Since June 26, 2016, we established a professional initiative of journalists gathered around a digital communication platform created by NGO Medianálisis. We are interested in providing comprehensive and consistent information for public debate in Venezuela, based on investigative and precision journalism works (Meyer, 1973), whereby we will constantly compare our public officials’ statements against the reality, primarily supported by official documents and data.

In order to achieve these objectives, at Cotejo.info, we network with a team of journalists across the country, and will establish partnerships with local media to expand the dissemination of information. In addition, we will rely on civil society organizations, public and private research centers, and companies as information sources, namely the firm Monitoreo Digital, which will provide us with most valuable audiovisual material for our publications.

We keep a journalistic lens on public discourse. We are the first fact checking media in Venezuela created as part of NGO Medianálisis in June 2016, and subsequently incorporated as an organization since May 2019.

https://cotejo.info/que-somos/

Established in May 2019 with legal approval, Cotejo.info is a non-profit news entity based in Venezuela, primarily focused on fact-checking, investigative journalism, and combatting disinformation.This organization obtained IFCN accreditation for the first time in 2021, for which it presented a copy of the documents that prove its legal status. These documents have not been submitted for this 2023 application, but, for the purposes of this assessment, the legal registration of the organization is considered sufficiently accredited. The organization's commitment to fact-checking dates back to June 2016, initiated by the NGO Medianálisis.

1.- We began operations in 2016, in Venezuela, inspired by the work that Chequeado (Argentina) had already been doing.

2.- Our team: 9 journalists, 2 editors, 1 webmaster and 1 director. We don't have volunteers.

3.- Basically we generate journalistic content based on fact-checking. We write articles, and generate images and short videos for social media

4.- We do not have long-term financing. The goal of 2024 is to be able to exist.

Cotejo.info has provided comprehensive details regarding:

1) The commencement of its fact-checking operation in 2016.

2) The composition of its team, comprising 9 journalists, 2 editors, 1 webmaster and 1 director. Overall, the size of the team reported by the applicant in 2023 has significantly increased compared to the amount of workers claimed in 2021, when the staff was composed of one full-time journalist, three part-time employees, and several paid collaborators. Nevertheless, the relatively large size of the current team claimed by the applicant is somewhat inconsistent with the limited amount of just 54 fact-checks published during the first 8 months of 2023 (see criterion 1.3).

3) The exclusive focus of Cotejo's activities on fact-checking in multimedia formats.

4) The primary objective for the upcoming year, which is to secure financial sustainability amidst the challenging economic conditions in Venezuela.

Venezuela our team is the only fact-checking media signatory of the IFCN. Between January and August 2023 we made 54 fact-checking publications, more than one per week.

Concerning this criterion, the applicant reported the publication of 54 articles from January to August 2023. The assessor verified and confirmed this figure provided by the applicant. With an average of 1.5 fact-checks (both long and short) per week over the six months preceding the application date, the overall evaluation for this criterion is deemed compliant.

More than 75% of fact checks focus on claims related to issues that directly affect or could influence the well-being of individuals, the general public or society in Venezuela. Taking into account the limited number of fact-checks published by the applicant in the three months previous to the assessment (19 fact-checks), the assessor decided to double the time period used for the evaluation  to six months (March - August 2023). Fact checks in this expanded period mainly focused on national politics, but also covered topics such as economy, human rights and environment.

No relationship with the State or political parties. In any moment.

On its 'about us' page (¿Qué es Cotejo.info?), the applicant reveals that it is promoted by Asociación Civil Medianálisis, a non-profit organization dedicated to media freedom in Venezuela. 

However, the page lacks details about the sources of funding. The applicant contends that, due to the current climate of harassment against civil society organizations receiving foreign funding in Venezuela, the management team of Cotejo.Info has opted not to disclose donations or contributions from abroad when it deems such disclosure might pose a risk to the organization or its sponsors. Cotejo.Info cites security reasons, stating that full funding disclosure could lead to repercussions from the Venezuelan government. 

