We're Making Enhancements! The IFCN Code of Principles site is temporarily unavailable due to maintenance. We will be back online soon. Thank you for your patience. For urgent inquiries, please contact us at info@ifcn.org.

Animal Político - El Sabueso

Organization: Animal Político - El Sabueso
Applicant: Arturo Daen
Assessor: Natalia Meléndez Malavé

Background

The applicant is a distinct unit (El Sabueso - "The Hound") within Animal Político, an independent digital publication born in Mexico in 2010 focused on the country's political information. That explains the weight of information related to monitoring government decisions, but in general it deals with all kinds of public service news. Since January 2015, it runs a section called El Sabueso, focused on fact-checking. It provides claims verifications (classified into 8 categories), clarification on hoaxes and misinformation and multimedia material.

Assessment Conclusion

According to my assessment, El Sabueso is completely compliant with the principles enacted by the IFCN. They have satisfactorily filled in the application and solved the doubts or recommended suggestions for improvement, all of them of a minor nature. Therefore this media continues to be a reliable fact-checking partner. 

on 11-Sep-2020 (4 years ago)

Natalia Meléndez Malavé assesses application as Compliant

A short summary in native publishing language

El Sabueso es una unidad dedicada a la verificación creada en 2015 dentro de Animal Político, una publicación digital independiente nacida en México en 2010 y centrada en la información política del país. 

Las evidencias presentadas nos hablan de un medio estricto y riguroso en su labor de verificación. No se han precisado modificaciones profundas para continuar formando parte del conjunto de signatarios de la IFCN a pesar de haberse ampliado los criterios respecto a la anterior evaluación. Se trata de un medio que cuenta con todos los filtros de control exigidos para el desempeño de sus objetivos y en el que la solvencia y credibilidad de sus publicaciones quedan demostradas, cumpliendo por tanto con su vocación de servicio público en la elección de temas y su enfoque.

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.

Animal Político - El Sabueso
29-May-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

The information is always available and visible in the footer. In the section "Quienes somos" (About us), any reader have access to the official documents that shows our legal status.

About us, with link to the Articles of Incorporation / Organization:

https://www.animalpolitico.com/quienes-somos/

Articles of Incorporation: https://es.scribd.com/document/47751661/Editorial-Animal-Inscripcion 


Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The applicant is a distinct unit (El Sabueso - "The Hound") within a legally registered organization (Animal Político), and details of this are easily found on its website. In their application to the IFCN code of principles, Animal Politico has presented legal documents disclosing their ownership and company structure.

done_all 1.1 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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?

Animal Político - El Sabueso
29-May-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

1. El Sabueso started in January 2015. Animal Político, a Mexican news outlet, began this effort in order to encourage accountability in the public debate. El Sabueso has its own section in Animal Politico's website (https://www.animalpolitico.com/sabueso/) in which is easy to read all the fact checks and verifications that the team did since 2015.

2. Animal Político has people working full-time in order to maintain the website and its editorial jobs, the profiles are available on the section "Directorio" https://www.animalpolitico.com/directorio/ . It has: 1 programmer, 1 designer, 6 reporters, 1 growth editor, 2 Community Managers, 6 editors, 2 video producers, 1 coordinator for the opinion section, 1 general editor, 1 director. And there's two full time reporters working specifically in El Sabueso.

3. Animal Político does research journalism around subjects like corruption, human rights, accountability and transparency. It publishes daily stories as well as breaking news, fact-checks, debunking false information, multimedia products for social media and long-breath stories through the year.

4. This year the goal is to create more multimedia material. El Sabueso was focused on texts and features, but this year the objective is to create video and infographics to reach a new audience. This multimedia material is not only about debunking, also is media literacy and educative. 

Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

We can say that all the answers to the 4 questions asked in this section are answered appropriately.

Given thedescription and characteristics  of El Sabueso, we can understand that it is a unit exclusively devoted to fact checking within a broader journalistic project as Animal Político.

