Organization: APA - Austria Presse Agentur
Applicant: Florian Schmidt
Assessor: Dagmar Thiel
Background
APA-Faktencheck is a department within the APA–Austria Press Agency. And started its operation in February 2020. APA is the national news agency, and the leading Austrian information service provider since 1946. It is owned by 12 Austrian daily newspapers and the Austrian national television broadcasting network ORF. The APA Group consists of a cooperatively organized news agency and three wholly owned subsidiaries that cover the business areas of news agency, information agency, and technology agency. The Group also includes international holdings in Switzerland (integrated news and picture agency) and Germany (mobile publishing solutions).
The fact-checking team is comprised of four members with a clear editorial structure and policies. Also, journalists from other APA departments fact-check special topics. The organization has agreements with Google, the German Press Agency (DPA), Facebook, the German Austrian Digital Media Observatory (GADMO), and the ERASMUS project "Analysis" as well as the KIRAS projects "falsify-AI" and "defame Fakes," funded by the EU.
APA declares that it is financially and politically independent of the state, government, or parties and does not get state funding or subsidies, except for two news departments, which run social and science projects in partnership with public institutions. Also, parties and public institutions are customers of the APA group and obtain their products from IT, communication services, and the news department.
Assessment Conclusion
APA-Faktencheck complies with all IFCN principles and does a coherent job debunking mis- and disinformation in Austria. The organization consistently follows its policies and methodology, published on its website. Claims are not rated as true/partly true/false, but the factchecks provide extensive context and information so readers can come to their own conclusions.
APA -Faktencheck publishes weekly information, mainly related to health, immigration, and social issues, based on the importance of the information, social impact, and the reach of false claims. The unit infrequently addresses political issues. Those reviewed did not reveal any biases.
The assessor could not verify any corrections, as APA said there was no need to correct information in the review period. On the other hand, some of the provided links for review were duplicated or led to the same article, but the assessor reviewed additional verifications on the website to compensate.
The organization also does a vital job training journalists in the German language and is part of regional efforts to combat disinformation.
Dagmar Thiel assesses application as Compliant
A short summary in native publishing language
Bewertung Schlussfolgerung.
APA-Faktencheck erfüllt alle IFCN-Prinzipien und leistet konsistente Arbeit bei der Entlarvung von Falsch- und Desinformationen in Österreich. Die Organisation hält sich konsequent an ihre Richtlinien und Methoden, die auf ihrer Website veröffentlicht sind. Behauptungen werden nicht als wahr/teilweise wahr/falsch eingestuft, sondern die Faktenchecks liefern umfangreiche Zusammenhänge und Informationen, damit die LeserInnen ihre eigenen Schlussfolgerungen ziehen können.
APA-Faktencheck veröffentlicht wöchentlich Informationen, die sich hauptsächlich auf Gesundheits-, Einwanderungs- und Sozialthemen beziehen, je nach Wichtigkeit der Informationen und der Reichweite der falschen Behauptungen. Politische Themen werden nur selten aufgegriffen. Die überprüften Informationen ließen keine Voreingenommenheit erkennen.
Die Gutachterin konnte keine Korrekturen überprüfen, da laut APA im Überprüfungszeitraum keine Notwendigkeit zur Korrektur von Informationen bestand. Andererseits waren einige der zur Überprüfung bereitgestellten Links doppelt vorhanden oder führten zum selben Artikel, aber die Prüferin überprüfte zusätzliche Überprüfungen auf der Website, um dies auszugleichen.
Die Organisation leistet auch wichtige Arbeit bei der Ausbildung von Journalisten in deutscher Sprache und ist Teil der regionalen Bemühungen zur Bekämpfung von Desinformation.
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.
APA - Austria Presse Agentur
05-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Information about our organization's legal status can be found directly in the website section of the APA-Faktencheck (APA fact check): http://go.apa.at/kAzVcaee
APA-Faktencheck is a department within the APA – Austria Press Agency. The APA – Austria Press Agency is the national news agency and the leading Austrian information service provider. It is owned by 12 Austrian daily newspapers and the Austrian national television broadcasting network ORF. APA fulfils its duties independently of the state, government and parties, according to the principles of reliability, speed and balance, as well as avoiding one-sidedness or partisanship.
General information about APA: http://go.apa.at/1LpjmLeU
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
APA-Faktencheck is a legally distinct Austrian Press Agency (APA) team. The information is published on APA's website.
done_all 1.1 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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?
