Organization: Bayerischer Rundfunk - BR24 #Faktenfuchs
Applicant: #Faktenfuchs
Assessor: Christoph Schurian
Background
Assessment Conclusion
BR #Faktenfuchs meets the criteria of the IFCN CoP. The "Faktencheck" is fair and profound, transparent and methodical, based on the editorial standards of the public service (and therefore non profit) broadcaster „Bayrischer Rundfunk“. I can see no reason to reject the application.
Christoph Schurian assesses application as Compliant
A short summary in native publishing language
Der BR #Faktenfuchs ist Teil des Online-Auftritts des Bayrischen Rundfunks und hat auf „BR24“ eine prominente Position als eine Sparte neben Bayern (Regionalnachrichten), Sport und z. Zt. zwei aktuellen Themenboxen zu Coronavirus und Krieg in der Ukraine. Die Redaktion liefert mehrfach wöchentlich Checks zu aktuellen Fragen, natürlich mit einem Schwerpunkt auf Megathemen - seit mehr als zwei Jahren die „Corona-Pandemie“, seit Februar 2022 der Krieg in der Ukraine. In informativen, oft von mehreren Autor:innen verantworteten und umfangreich, hintergründig und aktuell recherchierten Beiträgen, werden Behauptungen, aktuelle Diskussionen, aber auch „Meldungen“ aus sozialen Medien aufgegriffen. Aussagen werden nach klaren journalistisch handwerklichen Standards überprüft, immer verschiedene Stimmen und Quellen zu Rate gezogen und so eine möglichst unabhängige Position vermittelt. Da es sich oft um aktuelle Themen handelt – zur Zeit etwa Fragen zum Ukraine-Krieg – kann der Faktenfuchs oft allein mit Expert:innen sprechen und deren Einschätzungen (etwa zur mehr oder weniger rechtsextremen Gesinnung der Kämpfer des sog. Asowschen Regiments) vorstellen. Eigene Recherchen bzw. eine von den Kriegsparteien unabhängige Arbeit von Journalist:innen vor Ort sind auch in diesem Krieg stark eingeschränkt. Das erschwert allgemein die Berichterstattung, nicht zuletzt das unabhängige Faktenchecken.
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.
Bayerischer Rundfunk - BR24 #Faktenfuchs
19-Jul-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The BR24 #Faktenfuchs ist set up exclusively for the purposes of fact-checking. We provide further explanations about that on our BR24 #Faktenfuchs website, which is part of the BR24 internet presence: https://www.br.de/nachrichten/faktenfuchs-faktencheck,QzSIzl3. At the top of the page we explain in an article who we are and how we work and that we are part of BR24, which is the news brand of the bavarian public broadcaster "Bayerischer Rundfunk" (BR). We also explain in another article, how the BR is working, which legal status it has and how it is financed. https://www.br.de/nachrichten/deutschland-welt/wer-wir-sind-und-wie-wir-uns-finanzieren,SRACpK2 Information about the legal status of Bayerischer Rundfunk is also provided here: https://www.br.de/unternehmen/inhalt/organisation/rechtsgrundlagen/index.html
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?
Bayerischer Rundfunk - BR24 #Faktenfuchs
19-Jul-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
1. The Bayerischer Rundfunk started the BR24 #Faktenfuchs in 2017 as a fact checking unit. The BR aims to check claims, rumours and disinformation which ist spread on the internet. In 2016 BR24 supported the development of the add-on #factfox: a tool to help community managers spreading facts. The #factfox was kind of a „kickstarter“ for the #Faktenfuchs.“ The development of the #factfox won the Hackathon of the dpa (german press agency) (https://www.br.de/nachricht/hackathon-dpa-hauptpreis-factfox-100.html). The BR24 #Faktenfuchs team had been trained in all techniques of verification from the very beginning.
2. We are a team of up to 12 journalists in the fact-checking unit BR24 #Faktenfuchs, who work in a team of 5-6 per day. Everyone in the team works as a researcher/ fact checker; everyone writes articles after doing the research, which are published on the BR24 website, and nearly everone also produces audios for radio contribution in BR24 radio and web videos for the Youtube and Facebook channels of BR24 as well.
