Organization: Colombiacheck
Applicant: Ana María Saavedra
Assessor: Ramón Salaverría
Background
Launched in 2016 as a spin-off of Consejo de Redacción, a Colombian NGO that promotes investigative journalism since 2008, Colombiacheck is a fact-checking organization that, according to the assessment made, complies with the standards required by the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN).
Assessment Conclusion
Colombiacheck fully complies with all the requirements of the IFCN Code of Principles. The assessment is POSITIVE in all aspects, so the recommendation to the Board is to validate the renewal of their accreditation.
Ramón Salaverría assesses application as Compliant
A short summary in native publishing language
Lanzada en 2016 como spin-off del Consejo de Redacción, una ONG colombiana que promueve el periodismo de investigación desde 2008, Colombiacheck es una organización dedicada a la verificación informativa. Cumple con los estándares y protocolos exigidos por la International Fact-Checking Network (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.
Colombiacheck
12-Aug-2021 (3 years ago)
Colombiacheck is a project conceived and developed by Consejo de Redacción (CdR), a Colombian NGO that promotes investigative journalism in Colombia. This project was launched in June, 2016, and it is currently the only media outlet mainly dedicated to fact-checking in the country.
In our website we clearly declare that CdR is the organization behind our work: https://colombiacheck.com/sobre-nosotros.html (see article and footer).
In the attached file, you can find a document that certifies CdR's legal registration.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago)
Colombiacheck has provided detailed information about the origin, legal status, staff, activities, and goals of this organization . Bound to Consejo de Redacción (CdR), a Colombian NGO that promotes investigative journalism since 2008, Colombiacheck was founded in June 2016. The statutes of Consejo de Redacción, as well the necessary details about of Colombiacheck are available in the About us (Sobre nosotros) page of their website.
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?
Colombiacheck
12-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
1. When and why was your fact-checking operation started?
Colombiacheck was created in June, 2016 as a project to fight misinformation stemming from the peace process that was being held in Havana, Cuba, between the Colombian Government and the then FARC guerrilla. It has evolved since to cover a wider agenda, such as public discourse in general, electoral campaigns, the current COVID-19 pandemic, and other mis- and disinformation.
2. How many people work or volunteer in the organization and what are their roles?
At the time of this application, Colombiacheck’s team comprises 13 people: a director, an editor, a sub-editor, four staff reporters (including a doctor who’s also our medical adviser), two regional correspondents, a community manager, a graphic designer, a webmaster, and an administrative coordinator. We also work with some journalists from allied media outlets and other organizations, but their works must go through Colombiacheck’s editorial process before being published.
3. What different activities does your organization carry out?
Colombiacheck publishes fact-checks in various formats: written articles, podcasts, videos and social media stories; some of them are also shared on analog media, such as flip charts, in regions where internet access is limited, as part of a special program on Venezuelan migration. We also developed an extension for internet browsers to help common users identify previously fact-checked URL’s or report new ones. train journalists from other media outlets and different audiences (NGO, students, teachers, etc.) on techniques and tools to verify public discourse or internet mis- and disinformation. CdR is an association that advocates for investigative journalism practice and promotion in Colombia.
4. What are the goals of your fact-checking operation over the coming year?
Our main goals for the next year are to cover national elections for Presidency, Vice Presidency and Congress extensively, in a very polarized environment, expanding our national fack-checking network RedCheq to new uncovered territories and taking in the public debate and balances over the impact of the pandemic and the vaccination program in the county; to strengthen our impact on social media with our multimedia formats to grow our loyal audience; to reach the migrant and returnee community more efficiently, with guerrilla marketing strategies online and offline, and to massify the use of our add-on Infotrición.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
As requested, Colombiacheck has presented, in full detail, information about:
1. The year (2016) and the reasons why this fact-checking operation started. Originally focused on misinformation related to the talks between Colombian Government and the then FARC guerrilla, it has later widened its scoped to other topics.