APA - Austria Presse Agentur
05-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
1. The APA fact check, which was created in February 2020, is aimed at creating a better response to the increasing danger of targeted disinformation, which is especially wide-spread via the digital networks. As the leading information provider in Austria, systematic fact-checking and careful research have been an elementary part of the APA journalists’ daily work for decades. In the APA fact check department, this knowledge is used to be prepared for tough cases, and in order to carry out complex verification processes. With the initiation of the APA fact check, the Austria Press Agency aims to do its part in the global fight against fake news and use the available expertise to give the citizens a better chance of objectively catagorizing information.
2. The APA fact check team consists of a core team of four people and several more journalists from other departments who can help the fact-checkers on special topics (for expert knowledge provided by specialists and to create new synergy). The team is led and coordinated by verification officer Florian Schmidt, who also plays an important role in producing the fact checks themselves. The team members work as necessary on finding topics, research or production.
3. The main job of the APA fact check is the examination of claims that are relevant for the general populace. This predominantly covers current and viral information, but readers are also invited to send in suggestions. The examination of claims is then published in the fact check, transparently and in a way that is accessible to readers. In addition, the verification officer regularly trains all colleagues within the APA, as well as external people interested in research and information possibilities or in verification tools. In cooperation with dpa (German news agency) APA does fact checking for Facebook and offers verification training funded by Google for Austrian journalists. APA also takes part in scientific projects to develop tools or courses aimed at debunking misinformation.
4. The goal in the coming year is to further expand the APA fact check department and to take part in more fact-checking projects like training in the media sector or scientific research. A big goal is to spread verified facts via new media formats like podcasts oder videos. This could be helpful especially to reach young people. The fact check team still aims to establish fact checks in Austrian media. The department should not only constantly increase the available competences, but also intensify the knowledge transfer and the transmission of important research techniques and relevant experiences to interested people. In addition, the development of technical support and solutions for the fact-checking process is still a focus.
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
APA started its fact-checking unit in February 2020 to respond to increasing disinformation, targeting tough cases and complex verification processes. The unit has four members who permanently work on factchecking and train journalists on the verification methods. APA wants to expand its reach with verifications in new media formats.
done_all 1.2 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
APA - Austria Presse Agentur
05-Jun-2023 (1 year ago)
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
APA-Faktencheck presents evidence of at least one weekly verification of public interest over the last year.
done_all 1.3 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
All the verified claims are of public interest and contribute to the welfare of the Austrian readers. The topics go from immigration problems to health issues, public scams or climate change.
done_all 1.4 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
APA - Austria Presse Agentur
05-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
The Austria Press Agency does not receive any general state funding (such as press subsidies). As a privately-organized, independent company, APA is owned by 12 Austrian daily newspapers and the public broadcaster ORF. Together, these guarantee the independence and non-partisanship of the APA. Public institutions as well as parties are customers of the APA group, and obtain their products from IT, communication services, and the news department.
The business relations are handled by the sales department; the news department is not involved.
The research project "Defalsif-ai" was publicly funded and ran until October 2022 with participation of the fact-checking team. APA-Faktencheck is also part of the EDMO-Hub "GADMO" which receives funding by the European Union as well as the ERASMUS project "Analysis". Two news department projects have public funding: The ministry for social affairs funds the production of news in simple language (APA-TopEasy) so that this service can be made available to NGOs in the disabled care sector. The communication platform APA-Science is financed by the leading players in the Austrian science landscape, including responsible institutions and funding bodies, research institutions, innovative companies, universities, and education networks. APA is also part of the European Newsroom.
https://gadmo.eu/
https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/erasmus-sport-2022-scp
https://europeannewsroom.com/de/about/agenturen/
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
APA is an independent and privately owned company. The organizing does not receive funding from the Austrian state for its operation, but the fact-checking department has received funding from the European Union. Other departments of APA received some funding from the Austrian Ministry of Social Affairs for specific projects that have been disclosed. The assessor could not find any evidence that this funding influenced the verification and publishing process of the organization.
done_all 1.5 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
APA - Austria Presse Agentur
05-Jun-2023 (1 year ago)
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
Apa states financial and political independence as one of its core values on its bylaws and website. Although APA is a privately owned business, it develops several projects with public state funding. Those projects and partners are disclosed on the organization's website.
done_all 1.6 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
APA - Austria Presse Agentur
05-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
In addition to the strict obligation of impartiality in the entire APA, the APA fact check team also makes certain not to take sides in the selection or the production of the fact checks.
