Organization: 20 Minutes Fake off
Applicant: Mathilde Cousin
Assessor: Laurent Bigot
Conclusion and recommendations
Laurent Bigot wrote:
According to my assessment, I think 20 Minutes is now partially or completely compliant with the large majority of the principles enacted by the IFCN.
However, the Fake Off section should make the following points clear for next time:
- the more precise distribution of its shareholding;
- a clear explanation of what readers can legitimately expect will be verified and what is not verifiable;
- to comply with the correction policies of the Fake Off section and its parent media;
- make visible the corrections page for visitors to the entire site
Laurent Bigot recommended Accept
Section 1: Organization
Criterion 1a
Proof of registration
Evidence required: Please provide evidence that the signatory is a legally-registered organization set up exclusively for the purpose of fact-checking or the distinct fact-checking project of a recognized media house or research institution.
20 Minutes Fake off
30-Oct-2019 (4 years ago)
We conducted Fact checking on a daily basis in our Fake Off section, Mathilde Cousin and Alexis Orsini are particularly in charge of the section Into the bargain the entire newsroom (national and our local editorial teams) produce fact-checking. Our articles are featured in the section Fake off of our print newspaper and website https://www.20minutes.fr/societe/desintox/
We also produced a weekly newsletter on whatsapp, videos and we plan to launch a new verdical video format focused on fake news and on social platforms in november
20 Minutes is a legally registered French media outlet.: http://www.20minutes.fr/mentions.php
Laurent Bigot Assessor
24-Nov-2019 (4 years ago)
"Fake Off" is the distinct fact-checking section of a legally registered French media outlet called "20 Minutes".
All the evidences of its legal registration are presented in the “Mentions légales”, through its RCS number and its presentation, here: https://www.20minutes.fr/mentions
done_all 1a marked as Fully compliant by Laurent Bigot.
Criterion 1b
Archive
Evidence required: Insert a link to the archive of fact checks published in the previous three months. If you do not collect all fact checks in one place, please explain how the fact-checking is conducted by your organization.
20 Minutes Fake off
30-Oct-2019 (4 years ago)
Our fact-checking are available on a dedicated section in our website https://www.20minutes.fr/societe/desintox/ and also in a dedicated section in our print newspaper.This section is also providing some email contacts, biographies of fact-checking leading team and tips to identify hoax and rumors.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
24-Nov-2019 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
"Fake Off" publishes reports that evaluate one or two distinct claims per day exclusively on the basis of their accuracy.
We can find them in its specific section here : https://www.20minutes.fr/societe/desintox/
done_all 1b marked as Fully compliant by Laurent Bigot.
Section 2: Nonpartisanship and Fairness
Criterion 2a
Body of work sample
Evidence required: Please share links to ten fact checks that better represent the scope and consistency of your fact-checking. Provide a short explanation of how your organization strives to maintain coherent standards across fact checks.
20 Minutes Fake off
30-Oct-2019 (4 years ago)
https://www.20minutes.fr/monde/2635619-20191024-non-video-virale-femme-devetant-rue-tournee-liban
https://www.20minutes.fr/sante/2580391-20190809-non-pilule-lendemain-tests-grossesse
We explain our methodology here. We regularly have exchanges with the IFCN team, other fact checkers, share good practices and tools. We put the stress on sources an direct links on sources.
20 minutes has adopted a chart stipulating firmly its non-partisan and unbiased orientation. https://www.20minutes.fr/medias/8110-20060220-charte-20minutes We cross sources, meta-datas to fact-check hoaxes and rumors. Our team of Community managers and fact-checkers can directly interact with internet users to stop rumours. Our team of moderators (Netino) works on deleting fake pictures and news posted on comments. An email adress fakeoff@20minutes.fr and a dedicated twitter https://twitter.com/20minFakeOff provide us remarks, comments and questions of our readers. We try to offer transparency of our work with step-by-step fact checking, links for sources. We organize trainings with our factchekers teams, provide tools and practices. For examples : Crowdtangle's training for fact checking, Bellingcat training for Mathilde Cousin.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
24-Nov-2019 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
20 Minutes selected 10 fact-checks’ links to prove scope and consistency of its work…
In several fact-checks, I notice that 20 minutes covers a variety of speakers (Emmanuel Macron, Donald Trump, Giec, Le Pen...).
