Organization: Animal Político - El Sabueso
Applicant: Arturo Daen
Assessor: Ramón Salaverría
Background
Active since 2015, El Sabueso is the fact-checking section of the Mexican digital native outlet Animal Político. According to the assessment, it complies with all the standards required by the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN).
Assessment Conclusion
Animal Político - El Sabueso complies with all the criteria of the IFCN Code of Principles. Therefore, the recommendation to the Board is to renew the accreditation.
Ramón Salaverría assesses application as Compliant
A short summary in native publishing language
Activo desde 2015, El Sabueso es la sección de verificación de hechos del medio nativo digital mexicano Animal Político. Según la evaluación, cumple con todos los estándares exigidos por la Red Internacional de Verificación de Datos (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.
Animal Político - El Sabueso
27-Feb-2023 (1 year ago)
The information is always available and visible in the footer. In the section "Quienes somos" (About us), any reader has access to the official documents that show 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
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Published in Spanish, Animal Político is a Mexican digital publication founded in 2010 owned by Editorial Animal, a branch of Grupo Editorial Criterio. This publication self-defines as a "digital native digital medium that brings together journalists, designers, programmers and video editors to create content with rigor, precision and thought to serve citizens." Since January 2015, Animal Político runs a section called El Sabueso (‘The Hound’), devoted to fact-checking. Animal Político has presented evidence of its legal status, disclosing the ownership and company structure. This information is available for every users in the 'About us' (Quiénes somos) page.
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?
Animal Político - El Sabueso
27-Feb-2023 (1 year 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 has done since 2015.
2. Animal Político has people working full-time in order to maintain the website and its editorial jobs, the profiles are available in the section "Directorio". Within the secondary menu, "El Sabueso", people who work exclusively as fact-checkers can be identified. https://www.animalpolitico.com/directorio/ .
It has: 1 programmer, 4 designers, 9 reporters, 1 deputy editorial director, 2 Community Managers, 4 editors, 1 information manager, 1 editor in chief, 5 video producers, 1 opinion section coordinator, 1 commercial director, 1 general editor, 1 director.
Specifically, at El Sabueso there are 9 full-time reporters working, 1 Community Manager part-time, 1 sub-coordinator, and an editorial coordinator.
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 throughout the year.
4. This year the goal is to create more multimedia material, increase interaction with readers and increase the frequency of publications. El Sabueso grew, it went from 5 reporters to 9, the objective this year is to continue generating verifications in multimedia formats and cover false facts that are transmitted from different parts of the country. In addition, to give verification courses to local media and face the challenge of being a local electoral year, and federal pre-election.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
The applicant has presented information on all aspects requested to qualify this criterion as compliant:
1. The year (2015) when its fact-checking operation started, under the name of El Sabueso.
2. In march 2023, the team responsible for El Sabueso is composed of 12 members: 9 full-time editors, 1 part-time community manager, and 2 editorial coordinators. The team of Animal Político is composed of 33 workers in total. In 2022, when the previous evaluation for IFCN was carried out, these figures were 9 members working at El Sabueso and 22 workers at Animal Político, so the size of the team has increased by approximately 30% in the last year.
3. The activities carried out by Animal Político, which comprise "research journalism around subjects like corruption, human rights, accountability and transparency" in Mexico.
4. The main goals that El Sabueso is pursuing in 2023, which are 1) to create more multimedia material, 2) increasing interaction with readers and 3) boosting the frequency of publications.
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.
Animal Político - El Sabueso
27-Feb-2023 (1 year ago)
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Animal Político - El Sabueso has submitted a spreadsheet with 51 fact-checks published over the six months prior to the date of application (Aug. 2, 2022 - Feb. 13, 2023). The applicant has an average rate of over two fact-checks published a week, above the minimum requested of at least one fact-check published a week.
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.
Animal Político - El Sabueso
27-Feb-2023 (1 year ago)
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
As needed, more than three quarters of the fact checks published over the period assessed focused 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 Mexico. Fact-checks comprise a wide array of topics (national politics, health, environmental issues...) and are related to relevant news in each moment from Mexico and abroad.
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.
Animal Político - El Sabueso
27-Feb-2023 (1 year 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.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
According to the information provided by the applicant, Animal Político does not receive any funding from any political actors or parties, nor does it have any commercial, financial and/or institutional relationships with the Mexican state.
Sporadically, it does publish content sponsored by commercial brands. This content is developed by a commercial team, independent from the editorial newsroom. When such branded contents are published, Animal Politico label them as "sponsored content" and they are gathered in the section 'Let's talk about' (Hablemos de).
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.
Animal Político - El Sabueso
27-Feb-2023 (1 year 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.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Animal Político - El Sabueso sets out a Code of Ethics (Código de Ética) where it requests all workers to "not respond to any partisan, religious, political, or any other interest that may coerce, compel, or obstruct (their) journalistic mission". On top of that, it provides full and transparent disclosure of all the relevant information about its ownership and funding scheme.