2. The amount of people (13, which is 5 less than on the previous assessment in 2020) who work in the organization, indicating their respective roles.
3. The different activities that are carried out by Colombiacheck .
4. The goals that Colombiacheck is pursuing over the coming year, which comprise 1) developing a special coverage for national elections, 2) to strengthening impact on social media, and 3) reaching the migrant and returnee community more efficiently.
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.
Colombiacheck
12-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In the last six months (since Feb. 24 and up to Aug. 23), we have published a total of 346 fact-checks on our website, for an average of 13.8 per week. A spreadsheet with all these fact-checks is attached.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Colombiacheck has presented proof of their constant fact-checking activities. It has attached to the application a spreadsheet with 346 fact-checks performed over the six months prior to the date of application (24 Feb. 2021 - 23 Aug. 2021), over twenty six times the minimum amount of evidences requested (13).
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.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
As requested, more than three quarters of Colombiacheck’s fact checks focus 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 Colombia. As it happened in the 2020 assessment, a large amount of fact-checks performed from February to August 2021 relate to COVID-19 pandemic. However, in this latter assessment the diversity of topics covered had broadened significantly, expanding the fact-checking activities to other political, economic and social issues, mostly in Colombia.
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.
Colombiacheck
12-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
We do not have any commercial, financial, or institutional relationship with the Colombian state or government, nor with any of the country’s politicians.
Our internal regulations (CdR's statute) state that "the associates must declare conflicts of interest between their professional functions and the objectives and activities of the organization, inform of any situation that goes against the principles of CdR and announce when they stop exercising the journalistic profession": https://consejoderedaccion.org/asociados/registrarse
Also, Colombiacheck's code of principles states that "We do not defend any ideology, nor do we carry out political activism or of any other type": https://colombiacheck.com/metodologia.html
When hired, our journalists commit to follow both principles.
Our financial sources are described here: https://colombiacheck.com/sobre-nosotros
and are summarized as follows for 2021 until August:
Facebook (66,9%), including funds from 3PFC program and Health Miniformation Partnership; IFCN-Poynter (17,9%); National Endowment for Democracy (NED), an NGO from the United States (13,6%); Fundación La Voz Pública para la Verificación del Discurso Público (1,2%) and Microsoft Store Support (0,4%). That’s about a total of 645,9 million COP, roughly 167.350 USD at the exchange rate on August 25, 2021 (see attached file).
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In the view and knowledge of the assessor, Colombiacheck’s editorial output is not controlled by the state, a political party, politician or lobby. The parent organization, Consejo de Redacción, has a publicly disclosed policy that openly refuses all kind of conflict of interests on its staff and associate members. The applicant has presented a detailed breakdown of the funding sources, two-thirds of which (66,9%) rely on a contract with Facebook.
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.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
According to the information provided in the application, Colombiacheck does not receive funds from Colombian state nor intervene in government’s projects. The funding sources are publicly disclosed at their About us (Sobre nosotros) page.
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.
Colombiacheck
12-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The following fact-checks show that we fact-check all sides of the Colombian political spectrum. They also make explicit the steps we follow in each public discourse fact-check: 1. contact the person who made the statement to be fact-checked. 2. consult official sources. 3. consult non-official sources. 4. consult non-biased experts in the field, or at least a balanced mix. 5. contextualize the fact-check. 6 rate. Five of the examples are social media fact-checks. In those, we can't consult the person who made a statement, but we follow the other steps, regardless. Examples 1, 4 and 7 check misleading or false claims about the National Vaccination Plan against COVID-19 by three very different politicians: president Iván Duque, opposition leader Gustavo Petro and mayor Claudia López, who usually positions herself at some point between them. Examples 2 and 3 show how senators Petro (anti-government) and Paloma Valencia (pro-government) were equally evaluated on similar claims about the number of homicides attributed to Police during different protests. In fact, examples 5 and 6 are detailed reconstructions of two violence episodes during National Strike to check on social and traditional media conflicting versions. All the fact-checks argue their ratings with the evidence found for each. The links are arranged chronologically from the most recent.