To provide a better context, we recall that Animal Político is an independent digital publication born in Mexico in 2010 focused on the country's political information. That explains the weight of information related to monitoring government decisions. In that sense, it should be remembered that in 2018 left-wing former mayor of Mexico City, Andres Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), is inaugurated president after winning an overwhelming victory in the July presidential election. (30,112,109 votes, 53.19% of the total votes cast.). López Obrador is the leader of the National Regeneration Movement and he headed the Juntos Haremos Historia coalition. The coalition also won 306/500 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, 69/100 federal Senate seats, several governorships, and numerous local elections.

Other relevant aspects of the country's recent history have to do with violence (the year 2019 was the most violent year in Mexico, as the country saw more than 34,000 murder nationwide over twelve months.) Many of these crimes are related to what we can call "Drug War", added to the problem of violence against women: Mexico's rate of femicide — the murder of women and girls because of their gender — rose at least 145 percent between 2015 and 2019, from about four hundred cases to more than one thousand; finally, other relevant issues in recent times are the relations with the United States (especially since Donald Trump held the presidency), as well as, as in the rest of the world, the management of the health crisis of COVID19.






done_all 1.2 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

El Sabueso is divided into sections: Fact-Checking, Te Explico, Desinformación (and Lo último, with the latest fact-checkings). It publishes quite frequently, although there are months when no fact check appears (February 2020), what can be attributed to the normal news flow, but it reaches the average of one fact check per week in the last six months. So this assessor concludes that this organization complies completely with the requirements.


done_all 1.3 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Animal Político - El Sabueso
29-May-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago


Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

The topics that describe both the fact checks selected by the applicant, and a set of 10 more fact checks randomly selected by this assessor, deal with the following matters: COVID19 (Health), Violence (in general and against women in particular), Education, Pension System Reform, Infrastructures in Mexico, fake websites and, especially, a wide group of items dedicated to monitoring and verifying the statements of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO). Thus, we can say that the vast majority of the topics covered are related to what the IFCN could consider an impact on the welfare or well-being of individuals, the general public or society. 


done_all 1.4 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Animal Político - El Sabueso
29-May-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

We don't receive funding from any political actors or parties.

But we have a section for commercial content, called "Hablemos de" in which the commercial team —that is independent from editorial— publishes content about specific topics. Sometimes this content could be about state actors, but when that happens, the content appears in this commercial section that always has the phrase "sponsored content".

https://www.animalpolitico.com/hablemos-de/

As we need to identify the commercial content to be transparent with our audience, we created a few years ago a specific section for it.

The publication of this section has the term "contenido patrocinado". We can not add the term in the section for technical reasons, but the term is in the picture of each publication. So, each time any reader finds a content sponsored, it'll show "contenido patrocinado" at the top.

We identify the section in each year's publication about revenue streams, that is linked to the Quienes Somos section.

https://www.animalpolitico.com/quienes-somos/

In the 2020 report, we specified that the section exists in order to put all the sponsored content in the same place and to identify it for any reader.

https://www.animalpolitico.com/blog-invitado/hacia-el-2020/

Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

The applicant claims that funds from political actors are not received. But they do concede that they maintain a section called "Hablemos de..." where it is published sponsored news that sometimes could be from the state. Only as an improvement for the future, we recommend that it be expressed more clearly in the main header of the section "Hablemos de..." that it is sponsored material or at least by which entity in each case. However, this does not mean that the applicant’s editorial output is controlled by the state, a political party or politician, but the suggestion may serve to make this better demonstrated to readers in the future.


done_all 1.5 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Animal Político - El Sabueso
29-May-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

The commitment of the editorial independence of Animal Politico's journalism can be found in the Code of Ethics:

https://www.animalpolitico.com/codigo-de-etica/

And has this chapter:

Animal Politico does not respond to any partisan, religious, political, or any other interest that may coerce, compel, or obstruct our journalistic mission.

Journalists, collaborators, executives, and members of the editorial board are responsible to keep impartiality in order to ensure that interviews, news, and any journalistic work responds only to the public interest.

The personal points of view, feelings, or political and moral preferences of the members of the team should not prevail over the objectivity and editorial criteria of Animal Politico.