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.
Animal Político - El Sabueso
27-Feb-2023 (1 year ago)
AMLO did expropriate land for the Mayan Train, although in 2018 he promised not to do so https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/fact-checking/incumple-promesa-amlo-expropio-terrenos-tren-maya
False that government revenue is 39% of GDP; Deputy Patricia Armendáriz acknowledges miscalculation https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/fact-checking/falso-ingresos-gobierno-39-pib
Tatiana Clouthier did not criticize the López Obrador government, this video was taken out of context https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/desinformacion/tatiana-clouthier-no-critico-al-gobierno-de-lopez-obrador
Coahuila is not the third safest state in the country, as its governor said https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/desinformacion/coahuila-no-es-tercer-estado-mas-seguro-pais-como-dijo-gobernador
This photo is not of a young woman attacked during a protest in Xochimilco https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/desinformacion/foto-joven-agredida-no-es-protesta-xochimilco
Alfaro's saying that only 10% of disappearances are due to a crime and the rest of their own free will is misleading https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/fact-checking/alfaro-dicho-desapariciones-delito-voluntad-propia
This disinformative account is not related to fact-checking initiatives https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/desinformacion/info-cdmx-news-verificacion-de-hechos-falso
Users share photos taken out of context and false information about marches against former presidents and AMLO https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/desinformacion/fotos-fuera-contexto-amlo-marcha
This video does not show Sheinbaum distributing food in the AMLO march, it is from October https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/desinformacion/falso-video-sheinbaum-repartiendo-comida-marcha-amlo
This photo is from a march in Spain and is not related to the protests in favor of the INE https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/desinformacion/foto-marcha-en-espana-no-protestas-a-favor-ine
EL Sabueso checked Mexican politicians from any party, any authority that managed public resources -federal or state-, and actors involved in the public sphere. The list includes different authorities and subjects, and also different ways of explaining misleading statements.
During the past year in Mexico the El Sabueso team verified politicians from different parties using the same methodology.
On the other hand, President López Obrador dictates a daily press conference, its content is raw material to verify, but we have also denied false information that involves him, the Mexican government and the party he represents.
All fact checks are done following our methodology. After the selection of the claim, which is always evaluated and chosen based on the public interest, the next step is to reach out to the author of that claim to find out the original source that was used. This allows us to have a fair, accurate and contrasting fact-checking exercise on each claim.
The construction of each Hound follows the same structure: an open paragraph to remember the claim, the data / disclosure that we use for the conclusion.
Subsequently, we show the position of the author of the claim after the consultation of The Hound and the full explanation of our discovery with the use of complete data, graphs or interviews with experts.
Additionally, all sources are fully visible with official links, files, documents, or data that we download and use during fact-checking
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
As requested, Animal Político has demonstrated sufficiently its non-partisanship by providing ten examples of fact-checks to political leaders and parties from all the political spectrum in Mexico.
It is worth noting that, over the period assessed, the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has repeatedly accused Animal Político of professional misconduct and partisanship (see, for instance, this news of the Argentinean Infobae, in March 11, 2023). Against this accusations, the evidence collected for this assessment shows that Animal Político - El Sabueso fairly covers all Mexican political parties and uses the same high standards of evidence for equivalent claims from all the ideological spectrum.
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.
Animal Político - El Sabueso
27-Feb-2023 (1 year ago)
How we select the fact checks and claims can be seen in the Methodology section:
https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/fact-checking/metodologia
https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/desinformacion/metodologia
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
The fact-checking methodology (Metodología) of Animal Político - El Sabueso is sound and explains clearly how the applicant selects claims to check and performs fact-checking. The methodology is deemed sound, reliable and transparent.
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
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
After a random review of fact-checks published since August 2022 to February 2023, no trace has been found of any commercial interest that might influence the fact-checking activity of the applicant.
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
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Similarly to criterion 2.3, after a random review of a number of fact-checks published over the previous year (August 2022 - February 2023), no traces have been found of any political or ideological interest that might influence the fact-checking activity of the applicant.
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.
Animal Político - El Sabueso
27-Feb-2023 (1 year ago)
The non-partisanship for the staff can be found in the Code of Ethics: https://www.animalpolitico.com/codigo-de-etica
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
The applicant sets out a Code of Ethics (Código de Ética), compulsory for all staff members. According to this Code, "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". If any employee does not comply with this requirement, the Code of Ethics establishes that it will lead to the cease of the employment relation.
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
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Animal Político - El Sabueso 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
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
According to the assessor's knowledge, the sources used by Animal Político - El Sabueso 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
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
After a random review of a number of fact-checks published over the previous year (August 2022 - February 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
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
The sources used by Animal Político - El Sabueso are free-access and reliable, so that readers can conclude the interests that could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided. No examples have been detected of malpractice in this criterion.
