The Code of Principles is for organizations that regularly publish nonpartisan reports on the accuracy of statements by public figures, major institutions, internet and social media postings, and other widely circulated claims of interest to society. It is the result of consultations among fact-checkers from around the world and offers practitioners principles to aspire to in their everyday work. Becoming a signatory to the IFCN Code of Principles comes with benefits that help expand the work of fact-checking organizations around the world.
The information shared through this form will be made publicly available if your application is verified as a signatory to IFCN's Code of Principles. Please use email if you need to provide additional information that will not be made public.
The application process entails a non-refundable fee (US$ 200). This fee is the cost of hiring an external assessor to evaluate the application. Applications will not be considered unless the fee has been paid.If the application fails to meet more than four criteria, you will be asked to pay an additional US$ 200 for a second phase review by the assessor. Hardship waivers available with written request and documentation to the IFCN Team for reduced fees; as low as $0.
Please choose a path:
New Applicant
The International Fact-Checking Network invites new signatories to apply during application windows that open three times per year. Once an application is submitted, it is reviewed by IFCN staff for eligibility. If eligible, the application is then to an independent assessor for a more thorough review. The assessors evaluate each applicant using this guideline and then recommend their approval or rejection to the IFCN Advisory Board members. Advisory Board members then vote on a final approval.
Fact-checkers may begin investigating their eligibility at any time. Once their eligibility is confirmed, they will be given the next available deadline to submit a full application, usually within 90 days. After the application is submitted, applicants should expect an additional minimum wait of 90 days before the final status of their application is known. If there are questions from the assessor or the advisory board about the application, the process can take longer. The IFCN cannot guarantee a timeline for any application due to the unique circumstances and challenges of each fact-checking organization.
Please follow the instructions closely and provide all the necessary details. Incomplete applications cannot be submitted.
As a new applicant, we strongly recommend you read the application guidelines before submitting your application to get a sense of some of the best practices around the world. This is where you can determine if the organization is up to par with the Code of Principles standards.
Once you determine your organization is ready, please submit your eligibility form. The form is to determine if you are ready to submit your application as an organization to become a verified signatory to the IFCN Code of Principles. It also helps the IFCN start looking for an assessor to assess the application.
The IFCN Staff will review the eligibility form and then start to communicate with you about the next steps, and invite you to The Code of Principles New Applicant Webinar.
After the review of your eligibility form the IFCN Staff will invite you to start building your application to the Code of Principles.
- Sign into your account, complete your application, and make the payment.
If you have any questions regarding your application, please contact [email protected].
Evaluation of the applicant's respect of the Code of Principles is conducted by external assessors. They are selected for their expertise in journalism and disciplines related to fact-checking in the region where the aspiring signatory operates.
Assessments that require a second phase review will be compensated with an additional payment of US$ 200 payment from the applicant.
The assessors evaluate each applicant using this guideline and then recommend their approval or rejection.
If the assessor finds the applicant failing to meet certain criteria, the assessor can ask the applicant to make changes and review it again before submitting his/her assessment to IFCN.
If the assessor recommends rejecting an application, the applicants can
- Re-apply in 6 months from the rejection of the first application.The application would be assessed by a different assessor and therefore incur a new application fee of $200.
- Appeal to the IFCN board if they believe the assessor ignored or misrepresented evidence provided by the application. The board can request a new assessment, invite the organization to apply again, or reject the appeal.
The IFCN Advisory Board has the final authority to accept or reject an application. A quorum vote is required for the decision.
Within a year after being approved and every year thereafter, approved signatories need to re-apply as a renewal applicant. Once a signatory is successfully assessed five times, it moves to every-other-year renewal.
Violations of the code in between assessments will be evaluated by the IFCN staff board and could result in the verified signatory's removal from the list. Read more about the IFCN complaints policy.
Complaints against signatories are reviewed by the IFCN staff and if deemed to have merit are assigned to an assessor for evaluation, either during a regular renewal process or as part of a special process.
The IFCN director or the IFCN advisory board can require a renewal application to be filed within 60 days if they deem a complaint, controversy, or change of business has significantly impacted an IFCN signatory.
`Renewing Applicant
Renewing applications are accepted on a rolling basis. We strongly recommend you read the application guidelines before submitting your application in order to get a sense of some of the best practices around the world.
Advisory board voting for renewal applications is conducted on a rolling basis.
Signatories with five successful assessments are eligible for every-other-year renewals.
Violations of the code in between assessments will be evaluated by the IFCN staff board and could result in the verified signatory's removal from the list. Read more about the IFCN complaints policy.
Complaints against signatories are reviewed by the IFCN staff and if deemed to have merit are assigned to an assessor for evaluation, either during a regular renewal process or as part of a special process.
The IFCN director or the IFCN advisory board can require a renewal application to be filed within 60 days if they deem a complaint, controversy, or change of business has significantly impacted an IFCN signatory.
If you have any questions regarding your application please feel free to contact [email protected]
Sign into your account, start to build your application, and submit it.
If you have any questions regarding your application please contact [email protected]
Evaluation of the applicant's respect of the Code of Principles is conducted by external assessors. They are selected for their expertise in journalism and disciplines related to fact-checking in the region where the aspiring signatory operates.
Assessments that require a second phase review will be compensated with an additional payment of US$ 200 payment from the applicant.
The assessors evaluate each applicant using this guideline and then recommend their approval or rejection.
If the assessor finds the applicant failing to meet certain criteria, the assessor can ask the applicant to make changes and review it again before submitting his/her assessment to IFCN.
If the assessor recommends rejecting an application, the applicants can
- Re-apply in 6 months from the rejection of the first application.The application would be assessed by a different assessor and therefore incur a new application fee of $200.
- Appeal to the IFCN board if they believe the assessor ignored or misrepresented evidence provided by the application. The board can request a new assessment, invite the organization to apply again, or reject the appeal.
The IFCN Advisory Board has the final authority to accept or reject an application. A quorum vote is required for the decision.