I) Due to the corona crisis, the climate crisis and the war in Ukraine in the past few years, there have been for the most part fact checks without a clear-cut political background, and the team did not focus much on national parties. In political fact checks, which will make up an undetermined number of stories in future, the team will continue to be careful to examine the claims by different parties using the same set of criteria and to examine claims from more than one party or political side. Our effort is to make sure of a balanced proportion of fact checks on politicians from all parties. In all fact checks, the same high standards are applied, such as careful research, the uncovering of primary sources or reliable secondary sources, the (often not possible or not fruitful) contact with the people making the original claims (if it is detectable), the work with verification tools, the transparent documentation of all research steps or the presentation of contradictory statements or contradictory stances.
II) The development and structure of every fact check follows the same pattern: First information about a circulating claim, its relevance and its reach is reported, immediately followed by an assessment, so that readers are made aware right away if the claim is false. This is followed by a comprehensive and transparent examination of what is true or false about the claim, with the help of publicly-available sources.
III) Assessments will only be made following researched facts. The selected fact checks show the compliance with strict criteria for the examination of claims, as well how exactly the conclusions were reached. It is the goal of the APA fact check team that readers can reconstruct every step of the fact check for themselves.
Ten fact-checks:
https://apa.at/faktencheck/falschbehauptung-ueber-ludwigs-besuch-am-brunnenmarkt/
https://apa.at/faktencheck/falschbehauptungen-ueber-innsbrucker-gemeinderat/
https://apa.at/faktencheck/altes-planai-foto-spricht-nicht-gegen-klimawandel/
https://apa.at/faktencheck/eu-seit-langer-zeit-fuer-vitamin-hoechstmengen/
https://apa.at/faktencheck/regenwetter-spricht-nicht-gegen-klimakrise/
https://apa.at/faktencheck/ki-generierte-bilder-haeufig-geteilt/
https://apa.at/faktencheck/playmobil-edition-zu-klima-protesten-ist-ein-fake/
https://apa.at/faktencheck/bmi-daten-zu-migrationsrouten-kaum-aussagekraeftig/
https://apa.at/faktencheck/angestellte-bekommen-mehr-geld-als-asylberechtigte/
https://apa.at/faktencheck/keine-registrierungspflicht-mehr-in-gastronomie/
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
Most of the claims verified by APA-Faktencheck are not related to political parties. Most fact-checks relate to health, migration, social services, climate change, and similar topics. The assessor did not find evidence of any biases in those verifications. All the claims follow the same verification process. (Although some links shared connect to the same piece, the assessor reviewed enough pieces on the organization's website.)
done_all 2.1 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
APA - Austria Presse Agentur
05-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
APA-Faktencheck selects claims that are relevant to society and have a significant reach or have been made by a public figure. The selection and verification processes are publicly explained on APA's website.
done_all 2.2 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
APA-Faktencheck discloses the sources' interests and helps readers understand the contexts.
done_all 2.3 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
APA is an independent media group without political affiliation.
done_all 2.4 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
APA - Austria Presse Agentur
05-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
The policy complies with the IFCN Principles.
done_all 2.5 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
APA-Faktencheck links the quoted sources, most of which are primary sources.
done_all 3.1 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
APA-Faktencheck uses mainly primary sources.
done_all 3.2 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
APA uses different sources to verify the claims and contrasts arguments to provide readers with a better understanding.
done_all 3.3 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
APA discloses the sources' interests.
done_all 3.4 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
APA - Austria Presse Agentur
05-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
APA-Faktencheck is the fact-checking section of APA - Austria Presse Agentur.
https://apa.at/faktencheck/aufbau-redaktionelle-grundsaetze/
Press release: http://go.apa.at/aZkSq05m
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
APA-Faktencheck is a unit of the APA media group. The information is disclosed on the website.
done_all 4.1 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
APA - Austria Presse Agentur
05-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
The website informs about the unit's ownership.
done_all 4.2 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
APA - Austria Presse Agentur
05-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
organization structure: https://apa.at/faktencheck/aufbau-redaktionelle-grundsaetze/
team: https://apa.at/faktencheck/team/
We specify on our website that APA-Faktencheck does work completely autonomously: https://apa.at/faktencheck/team/ . Neither public nor non-public institutions (including APA's shareholders) can exercise control over APA's editorial output: https://apa.at/about/die-redaktion/ This is also valid for the work of the fact-checking team.