The non compliance of the Code of Ethics is translated into the cease of the labour relation.

Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

The organization provides a publicly accessible statement on its site with their Ethical Code, clearly and thoroughly written and compulsory for every of its staff members.


done_all 1.6 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Animal Político - El Sabueso
29-May-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

1. AMLO's claims about a decrease in violence against women are incorrect.

2. Will the government give 500 million pesos to restore the streets in Hermosillo? This promise is misleading

3. It's false that 90% of the calls to 911 that denounce violence against women are fake

4. It's not true that the epidemic curve in Mexico is horizontal

5. No, Mexico's homicides numbers aren't decreasing, as AMLO said

6. There are fake calls around Mexico's Institute for well-being 

7. Mexico's consumers trust levels are at their best as AMLO said, true, but what does this means? 

8. Government claims that there were no acts of violence against migrants, but the images show something else

9. Baja California's governor claims that he registered to rule for five years, but the law later was changed (to lie with the truth)

10. Fake text messages promise money for people who have been affected by COVID, but they're a fraud

El Sabueso fact checked Mexican politicians from any party, any authority who managed public resources -Federal or from the states-, and actors involved in the public sphere. The list includes different authorities and topics, and also different ways to explain misleading statements. 

We are facing in Mexico that on the federal level, the president in the one who is speaking with a press conference that lasts 3 hours everyday; so other public characters are not giving statements. So, we are fact checking different topics and putting in context that is a statement from the presidential conference in which must of the time only the president speaks. 

El Sabueso works with the same base methodology for every fact check. After the selection of the claim, which is always evaluated and chosen based on public interest, the next step is to reach the author of that claim in order to know the original source that was used. This allows us to have a fair, accurate and contrasting exercise of fact-checking in every claim.

The construction of every Sabueso follows the same structure: an open paragraph to remind the claim, the data/revelation that we used for the conclusion, and the rate. After that, we show the position of the author of the claim after El Sabueso's consult and the full explanation of our discovery with the use of full data, graphics, or interviews with experts. Also, all the sources are fully visible with the links, the files, papers or official data that we download and use during the fact check.


Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

The applicant explains the methodology in detail and this coincides with the final wording of the revised fact-checks (in structure, sources, etc.) We also highlight the gradual classification system for verifying information divided into 8 categories.

The applicant also consistently justifies the reason why there is a high number of fact-checks on the president's statements, as he personally makes frequent appearances in which he himself addresses the nation and the media.


done_all 2.1 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Animal Político - El Sabueso
29-May-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

How we select the fact checks and claims can be seen in the Methodology section: https://www.animalpolitico.com/sabueso-metodologia/

Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

In its methodology, the applicant affirms that a phrase from the public sphere is selected according to the relevance both for the topic and for the person who says it.

From this assesor's point of view, it would be appropriate to give more extensive information on how the selection of items to verify is made (there are not only declarations but also fake news, hoaxes...)  and which staff members are responsible for this decision. But, nevertheless, this assesor considers it sufficiently justified, especially after reviewing the set of fact-checks chosen as a sample.


done_all 2.2 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Animal Político - El Sabueso
29-May-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

Regarding El Sabueso and its fact-checking labour, no influence or conflict of interest are perceived in relation to the sources used.


done_all 2.3 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

The applicant does not show neither on their website nor in their social networks support for any political party or for any political actor.


done_all 2.4 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Animal Político - El Sabueso
29-May-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

The non-partisanship for the staff can be found in the Code of Ethics: https://www.animalpolitico.com/codigo-de-etica/

Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

The applicant sets out its policy on non-partisanship for staff clearly on its site. In a review of the public statements on social media of the key staff, this assessor detects their high citizen commitment, highlighting a critical vision that is strongly demanding with a large range of political and social leaders. But in no case they show express personal support for politicians or political parties. However, some of them specify in their bio on Twitter that their opinions are personal.