3. The Bayerischer Rundfunk is a public broadcaster and part of the ARD - the working group of public broadcasters of the Federal Republic of Germany. BR24 is the news section of the Bayerischer Rundfunk, which broadcasts on Radio and Television and publishes content on the internet. The BR24 #Faktenfuchs is a fact checking unit; we contribute input to all platforms of BR24: articles for the BR24 website and app, audios for BR24 radio, a video talk format for the BR24 YouTube channel and a graphic video format for the BR24 Facebook channel. The BR24 Rundschau, the television news of the BR, also broadcasts TV reports based on the research of the #Faktenfuchs team. And we do verification work for all departments of the Bayerischer Rundfunk. We also do trainings for example for teachers, to explain, how disinformation can be recognized and fought.
4. In september 2021, there will be elections in germany for the german parliament - with the background of the Covid-19 pandemic. We are prepared to fight disinformation ahead of the election and afterwards. We also contribute our fact checks in six different languages to help people, whose mother language is not german, to get information about rumours they might hear or read (https://www.br.de/nachrichten/faktenfuchs-in-english-tuerk-hrvatski-italiano-arabic-romana,SUeRCMg).
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.
Bayerischer Rundfunk - BR24 #Faktenfuchs
19-Jul-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In the past half year, the BR24 #Faktenfuchs has published between 10 and 20 fact check-articles per month, that equals an average of 2 to 5 articles a week:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bxuRVi9HMcgnXKOvSxUw2rMlvWv0M-5iqHLZr-dOjAE/edit?usp=sharing
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.
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
In the last few month I followed the „BR #Faktenfuchs“. Imho they are totally in line with IFCN's expectations. Nearly every check is of “public interest” and “relates to or could have an impact on the well-being of individuals, the general public or society”. Before the war there has been a dominance in issues of COVID19 and so called „alternative concepts“ of Querdenker. Now there is a focus on the Ukraine.
done_all 1.4 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
Bayerischer Rundfunk - BR24 #Faktenfuchs
19-Jul-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The #Faktenfuchs team is part of BR24, the news brand of the Bavarian public broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunks (BR). http://special.br.de/das-ist-der-br/erlebniswelt-online.php The BR is part of the ARD network. The BR’s duty and mission is based on a law called Rundfunkgesetz (broadcasting law https://www.gesetze-bayern.de/Content/Document/BayRuFuG/true ): The BR must provide primary care in the news field ("mediale Grundversorgung") that is independent and not-commercial for all citizens. This is possible through solidarity financing via the broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag), which is no tax, and therefore guarantees independence from state. In 2019 the broadcasting fee took up around 85 percent of the BR’s revenue. In 2019, Bayerischer Rundfunk recorded revenues of just over a billion euros. The advertising revenues made up a good two percent. The finances of the Bayerischer Rundfunk are made transparent here: https://www.br.de/unternehmen/inhalt/organisation/br-zahlen-finanzen-v2-100.html and here: https://www.br.de/unternehmen/inhalt/organisation/geschaeftsbericht-bilanz-zahlen102.html and here: https://www.br.de/unternehmen/inhalt/organisation/beteiligungsbericht-102.html
Over and above this public financing the BR24 #Faktenfuchs does not receive any financial or institutional funding or support from the state, politicians or political parties or political actors.
Informally, the team cooperates with scientists on the efficiency of fact checks and on improving tools for fact checking. Also, we cooperate informally with Google to use the Google Factcheck Markup Tool, to spread our findings. No contracts or financial support are related to these informal projects of cooperation. We use the https://www.factfox.io/ to spread our findings in social networks. The add-on was developed with the support of BR24 in 2016.
