful.

Chequeado
10-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

Anyone can contact Chequeado to point out a mistake. Chequeado commits itself to responding to these claims in less than 48 hours. When a fact check needs to be corrected, Chequeado modifies the piece to give the most accurate information, and adds a statement explaining the changes in a transparent way. In addition, it has a public page that lists the updates and corrections (Actualizaciones y correcciones: https://chequeado.com/actualizaciones-y-correcciones/) made over the last few years. Our correction policy is also part of our method and it can be seen here: chequeado.com/metodo

In 2022, two examples are these:

https://chequeado.com/ultimas-noticias/morales-en-el-interior-pagamos-5-veces-mas-cara-la-luz-que-en-la-zona-metropolitana/ - After a comment from a reader on our site, we corrected a percentage that we included in a fact check about the difference between what they paid for electricity in two different provinces.

https://chequeado.com/el-explicador/nuevas-medidas-sobre-importaciones-a-que-productos-afectan/ - In this case, after a series of comments by a former official, we modified certain paragraphs in which some categories of two different systems for importing goods that were used in the country were erroneously equated.

Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

As requested, Chequeado has presented evidence of corrections (1, 2) published in 2022. Corrections or updates are very visible and dated on each article.


done_all 6.3 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 6.4
Proof you meet criteria
If you are an existing signatory, please provide a link to show where on your site you inform users that if they believe you are violating the IFCN Code, they may inform the IFCN of this, with a link to the complaints page on the IFCN site.

Chequeado
10-Nov-2022 (1 year ago)
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

As requested, Chequeado has a section (Código de Principios) where it indicates how users should proceed in case they want to alert IFCN of any violation of the Code of Principles. 


done_all 6.4 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.

Criteria 6.5
Proof you meet criteria
If you are the fact-checking unit of a media company, please provide a link to the parent media company’s honest and open corrections policy and provide evidence that it adheres to this.

Chequeado
10-Nov-2022 (1 year ago)

-

Ramón Salaverría Assessor
14-Apr-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago

Bound to Fundación La Voz Pública, Chequeado is a stand-alone fact-checking organization, not integrated into any other parent media organization. There is an 'About the Foundation' page (Acerca de la fundación) with details about the goals an mission of this organization.


done_all 6.5 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.