The work in the fact-checking team is independent und unaffected by other parts of the editorial office. The team has access to all basic functions of the editorial system and can publish fact checks without the involvement of other persons such as the editor-in-chief. In some cases, for example when it comes to sensitive topics with a lot of media attention, the fact-checking team can consult the editor-in-chief and inform the editorial departments.
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
APA-Faktenchecks has a well-known organizational structure. The team responds to an editorial control, which is independent of the editorial chief of APA.
done_all 4.3 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
APA - Austria Presse Agentur
05-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
The biographies of the four fact-checking team members are published and open to public review.
done_all 4.4 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
APA - Austria Presse Agentur
05-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
Contacting the team to send claims is easy and regularly suggested by the organization.
done_all 4.5 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
APA - Austria Presse Agentur
05-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
The methodology is extensively explained and correctly followed in all reviewed verifications.
done_all 5.1 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
Claims are selected based on relevance, social impact, and reach.
done_all 5.2 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
APA-Faktencheck uses evidence to analyze and contextualize every verification thoroughly.
done_all 5.3 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
APA-Faktencheck is consistent in the use of high standards in all the verifications.
done_all 5.4 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
Several verifications evidence APA-Faktencheck 's practice of contacting the original claimants.
done_all 5.5 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
APA - Austria Presse Agentur
05-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
APA-Faktencheck calls on readers to send in topic suggestions for the fact checks: https://apa.at/faktencheck/kontakt/ A mail address is made available on every fact check story. In addition, the APA-Faktencheck can be reached via its Twitter account: https://twitter.com/APA_Faktencheck
APA-Faktencheck points out to readers that we can only examine claims which follow our rules for the APA-Faktenchecks. The rules are listed here: https://apa.at/faktencheck/regeln/
We make clear that topics relevant for fact checking include questionable information or claims that “go viral” and garner social interest, or if they have an effect on decision-making for a large number of people. These can be news topics with a lot of media attention, or even social media posts with a lot of “shares”. A certain reach is a necessary criteria. Questionable postings in closed forums or postings without much interaction are not relevant as a rule.
The selection of fact checks can be on all topics and in all socially-relevant areas of life. The APA fulfils its responsibilities independently of state, government and parties according to the standards of reliability, speed, balance and avoidance of any partisanship or one-sidedness. The fact check team selects its topics for examination, bearing these guidelines in mind.
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
APA-Faktencheck invites readers to send information that needs to be verified in all the publications and in a special section of its website.
done_all 5.6 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
APA - Austria Presse Agentur
05-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
APA-Faktencheck has a complaints policy.
done_all 6.1 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 6.2
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the corrections policy to verify it meets critera. No additional information needed.
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
The policy defines how corrections should be made and what it covers. The assessor could not review corrections, as APA stated that the organization did not need to do any during the last six months. However, the assessor reviewed an article with a content addition made after a reader sent his comments on a published verification, which shows that the organization follows its policy.
done_all 6.2 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
APA - Austria Presse Agentur
05-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
If we notice major errors in our fact checks, or if we are confronted with legitimate interjections, then it is of utmost concern to us to quickly and transparently correct the fact checks in question. This is aimed at avoiding further readers from seeing the uncorrected version. Mistakes in the published fact checks can be easily corrected on our homepage, so that even the already shared links to the older stories will lead to the corrected versions.
There was no need for a correction in the fact checks six months before this application. You can find examples of corrections in our former IFCN applications. You can also see an example for an addition - not a correction - in one article where an expert sent us his statement after the publication of the text: https://apa.at/faktencheck/regenwetter-spricht-nicht-gegen-klimakrise/
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
There were no pieces of evidence of corrections made. APA said they were not needed on its application, as no mistakes were made during this period.
done_all 6.3 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
APA - Austria Presse Agentur
05-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
We inform users on the main page of our APA-Faktencheck site next to the IFCN signatory logo https://apa.at/service/faktencheck-2/ and in the correction rules section https://apa.at/faktencheck/korrekturregeln/
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
The information is correctly published on the website.
done_all 6.4 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
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.
APA - Austria Presse Agentur
05-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
https://www.apa.at/Site/Nachrichtenagentur/Die_Redaktion.de.html
There are internal documents which serve as guidelines for corrections in APA’s editorial office. All editors are bound by this correction policy and have to make corrections promptly, transparently and meticulously.
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
10-Jan-2024 (8 months ago) Updated: 8 months ago
The correction policy is published on APA's website, and is completed with internal guidelines followed by the editorial team.