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
The BR #Faktenfuchs is a public service broadcaster, part of the german broadcasting system that means the broadcaster is controlled by a boadcasting committee of the federal stat of Bavaria. This committee is formed by all social groups e.g. churches, unions, societies, parties and is not allowed to interfere in current reporting or editorial but decides over the leading personal.
done_all 1.5 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
Bayerischer Rundfunk - BR24 #Faktenfuchs
19-Jul-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The BR is mainly financed through the broadcasting fees, which guarantees the editorial independence of our work. There is no funding received. (see criteria 1.5)
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
On the site is a clear statement on this issue. As part of the public service broadcaster „Bayerischer Rundfunk“ they are financed by the general broadcasting fee which is obligatory in Germany.
done_all 1.6 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
Bayerischer Rundfunk - BR24 #Faktenfuchs
19-Jul-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In general, the #Faktenfuchs team chooses topics for fact checks mainly on the basis of their distribution and the importance of the claim that has been made. We look at the sender/ the claim author, too, of course. But we don’t exclude any particular sender for its opinion, alliance with a political side or party or other aspects. If the sender and its claim remain, as far as the team can determine, in a limited bubble, the team will not fact check them - in order to not start spreading the false information or increase the publicity of the author - as BR24 #Faktenfuchs has a potentially very big audience. There is no fixed number of social media interactions that makes us decide for or against a fact check - because there are numerous factors we regularly consider. But we try to look at the accounts that distribute a certain disinformation: Has it left the circle of rightwing extremism and conspiracy theorists? Has it been picked up by a party that has been elected into a local, regional or national government? Do our social media managers notice a relatively high amount of comments in relation to the claim? Do we receive e-mails by readers on a certain rumour? Does our social listening manager notice trends? We discuss all these points as a team.
Also we do not spread rumours or theories that cannot be fact checked. In the case of conspiracy theories we either only fact check falsifiable or verifiable claims that are used to support a conspiracy theory in order to show that small aspects that are used to make them fit into the conspiracy theory actually do not fit. In other cases we explain the meta story: What strategies do conspiracy theorists use to increase their influence? In any case we reflect on our own influence on readers considering our public broadcasting mission and our power of spread.
We fact check claims from politicians of all political parties - whether they are politically in charge or not. There is, no doubt, a tendency to fact check claims made by the governing party and the parties or groups from the rightwing spectrum - as the majority of disinformation comes, as studies have shown, from rightwing and extremist senders. But the #Faktenfuchs team maintains parity - as this is of very high importance for the BR as a public broadcasting entity. We especially lay an eye on maintaining parity when elections are coming up. As our fact checks prove, we fact check claims made by politicians of every political party in the parliament before elections, especially if they are made in BR programmes. We fact check green, left-wing oder liberal claims and those aimed at the conservatives as well as claims aimed at the “greens” or statements and content from the conservative or rightwing side.
We do not only report balanced between parties, but also take the neutrality of experts into account when selecting who we talk to. We check if they are involved in any political party or society and mainly contact scientists from universities instead of private research companies. Also we check, if scientific studies are reliable, by whom they were paid for and who did the study. Furhtermore, we use our fact checking tools (https://start.me/p/xbk65R/verifikations-toolkit-br24-faktenfuchs) to find neutral, reliable answers.
Also, we take claims seriously and always do our fact checking work in an open-ended way, based on scientific knowledge. Both outcomes are possible: That the claim might be false or correct. That can be seen in the fact check concerning Sucharid Bhakdi, a prominent distributor of skeptical information on the Coronavirus, or in the case of the widespread doubts on the effects of wearing masks in the pandemic and the science behind it. We take the worries and questions often lying behind false or misleading claims seriously and do not exclude these topics from our work - we rather take exactly these as our causes.
Examples:
https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/wie-die-afd-corona-herunterspielt-faktenfuchs,SVxmc6z
https://www.br.de/nachrichten/wissen/karl-lauterbach-kontrovers-aber-meist-korrekt,SUdXuY5
Ahead of the elections to the European Parliament in 2019 the BR had a TV-show called "BR Wahlarena": Candidates of al parties represented in the german and in the bavarian parliament had the opportunity to answer questions and to show their standings to different topics. The BR24 #Faktenfuchs covered all of these shows (counted as one example):
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
All checks I examined are of high journalistic standards. „Faktenfuchs“ explains why and how the editors pick the issues of their items.
done_all 2.1 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
Bayerischer Rundfunk - BR24 #Faktenfuchs
19-Jul-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
Approach and self-image is placed very prominent on the site so every user could simply find it.
done_all 2.2 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
Bayerischer Rundfunk - BR24 #Faktenfuchs
19-Jul-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
As said communication is very clear, you find answers like how we work, who we are, how we are financed and so on.