So there’s no bias problem in this media work. 20 Minutes has also adopted a chart stipulating firmly its non-partisan and unbiased orientation.
done_all 2a marked as Fully compliant by Laurent Bigot.
Criterion 2b
Nonpartisanship policy
Evidence required: Please share evidence of your policy preventing staff from direct involvement in political parties and advocacy organizations. Please also indicate the policy your organization has as a whole regarding advocacy and supporting political candidates.
20 Minutes Fake off
30-Oct-2019 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Our chart is very clear about political neutrality
https://www.20minutes.fr/medias/8110-20060220-charte-20minutes "L’indépendance et la neutralité politiques et religieuses sont dans les fondements même de la pratique éditoriale de 20Minutes." and "Dans le respect de cette ligne de conduite et de ces principes, 20Minutes s’oblige à l’impartialité et en conséquence à un traitement non partisan de l’information."
"Chaque journaliste engage sa responsabilité, sa crédibilité et son intégrité, et à ce titre défend les mêmes valeurs que celles de l’entreprise et de sa marque. Il agit indépendamment de toute motivation idéologique, philosophique, politique, culturelle ou confessionnelle ou d’objectifs mercantiles qui pourraient influer sur le contenu de sa production dans le respect des faits."
"Aucun salarié, journaliste ou cadre, ne peut utiliser sa fonction pour la poursuite d’intérêts particuliers. Hors de sa rémunération légale, aucun ne pourra accepter de tiers, des commissions, des paiements ou des gratifications en contrepartie d’une production éditoriale sous la marque 20 Minutes. D’une façon générale, les membres de la rédaction ne doivent pas accepter les commissions, les soutiens financiers ou les doubles fonctions qui pourraient créer des conflits d’intérêts avec leurs tâches éditoriales. Exceptionnellement, des collaborations extérieures rémunérées sont envisageables avec l’autorisation de la direction de la rédaction."
During the presidential race, for example, we do our best to have an equal treatment for each candidate.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
24-Nov-2019 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
"20 Minutes" has got a code of ethics, published here: https://www.20minutes.fr/medias/8110-20060220-charte-20minutes
It explains : "Political and religious independence and neutrality are in the very foundation of the 20 Minutes editorial practice" and "In keeping with this line of conduct and these principles, 20Minutes is committed to impartiality and therefore non-partisan treatment of information."
According to my assessment, I can tell that 20 Minutes does not seem to support a candidate in any election nor advocate or take policy positions on any issues not strictly related to fact-checking.
done_all 2b marked as Fully compliant by Laurent Bigot.
Section 3: Transparency of Sources
Criterion 3a
Sources Policy
Please share a brief and public explanation (500 words max) of how sources are provided in enough detail that readers could replicate the fact check. If you have a public policy on how you find and use sources for your fact-checking, it should be shared here.
20 Minutes Fake off
30-Oct-2019 (4 years ago)
We used to embed and link to the sources on our articles. Therefore the readers could easily replicate the fact-checking by simply clicking on sources and embed (officiel twitter account like National Police in case of terrorist attacks etc.). On the "desintox" section of our website, we tried to give a step-by-step fact checking in order to give some keys to the reader to replicate the FC. We also profide tutorial videos for helping readers to identify fake news For example. https://www.20minutes.fr/high-tech/2246663-20180402-video-fact-checking-trois-conseils-identifier-image-internet Into the bargain, we have a strict policy on anonymous sources, explained in our chart.
https://www.20minutes.fr/medias/8110-20060220-charte-20minutes
Laurent Bigot Assessor
24-Nov-2019 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The 20 Minutes’ staff evokes a convincing policy on sources in the IFCN application document.