6. https://colombiacheck.com/chequeos/un-camion-cargado-de-mentiras-y-policias-de-civil
8. https://colombiacheck.com/chequeos/chequeo-publicacion-sobre-el-proyecto-de-ley-010-de-2020
9. https://colombiacheck.com/chequeos/mas-mentiras-de-los-medicos-por-la-verdad
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
As requested, the applicant has demonstratad it non-partisanship by providing ten examples of fact-checks to politicians of all the Colombian political spectrum. When performing fact-checks, this organization applies a consistent and sound fact-checking methodology, backing the information with reliable links and covering issues regardless the ideological alignment of the institution, political party or person concerned.
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.
Colombiacheck
12-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Colombiacheck publicly discloses its fact-checking methodology and principles to avoid any unduly concentration of fact-checking on any ideological side. This policy is sound and reliable.
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
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
After a random review of a number of fact-checks published over the previous year (Sept. 2020 - Aug. 2021), no traces have been found of any commercial interest that might influence the fact-checking activity of Colombiacheck.
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
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
After a random review of a number of fact-checks published over the previous year (Sept. 2020 - Aug. 2021), no traces have been found of any political or ideological interest that might influence the fact-checking activity of Colombiacheck.
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.
Colombiacheck
12-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Colombiacheck self-defines as a "journalistic project independent of commercial and political tensions inherent to private companies," that is "committed to developing checks with independence, neutrality and transparency" (asssesor's translation). This statement is deemed as acceptable and compliant.
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
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
After a random review of a number of fact-checks published by Colombiacheck, a very consistent and widespread use of links to back fact-checks has been found. Thanks to the availability of these information resources, users can easily dig into the relevant information by themselves.
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
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
According to the assessor's knowledge, the sources used by Colombiacheck to back fact-checks are well 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
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Colombiacheck relies on a wide array of sources to back its fact-checks, giving priority for public, open-access content. It does not show any unduly concentration in any specific sources. External sources, which are consistently referred, are the core of the background information.
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
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
When needed, Colombiacheck contextualizes sufficiently the information about the sources used to back the fact-checks. It provides details so that readers can reasonably conclude the interests that could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided.
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.
Colombiacheck
12-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Colombiacheck is a fact-checking project created as part of Consejo de Redacción, an independent association of journalists. The “About Us” section on CdR’s website includes us in one of its three working approaches: https://consejoderedaccion.org/sobre-cdr
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Colombiacheck is a fact-checking project created as part of Consejo de Redacción (CdR), an independent association of journalists. This information is disclosed on the About Us (Sobre CdR) page of CdR website. Its parent organization, Consejo de Redacción, is described as a "not-for-profit, non-partisan, which brings together more than 100 associated journalists in Colombia to promote investigative journalism" (assessor's translation).
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.
Colombiacheck
12-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The “About Us” page in Colombiacheck’s website states we are a project by Consejo de Redacción: https://colombiacheck.com/sobre-nosotros
It’s also in our footer at https://colombiacheck.com
Footer_CdR.jpg (268 KB)
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The information provided on the About us page by Colombiacheck on its funding scheme, which includes a table with a list of funding organizations over the last three years (2019, 2020, 2021) and the overall amount of money received from them, is deemed sufficient.
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.
Colombiacheck
12-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Colombiacheck provides on its website a list of the staff members and volunteers. In another page of the parent organization, Consejo de Redacción, a more detailed information is provided about the Colombiacheck's team, with photos and bios of their main staff members.
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.
Colombiacheck
12-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The information about the Colombiacheck's team members is fully disclosed both on its website and on its parent organization website, Consejo de Redacción.
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.
Colombiacheck
12-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Our email, WhatsApp number and social media can be found at the end of this section: https://colombiacheck.com/sobre-nosotros
Mailto and different social media links can also be found in other buttons in the main page, as highlighted in the attached files.