done_all 2.3 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
BR #Faktenfuchs is part of the Bayerischer Rundfunk, as said in 1.5
done_all 2.4 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
Bayerischer Rundfunk - BR24 #Faktenfuchs
19-Jul-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
https://www.br.de/nachrichten/wissen/br24-faktenfuchs-faktenchecker-wie-wir-arbeiten,ScNSHNZ (see paragraph: "So verpflichten wir uns zur Unabhängigkeit")
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
See also 1.5.
done_all 2.5 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
All reviewed fact checks are more than exemplary.
done_all 3.1 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
done_all 3.2 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
done_all 3.3 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
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.
Bayerischer Rundfunk - BR24 #Faktenfuchs
19-Jul-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The #Faktenfuchs team is part of BR24, the digital news brand of the Bavarian public broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunks (BR). https://www.br.de/nachrichten/-nachrichten-des-bayerischen-rundfunks-hier-ist-br24,STxuepK
The BR is part of the ARD network, which is an independent Organization. http://special.br.de/das-ist-der-br/ein-starkes-medienunternehmen.php
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
See 1.5; as part of the public service broadcasting system they refer to broadcasting legislation and legislation funding. Since a long time there is a general debate in Germany if the funding system for the public service broadcasters is transparent enough; but that is not ua question to the editors or the work of the BR #Faktenfuchs
done_all 4.1 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
Bayerischer Rundfunk - BR24 #Faktenfuchs
19-Jul-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
They do, see 1.5
done_all 4.2 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
Bayerischer Rundfunk - BR24 #Faktenfuchs
19-Jul-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The #Faktenfuchs-unit is part of BR24, which is part of the "Programmdirektion Information" of the Bayerischer Rundfunk, shown in this organization chart: https://www.br.de/unternehmen/inhalt/organisation/br-unternehmensstruktur-organigramm-100.html
Details about the organizational structure and the editorial control are explained here: https://www.br.de/unternehmen/inhalt/organisation/index.html
All this is summarized in this article, linked on the top of the #Faktenfuchs-website: https://www.br.de/nachrichten/deutschland-welt/wer-wir-sind-und-wie-wir-uns-finanzieren,SRACpK2
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
They introduce each member of the editorial and it’s position („#Faktenfuchs: Unser Team“)
done_all 4.3 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
Bayerischer Rundfunk - BR24 #Faktenfuchs
19-Jul-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
https://www.br.de/nachrichten/deutschland-welt/faktenfuchs-unser-team,SRAF9ZX
This can be found directly at the top of our website https://www.br.de/nachrichten/faktenfuchs-faktencheck,QzSIzl3
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
See 4.3
done_all 4.4 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
Bayerischer Rundfunk - BR24 #Faktenfuchs
19-Jul-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
https://www.br.de/nachrichten/deutschland-welt/faktenfuchs-wir-sind-erreichbar,SRA7o7k
This can be found directly at the top of our website https://www.br.de/nachrichten/faktenfuchs-faktencheck,QzSIzl3
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
Everybody is able to contact the „Faktenfuchs“ easy via social media, emails, phone. They publish quite often about the dialogue with readers, questions and objections.
done_all 4.5 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
Bayerischer Rundfunk - BR24 #Faktenfuchs
19-Jul-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
https://www.br.de/nachrichten/wissen/br24-faktenfuchs-faktenchecker-wie-wir-arbeiten,ScNSHNZ
This can be found directly at the top of our website https://www.br.de/nachrichten/faktenfuchs-faktencheck,QzSIzl3
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
BR #Faktenfuchs provides profound explanations to their methodology.
done_all 5.1 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
See 2.2, they often start their checks with findings and debates on Twitter, Tiktok …
done_all 5.2 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
Often they cite different expert views on an issue. Instead of a clear final opinion, they often show the disagreement on controversial issues.
done_all 5.3 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
The methodolgy seems to be strict and transparent in every case.
done_all 5.4 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
The starting point of most checks are posts and widespreading debates on social media channels.
done_all 5.5 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
Bayerischer Rundfunk - BR24 #Faktenfuchs
19-Jul-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
At the top of our website https://www.br.de/nachrichten/faktenfuchs-faktencheck,QzSIzl3 we tell our users: Contact us!
https://www.br.de/nachrichten/deutschland-welt/faktenfuchs-wir-sind-erreichbar,SRA7o7k
In this article we also explain, that we have a look at every text, link, picture or video that is sent to us, but we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do the research and write an article about every claim. Our editorial criteria play a role therefore, but so do our human resources and the question of whether the information is specific enough and can be evidenced or refuted using journalistic methods.