Fake Off uses to embed and link to the sources on their articles and readers can easily replicate the fact-checking by simply clicking on sources and embed.
Our assessment allows us to say that 20 Minutes links regularly to the sources of the claim they fact-check and the evidence they use to fact-check.
done_all 3a marked as Fully compliant by Laurent Bigot.
Section 4: Transparency of Funding & Organization
Criterion 4a
Funding Sources
Evidence required: Please link to the section where you publicly list your sources of funding (including, if they exist, any rules around which types of funding you do or don't accept), or a statement on ownership if you are the branch of an established media organization or research institution.
20 Minutes Fake off
30-Oct-2019 (4 years ago)
20 Minutes’ ownership is detailed here: http://www.20minutes.fr/mentions.php
The main shareholders of 20 Minutes are Sofiouest and Rossel France Investissement. These shareholders are renowned Media group. They exclusively runs media outlets, on an independant basis.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
24-Nov-2019 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
20 Minutes’ ownership is detailed here: https://www.20minutes.fr/mentions
This page explains that the main shareholders of 20 Minutes are Sofiouest and Rossel France Investissement.
These shareholders are well known European media players…
The applicant lists its owners but doesn't offer further details on funding.
done 4a marked as Partially compliant by Laurent Bigot.
Criterion 4b
Staff
Evidence required: Please link to the section detailing all authors and key actors behind your fact-checking project with their biographies. You can also list the name and bios of the members of the editorial board, pool of experts, advisory board, etc. if your organization has those.
20 Minutes Fake off
30-Oct-2019 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Biographies are available here. https://www.20minutes.fr/societe/desintox/
Laurent Bigot Assessor
24-Nov-2019 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
In the 20 Minutes’ fact-checking section, there’s a place detailing the identity of the two main authors behind the project and their biographies:
- Anne Kerloc'h, editor-in-chief and responsible for video projects for fact checking and relations with platforms and social networks ;
- Mathilde Cousin, journalist, in charge for the fact-checking section ;
- Alexis Orsini, journalist ;
- Claire Planchard, assistant editor in charge of news and culture (she coordinates and oversees all news services, including the Fake Off service).
Their biographies are available here: https://www.20minutes.fr/societe/desintox/
done_all 4b marked as Fully compliant by Laurent Bigot.
Criterion 4c
Contact
Evidence required: Please link to the section where readers can get in touch with the organization.
20 Minutes Fake off
30-Oct-2019 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
https://www.20minutes.fr/contact + fakeoff@20minutes.fr (and chatbot messenger on Facebook page) + contact on Desintox section https://www.20minutes.fr/societe/desintox/ + twitter https://twitter.com/20minFakeOff + contact form on each article
Laurent Bigot Assessor
24-Nov-2019 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
It’s easy for readers to contact "Fake Off": they can use the page called “contact” (the link is at the bottom of each page: http://www.20minutes.fr/contact) and its contact form.
And there’s a specific e-mail address to contact the fact-checking team: fakeoff@20minutes.fr
(+ a chatbot messenger on Facebook page + twitter https://twitter.com/20minFakeOff)
done_all 4c marked as Fully compliant by Laurent Bigot.
Section 5: Transparency of Methodology
Criterion 5a
Detailed Methodology
Evidence required: Please link to a section or article detailing the steps you follow for your fact-checking work.