Following the same criterion of previous assessments for the IFCN accreditation, this explanation has been accepted by the assesor and, although a more transparent disclosure of funding sources would be advisable, the reasons explained by the applicant re considered valid and acceptable.

https://cotejo.info/que-somos/

In its early years, Cotejo.Info has operated as an NGO Medianálisis project, without direct funding by other entities. Medianálisis is supported by several sources including professional consulting to companies, training workshops, and advisory services, among others.

In view of the prevailing climate of harassment against civil society organizations receiving foreign funding in Venezuela, Cotejo.Info management team has decided not to publish donations or contributions from abroad in cases when it considers that this could pose a risk to the organization itself or its sponsors.

Despite the lack of detailed information about funding, this criterion is deemed compliant, considering the unique circumstances and pressures indicated in criterion 1.5 that affect civil organizations in Venezuela.

https://cotejo.info/2023/01/ct-venezuela-tuvo-los-salarios-minimos-mas-altos-de-america-latina-entre-2004-y-2015-mentira/

https://cotejo.info/2023/01/ct-rene-rivas-las-autoridades-le-han-asignado-mas-del-60-del-presupuesto-nacional-de-salud-a-mision-cubana-mediaverdad/

https://cotejo.info/2023/03/ct-ctv-maduro-ha-incumplido-mas-del-90-de-las-recomendaciones-formuladas-por-oit-en-2019-verdad/

https://cotejo.info/2023/03/ct-daniel-antequera-parte-del-este-de-barquisimeto-y-el-municipio-palavecino-se-encuentran-sin-agua-por-tuberia-verdad/

https://cotejo.info/2023/03/ct-nelson-freitez-gobierno-ha-tenido-intencion-de-aprobar-instrumentos-legales-que-restrinjan-a-ong-verdad/

https://cotejo.info/2023/03/ct-carlos-prosperi-el-fraude-electoral-es-un-mito-mentira/

https://cotejo.info/2023/03/ct-douglas-rico-hemos-mejorado-en-cuanto-la-atencion-y-procesos-para-evitar-violaciones-de-derechos-humanos-mediaverdad/  

https://cotejo.info/2023/05/ct-jorge-rodriguez-plataforma-unitaria-violento-acuerdos-de-mexico-mediaverdad/

https://cotejo.info/2023/05/ct-williams-davila-el-esequibo-es-estrategico-para-venezuela-verdad/

https://cotejo.info/2023/05/ct-gustavo-petro-sanciones-fueron-causas-del-exodo-venezolano-mentira/  

https://cotejo.info/2023/06/ct-lula-da-silva-el-autoritarismo-en-venezuela-es-una-narrativa-construida-mentira/

  We do not make any distinction between NGO spokespersons, opposition politicians, Venezuelan government officials or foreign leaders, when they talk about Venezuela. We use exactly the same criteria, the same verification and final editing tasks are performed.

Cotejo.info employs a reliable and uniform fact-checking methodology, substantiating information with trustworthy links. The organization addresses issues impartially, irrespective of the ideological alignment of the institution, political party, or individual in question. The demonstrated non-partisanship is well-established, as evidenced by the submission of eleven fact-check examples encompassing Venezuelan politicians from across the political spectrum, as requested.

https://cotejo.info/metodos-en-nuestro-trabajo/

Cotejo.info transparently outlines its policy to select claims to check and to prevent any bias or disproportionate focus on any ideological side during the fact-checking process.

Following a random examination of fact-checks published in the past year (November 2022 - October 2023), no evidence has been discovered indicating any commercial interest that could potentially influence the fact-checking activities of Cotejo.info.

In alignment with criterion 2.3, following a random assessment of several fact-checks published in the preceding year (November 2022 - October 2023), no traces have been identified of any political or ideological interests that could potentially impact the fact-checking endeavors of Cotejo.info.

https://cotejo.info/principios-editoriales/

On its Editorial Principles (Principios Editoriales), the applicant self-defines as a "media made for and by Venezuelans, aimed at promoting and strengthening democracy and human rights, by means of publishing relevant and quality journalistic works", that aims at "the preservation and defense of the principles of independence, fairness, and pluralism."

After conducting a random evaluation of various fact-checks published in the recent months, the incorporation of links to substantiate the fact-checks on Cotejo.info is deemed adequate and appropriate. These references empower users to autonomously verify the relevant information provided.