done_all 2.5 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
In each revised text, the sources from which the figures, documents, statistics and other data are obtained are highlighted in red and hyperlinked, so we can say that the applicant meets the requirement to make it easier for readers to check the accuracy of the article themselves. 

done_all 3.1 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The sources are diverse, reliable, first-hand and correctly identified in the selected samples. In some cases, as the verified information is international, some secondary sources are used, such as media from the countries of origin of the news or other signatories of IFCN dedicated to the fact-checking. 

done_all 3.2 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The applicant checks all key elements of the claims with more than one named source of evidence, except when the only source is the only one relevant to the subject, which is rarely the case because the texts often enrich the information with additional data.

done_all 3.3 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

There were found no cases of this kind. The nuances of the 8 categories in which the fact checks are classified help us to get an idea of what interests are behind the statements of the sources subject to verification, so we conclude that this criteria is compliant. 


done_all 3.4 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Animal Político - El Sabueso
29-May-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

El Sabueso is part of Animal Político, an independent news outlet organization. 
https://www.animalpolitico.com/quienes-somos/

Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
As highlighted in previous reports, in the "About Us" section of its website, El Sabueso keeps providing a comprehensive and easily accessible disclosure of the source of its funding. This page also provides details on the legal form in which this organization is registered.

done_all 4.1 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Animal Político - El Sabueso
29-May-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

This can be found in our "About us" section: https://www.animalpolitico.com/quienes-somos/ 

Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Again, in the "About Us" section, the applicant clearly and transparently explains which companies it belongs to.

done_all 4.2 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Animal Político - El Sabueso
29-May-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

The organizational structure can be found in the directory: https://www.animalpolitico.com/directorio/

Animal Político - El Sabueso
01-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

The organizational structure can be found in the directory: https://www.animalpolitico.com/directorio/

In the profile of Samedi Aguirre and Jorge Ramis its clearly indicated that they are part of the Sabueso's team. 

Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

Although the structure of the organization is quite clear, it would be desirable to complete some details: the applicant indicates in their request that two of the reporters of Animal Político work exclusively for the fact checking unit El Sabueso, so we suggest that it should be more clearly indicated who are the responsible persons in the organization chart.


cancel 4.3 marked as Request change by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.
Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
11-Sep-2020 (4 years ago)

The structure of the organization is quite clear. Although it is necessary to enter the profile of each team member to consult it, it is indicated who are the people in charge of the verification tasks for El Sabueso, so the requested information is satisfied.


done_all 4.3 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Animal Político - El Sabueso
29-May-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

Each member of the directory has its own biographies, which can be found clicking on their profiles: https://www.animalpolitico.com/directorio/

Animal Político - El Sabueso
01-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

Each member of the directory has its own biographies, which can be found clicking on their profiles: https://www.animalpolitico.com/directorio/

The reporter Samedi Aguirre has a link to her profile. 

Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

The reporter Samedi Aguirre does not have a link to her profile or Twitter account: we are convinced that this aspect can be easily solved.


cancel 4.4 marked as Request change by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.
Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
11-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

Each member of the directory has its own biography, which can be found easily clicking on their profiles.


done_all 4.4 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Animal Político - El Sabueso
29-May-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

El Sabueso has very clear and accessible means of contact, both with the news organization and personally with staff members. The means of contacting them include a general contact page with an email, as well as the social network profile on Twitter and Facebook, and also the staff's Twitter accounts (except in the case mentioned above).


done_all 4.5 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Animal Político - El Sabueso
29-May-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
El Sabueso has a clear method in seven steps for conducting fact-checks. It is clearly labeled and easy to find for members of their audience and the journalistic processes are explained for the general public in such a way that it is very clear what fact-checking is about. As mentioned above, the selection of the items could be further clarified but taking into account the set of examples analysed and the transparency of the methodology is considered sufficient. 

done_all 5.1 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Rather than a justification of why each claim has been selected, the wording of the fact checks explains rather the context that makes that claim important. But, in any case, it can be considered sufficient.