20 Minutes Fake off
30-Oct-2019 (4 years ago)
20 Minutes published several articles on methodology that explains to our readers how they choose claims to fact-check and what evidence they deem most reliable. We can find it here : http://www.20minutes.fr/high-tech/2135311-20170919-comment-reperer-fake-news
https://www.20minutes.fr/societe/2131991-20170913-fausses-alertes-enlevement-comment-reconnaitre
and some videos for example https://www.20minutes.fr/high-tech/2246663-20180402-video-fact-checking-trois-conseils-identifier-image-internet
Laurent Bigot Assessor
24-Nov-2019 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The "Fake Off" team explains its fact-checking methodology publicly and clearly here : https://www.20minutes.fr/societe/desintox/
We can find easily four specific links dedicated to explain its work :
http://www.20minutes.fr/high-tech/2135311-20170919-comment-reperer-fake-news
https://www.20minutes.fr/societe/2131991-20170913-fausses-alertes-enlevement-comment-reconnaitre
done_all 5a marked as Fully compliant by Laurent Bigot.
Criterion 5b
Claim submissions
Evidence required: Please link to the page or process through which readers can submit claims to fact-check. If you do not allow this, please briefly explain why.
20 Minutes Fake off
30-Oct-2019 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Readers can submit claims by many means : https://www.20minutes.fr/contact + fakeoff@20minutes.fr + contact on Desintox section https://www.20minutes.fr/societe/desintox/ + twitter https://twitter.com/20minFakeOff + contact form on each article . We answer with links to articles when they have already been published, or that the claim will be soon fact checked.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
24-Nov-2019 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
There are a lot of ways to submit claims to fact-check on 20 Minutes web site:
- at the bottom of each page : http://www.20minutes.fr/contact
- in the "Fake Off" section https://www.20minutes.fr/societe/desintox/ : a form (http://www.20minutes.fr/contact) and an e-mail fakeoff@20minutes.fr
+ twitter https://twitter.com/20minFakeOff
The applicant indicates to readers how they can send claims to fact-check here : https://www.20minutes.fr/societe/desintox/
"You have spotted information that seems dubious to you? Do you want us to check it? Contact us from the form..."
But it doesn't really make it clear what readers can legitimately expect will be fact-checked and what isn’t fact-checkable...
done 5b marked as Partially compliant by Laurent Bigot.
Section 6: Open & Honest Corrections Policy
Criterion 6a
Corrections policy
Evidence required: Please link to the page with your policy to address corrections. If it is not public, please share your organization's handbook.
20 Minutes Fake off
30-Oct-2019 (4 years ago)
20 Minutes published an explanation about their corrections policy, in the same page as their methodology, here: http://www.20minutes.fr/societe/desintox/
20 Minutes has a public corrections policy here: http://www.20minutes.fr/article/8110/La-Charte-20.php
We do have an organization's handbook. See attached
Laurent Bigot Assessor
24-Nov-2019 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
"Fake Off" has a public corrections policy mentionned here : http://www.20minutes.fr/societe/desintox/
"Inaccuracies, errors in an article will be rectified as soon as possible once reported. A mention will be affixed on the article in case of publication of an erroneous information with the update and correction at the top of the article in order to make the correction transparent for the reader. Communication will also take place (update) on social networks."
"20 Minutes" has also a code of ethics here: https://www.20minutes.fr/medias/8110-20060220-charte-20minutes
But it only explains : "If erroneous information has been published, it must be corrected as soon as possible." It seems that the parent organization doesn't have exactly the same corrections policy.
done_all 6a marked as Fully compliant by Laurent Bigot.
Criterion 6b
Examples of corrections
Evidence required: Please provide two examples of a correction made, or correction requests handled, in the past year.
20 Minutes Fake off
30-Oct-2019 (4 years ago)
Here are the archives of the corrections in 2017, 2018 and 2019
2019
Laurent Bigot Assessor
24-Nov-2019 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
20 Minutes and Fake Off have a public page listing all corrections made and that provides at least two examples of a correction made in 2019 here : https://www.20minutes.fr/societe/2380983-20181127-20-minutes-engage-information-fiable-corrections-articles
This public page lists corrections from articles published by 20 Minutes and not only its Fake Off section... Yet the link to this page is published in the Fake Off section...