Footer_mailandsocial... (298 KB)
Header_mailandsocial... (292 KB)
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Colombiacheck provides several means of contact on its website, including email, as well as social media profiles (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and a WhatsApp number.
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.
Colombiacheck
12-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Colombiacheck openly discloses its fact-checking methodology, which is deemed sound and reliable.
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
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Drawing upon a random review of a number of fact-checks, enough examples have been found that Colombiacheck selects claims to check based primarily on the reach and importance of the claims
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
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Based on a number of randomly selected fact-checks published priot to this assessment, the assessor has come to the conclusion that Colombiacheck 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
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
No evidence has been found of the eventual usage 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
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
No examples have been found of the misbehaviours or infringements indicated in this criterion. In absence of such evidence, the assessment of Colombiacheck for this criterion is deemed as compliant.
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.
Colombiacheck
12-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Our methodology ( https://colombiacheck.com/metodologia ) states we do not fact-check opinions or private claims, and that “selection is done with no biases, or preferences for ideology, sexual orientation, race or religion”. Our “About Us” page (https://colombiacheck.com/sobre-nosotros) includes a section titled “How to contribute?” where we share our contact information: e-mail and social media including a WhatsApp number. We encourage users to “propose claims to check, provide data and knowledge, as well as warn about possible errors in our team’s checks.” We also constantly take fact-check requests at out Twitter and TikTok accounts, both @Colcheck.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
As requested, Colombiacheck has provided detailed information about how it encourages users to propose claims to check, provide data and knowledge, as well as warn about possible errors in their team’s checks, through email and social media profiles.
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.
Colombiacheck
12-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
"Aclaraciones y actualizaciones" part of https://colombiacheck.com/metodologia
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Colombiacheck has a sound corrections policy. It allows users to send claims and corrections through different means of contact (mail, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp). In case a mistake has been found by anyone, Colombiacheck commits itself to responding to these claims within 48 hours.
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
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The corrections policy is explained in reasonable detail, so that readers can know in advance the how their claims will be handled and how much time migh take to get response.
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.
Colombiacheck
12-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The Colombiacheck staff always replies to messages from those fact-checked who want to clarify their statements, or who want to dispute a rating, whether they are received via email, social media, messaging apps, or phone calls. We also reply to messages from others who share important information that can change the content or the rating of a fact-check.
An example of the first instance was a message we received from a La Nueva Prensa, a website directed by journalist Gonzalo Guillén, who was fact-checked about vaccine prices paid by Colombia: https://colombiacheck.com/chequeos/gonzalo-guillen-miente-sobre-los-costos-de-las-vacunas-contra-el-covid-19
The response arrived after the article publication and it didn’t actually answer our questions or share further information about the sources of his false claim, but refused to speak based on new false information about us. They even expressed publicly some of those reactions. So, we included some clarifications that can be found at the link below.
An example of the second instance is this fact-check on the percentage of crimes committed by young people under the influence of marjuana, as stated by congressman Óscar Villamizar. https://colombiacheck.com/chequeos/no-hay-como-saber-si-el-70-de-los-jovenes-cometen-delitos-bajo-los-efectos-de-la-marihuana
Another media outlet, TV program Zona Franca, also fact-checked his data based not only on his tweet about it, as we did, but also on his complete words at the House of Representatives. Furthermore, they had an answer where he shared his sources, something we asked for but didn’t get. We added that new information, even though it didn’t changed our rate.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Colombiacheck has presented evidence of a 'clarification' published on October 6, 2020, as well as an 'update' of March 10, 2021. Although these are not exactly 'corrections', in absence of any additional evidence of misbehavior in this respect, the assessment for this criterion is deemed as compliant.
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.
Colombiacheck
12-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
As requested, Colombiacheck informs to the users how to proceed in case they want to inform the IFCN of any violation of the Code of Principles.
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.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
10-Oct-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Colombiacheck is bound to a parent organization, the association Consejo de Redaccion. This organization has a Vision and Mission that adheres to a honest and open corrections policy.