done_all 5.2 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The applicant complies with the requirement to establish relevant evidence in its fact checks that appears to support the claim as well as relevant evidence that appears to undermine it. Especially, of course, in the fact checks that are in the middle of the spectrum of its 8 categories (Inaccurate, Debatable, Can't be proven, Deceitful, Lying with the truth). 

done_all 5.3 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
In its fact checks, the applicant is fair and neutral, using the same standards, regardless of who made the claim.  

done_all 5.4 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The applicant seeks where possible to contact those who made the claim to seek supporting evidence. In fact, this is not only part of one of the 7 steps of their methodology, but it is a practice that is evident in some of the examples reviewed. 

done_all 5.5 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Animal Político - El Sabueso
29-May-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

Readers can send claims through our website: https://www.animalpolitico.com/sabueso-metodologia/ and email: https://www.animalpolitico.com/sabueso-contacto/ 

Also, Animal Politico encourages this effort through social media: https://twitter.com/ElSabuesoAP/status/1266036514687004672

Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
There are different ways to submit claims to check indicated on the applicant's website, both by email and via Twitter and Facebook.

done_all 5.6 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Animal Político - El Sabueso
29-May-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Animal Político - El Sabueso
01-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The applicant has a clear correction policy that it is published in their website but I have been able to access from the link they provide in the application, it is not easily found browsing the web, so perhaps it would be appropriate to make it more visible.

cancel 6.1 marked as Request change by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.
Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
11-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

The applicant has a clear correction policy that it is published in their website and it is sufficiently visible and easily accessible.


done_all 6.1 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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

Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

The policy sets out clear definitions of how to act in the event that  stakeholders involved in the information or readers request a correction.


done_all 6.2 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Animal Político - El Sabueso
29-May-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

El Sabueso hasn't correction requests in the previous year. As our correction policy mentions, we add a "Nota del Editor" when there are changes after the request. 

Example of how this works is probably this one: https://www.animalpolitico.com/elsabueso/falso-vacuna-curar-coronavirus-covid-en-horas/

We added extra information in order to update the publication and this is showed at the top. 

Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

In the revised examples the applicant conveniently indicates in the first paragraph with a note from the editor that a correction has been added to the original publication. 


done_all 6.3 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Animal Político - El Sabueso
29-May-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

The applicant declares itself an IFCN signatory and, in two links of its website (Complaints Policy and Methodology), they inform users that if they believe El Sabueso is violating the IFCN Code, they may inform the IFCN, and for this purpose they include the link to the complaints section of the IFCN website.


done_all 6.4 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.

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.

Animal Político - El Sabueso
29-May-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago

Animal Político has internal manuals for operations that describe what to do in case of corrections.

The document includes step by step how Animal Politico makes corrections and there is a version for El Sabueso (attached) 

Link for internal manual socialmedia: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EEKJjQB_syfHZ826qXtTGMSGtG63Mw6IH2fC_GzD7bA/edit

Others: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YpWIRvBLBbwWgIMvFs1IMLKVdGRpT6sxWeOc7SZMv_c/edit

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1T42QxW6fxrcRePimqdndDZhl0cayOs2COY-lci1VZBQ/edit

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13ayRDKGab1F0mxkkV81tUtiN1WAsf0fJSF6UXBcFsPw/edit


The manuals explains: Animal Politico / El Sabueso publish the full letter or message sent by the interested party; if a correction it is made, we add an Editor Note in the top of the text.

We add an answer from the editorial team when it’s necessary and in social media we publish that a correction it was made. 

Examples: 

https://www.animalpolitico.com/2020/04/amlo-gasto-autos-renta/ 

https://www.animalpolitico.com/2020/07/jeidy-joven-indigena-ataque-transfobico-puebla/

https://www.animalpolitico.com/2020/05/morena-propone-inegi-concentracion-riqueza-familias/


Files Attached
picture_as_pdf Qué hacer en caso d... (434 KB)
Natalia Meléndez Malavé Assessor
27-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The internal resources and documents on the corrections policy of the mother company of El Sabueso, Animal Político, are very clear and rigorous.

done_all 6.5 marked as Compliant by Natalia Meléndez Malavé.