Furthermore, we ask the users in our videos on YouTube, to leave comments or to write to us, if there are questions to answer and claims to check. f.e. here at TC 19:27
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
Applicant provides many possibilities to contact BR #Faktenfuchs.
done_all 5.6 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
Bayerischer Rundfunk - BR24 #Faktenfuchs
19-Jul-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
https://www.br.de/nachrichten/wissen/br24-faktenfuchs-faktenchecker-wie-wir-arbeiten,ScNSHNZ (see paragraph "So korrigieren wir uns")
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
On the landing page everybody sees the.
done_all 6.1 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
Criteria 6.2
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the corrections policy to verify it meets critera. No additional information needed.
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
As a part of the news editorial of Bayerischer Rundfunk they follow the broadcasters policy with corrections, there is a blog for all mistakes and corrections. There is also the possibility to comment the fact checks, the editors moderate the entries and participate in discussions.
done_all 6.2 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
Bayerischer Rundfunk - BR24 #Faktenfuchs
19-Jul-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Statement about how the corrections policy was adhered to over the previous six months:
Whenever we receive a request to correct a detail or the conclusion of one of our articles, we check it. If something proves to be incorrect, we correct it and publish a disclaimer with the details about the correction beneath the article. In more important cases we additionally publish an entry in the corrections blog on the website of BR24: https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/br24-korrekturen-und-was-fuer-uns-qualitaetsjournalismus-ist,RmilBWm.
We also respond to the request directly, mostly via e-mail, and inform on the correction - or, if nothing proved to be incorrect, inform about that. If the request is very vague we ask the sender to give us more details. If a request is insulting or simply an attack on the media in general, we don’t respond in every case. If a reader requests a different wording because he or she thinks that we left the realm of fact checking language and showed a tendency to opinion in our language, we also check on that, debate it in the team, correct ourselves if necessary and respond to the reader.
We provide primary sources or, if that is not possible, secondary sources whenever possible. If we see reasons to not provide links or name certain protagonists or sources, we make these reasons transparent as you can see in example 1.
Two examples of the responses to a correction request over the previous year (see disclaimer at the end of the articles)
Transparency on sources and correction after request concerning: “#Faktenfuchs: Warum Klarsichtmasken umstritten sind” https://www.br.de/nachrichten/wissen/faktenfuchs-warum-klarsichtmasken-gegen-corona-umstritten-sind,SI6oCpp (3rd December 2021 / 11th December 2021)
Correction after request concerning: “#Faktenfuchs: Lufens Zahlen belegen ihre Schlussfolgerung nicht” https://www.br.de/nachrichten/netzwelt/faktenfuchs-lufens-kritik-am-lockdown-ist-zu-kurz-gedacht,SO9UjXx (5th February 2021 / 17th February 2021)
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
see 6.2
done_all 6.3 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
Bayerischer Rundfunk - BR24 #Faktenfuchs
19-Jul-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
As soon as we become a signatory of the IFCN we will install all this information and the link to inform our users.
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
BR #Faktenfuch is applying for IFCN, information about the IFCN has not yet been provided.
done_all 6.4 marked as Compliant by Christoph Schurian.
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.
Bayerischer Rundfunk - BR24 #Faktenfuchs
19-Jul-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
This page shows an overview of the correction policy of BR24 and explains the understanding of quality journalism.
The BR is also by law committed to publish a rectification in case of false reporting. See the broadcasting law, article 17 ("Gegendarstellung"): https://www.gesetze-bayern.de/Content/Document/BayRuFuG/true
Christoph Schurian Assessor
06-May-2022 (2 years ago)
The applicant is part of Bayerischer Rundfunk, see again 1.5