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.
Animal Político - El Sabueso
27-Feb-2023 (1 year ago)
El Sabueso is part of Animal Político, an independent news outlet organization.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
El Sabueso is the fact-checking section of the native digital outlet Animal Político. This section has its own staff and works as a specific unit within the 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.
Animal Político - El Sabueso
27-Feb-2023 (1 year ago)
This can be found in our "About us" section: https://www.animalpolitico.com/quienes-somos/
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
In the 'About us' page (Quiénes somos), Animal Político provides detailed and transparent information about its ownership and funding scheme.
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.
Animal Político - El Sabueso
27-Feb-2023 (1 year ago)
The organizational structure can be found in the directory: https://www.animalpolitico.com/directorio/
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Animal Político - El Sabueso offers detailed information about its workforce is in the staff page (Directorio), indicating the respective role of the employees in the organization.
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.
Animal Político - El Sabueso
27-Feb-2023 (1 year ago)
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Short biographies of Animal Político - El Sabueso's team members are available in the website, including their email addresses, so that they can be reached by anyone.
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.
Animal Político - El Sabueso
27-Feb-2023 (1 year ago)
Readers can send claims through our website: https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/fact-checking
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Different means of contact to users are available at Animal Político - El Sabueso, all of them are easily accessible for users.. The main one is a corporate email account. In addition, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram handles are also provided.
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.
Animal Político - El Sabueso
27-Feb-2023 (1 year ago)
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
The applicant openly discloses its fact-checking methodology, which is deemed sound and reliable. After eight years of activity since 2015, the methodology is very tested and consistent.
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
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Drawing on a random review of a number of fact-checks published over six months prior to this assessment, no examples of infringement have been found that ANimal Político - El Sabueso 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
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Drawing on a number of randomly selected fact-checks, the assessor concludes that Animal Político - El Sabueso commits 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
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
No evidence has been found of different standards for fact-checking, depending on who made the claim or the subject checked.
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
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
In the random sample of the applicant's fact-checks examined, no examples were found of the objectionable situations indicated for this criterion. In absence of any evidence of misbehavior or infringement of this part of the code of principles, the assessment is positive.
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.
Animal Político - El Sabueso
27-Feb-2023 (1 year ago)
Readers can send claims through our website: https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/fact-checking/metodologia and email: https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/fact-checking
In some of the notes that are requested by social networks we add that the verification was required by one of our readers and at the end of them we add the link so that they can request their verification through WhatsApp- verifichat
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Animal Político allows users to send claims and corrections through different means of contact. 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.
Animal Político - El Sabueso
27-Feb-2023 (1 year ago)
https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/fact-checking/politica-de-correccion
Last year we did not record many cases, but this is an example of how an editor's note was added and the reply from the person who was verified.
https://www.animalpolitico.com/elsabueso/doctora-datos-falsos-maniplados-entrevista-covid-vacunas/
Here examples from previous years
https://www.animalpolitico.com/elsabueso/violencia-estados-gobierno-pan/
https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/te-explico/carta-sct-camino-oaxaca
In the website there is a link for the correction policy. Just next to the Methodology.
https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/fact-checking
https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/desinformacion
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Animal Político . El Sabueso allows users to send their claims and corrections, under a sound and easy-to-find corrections policy (Política de corrección). The applicant commits itself to notifying the user who sent the claim as soon as the article has been updated.
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
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
The corrections policy is very sound and it is explained with reasonable 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.
Animal Político - El Sabueso
27-Feb-2023 (1 year 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.
An example of how this works is probably this replica request: https://www.animalpolitico.com/elsabueso/doctora-datos-falsos-manipulados-entrevista-covid-vacunas/
We add an "editor's note" at the beginning of the post and include the reply that came to us at the end.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
According to the information provided by the applicant, Animal Político - El Sabueso has not received any requests for corrections of fact-checks over the period of time assessed. When such requests were received in the past, a "Note from the Editor" was published, explaining the circumstances and response to the claim. In absence of any additional evidence of misbehavior in this respect, the assessment for this criterion is positive.
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.
Animal Político - El Sabueso
27-Feb-2023 (1 year ago)
It's visible in the Correction Policy:
https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/fact-checking
https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/desinformacion
https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/fact-checking/politica-de-correccion
And in the Methodology: https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/fact-checking
https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/fact-checking/metodologia
https://www.animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos/desinformacion/metodologia
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
As requested, Animal Político - El Sabueso explains to the users how to proceed in case they want to inform the IFCN of any violation of the Code of Principles. The applicant provides to ways for doing so, both at the Correction Policy and Methodology pages.
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.
Animal Político - El Sabueso
27-Feb-2023 (1 year 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
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
19-Mar-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
El Sabueso is the fact-checking unit of Animal Político, a stand alone digital native outlet. Animal Político has a social media stylebook that adheres to the policy and Code of Ethics used by El Sabueso.