To the best of the assessor's knowledge, Cotejo.info employs a diverse, pertinent, and credible array of sources to substantiate its fact-checks.

After randomly reviewing multiple fact-checks released in the six months leading up to this assessment (April to September2023), no evidence of undue concentration in any particular sources has been observed in Cotejo.info.

The applicant provides sufficient details for readers to reasonably discern the interests that might impact the accuracy of the presented evidence. It adequately contextualizes information about the sources used to support the fact-checks.

Since June 26, 2016, we established a professional initiative of journalists gathered around a digital communication platform created by NGO Medianálisis. We are interested in providing comprehensive and consistent information for public debate in Venezuela, based on investigative and precision journalism works (Meyer, 1973), whereby we will constantly compare our public officials’ statements against the reality, primarily supported by official documents and data.

In order to achieve these objectives, at Cotejo.info, we network with a team of journalists across the country, and will establish partnerships with local media to expand the dissemination of information. In addition, we will rely on civil society organizations, public and private research centers, and companies as information sources, namely the firm Monitoreo Digital, which will provide us with most valuable audiovisual material for our publications.

We keep a journalistic lens on public discourse. We are the first fact checking media in Venezuela created as part of NGO Medianálisis in June 2016, and subsequently incorporated as an organization since May 2019.

https://cotejo.info/que-somos/

In the 'About us' page (¿Qué es Cotejo.info?), the applicant describes itself as a "self-sustaining, pluralistic, responsible, transparent, participatory, national, and international reference media for those interested in obtaining in-depth, fact-checked, and quality information about what is happening in Venezuela." Cotejo.info operates under the umbrella of a parent organization, Medianálisis, which is characterized as "a Venezuelan non-profit organization committed to strengthening democracy, dedicated to training and the systematic study of the media, journalism, and its actors" (translated by the assessor).

Since 2019 we are a non-profit civil association, according to Venezuelan laws.

https://cotejo.info/que-somos/

As indicated in the assessment of criterion 1.1., Cotejo.info has not submitted legal evidence establishing its nature as a non-profit civil association and its affiliation with the NGO Medianálisis. However this information was submitted in the occasion of the previous assessment of 2021, so the averall evaluation remains positive. Regarding the information provided about its funding scheme, it is relatively limited, as indicated in the assessment of criterion 1.5. While a more detailed disclosure would be preferable, given the challenges faced by this fact-checking organization in Venezuela, the criterion is deemed compliant.

https://cotejo.info/nosotros/

Cotejo.info publishes a roster comprising 13 staff members.

https://cotejo.info/nosotros/

Detailed information is provided about staff members and volunteers, including their photos, bios and social media accounts. This information can be accessed by clicking at workers' names listed in the 'About us' page.

As a minor detail, the applicant is warned that the names of some workers link biographies of other people in the organization. This error should be fixed.

https://cotejo.info/contacto/

The applicant's website provides multiple contact options, including email, telephone, and various social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram), as well as messaging apps like WhatsApp. The applicant fully meets the requirements of this criterion.

https://cotejo.info/metodos-en-nuestro-trabajo/

The applicant openly shares the methodology employed for the selection, research, writing, and publication of its fact-checks. Drawing inspiration from the methodology pioneered by Chequeado (Argentina), Cotejo.info's fact-checking process is robust and reliable.

Through a random examination of numerous fact-checks published in the months leading up to this assessment, sufficient examples have been identified to indicate that Cotejo.info primarily selects claims to fact-check based on their reach and significance.

Based on a sampling of randomly chosen fact-checks, the assessor has determined that Cotejo.info upholds transparency and fairness in its handling of claims.

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.

In the applicant's random sample of fact-checks, no instances aligning with the objectionable situations outlined in this criterion have been identified. As there is no evidence indicating misconduct or violation of this aspect of the Code of Principles, the assessment is positive.

https://cotejo.info/contacto/

Cotejo.info promotes user engagement by inviting them to submit claims, offer data, and report errors through various channels, including an online form, email, phone, WhatsApp, and social media profiles.

https://cotejo.info/contacto/

Cotejo.info outlines its editorial principles and corrections policy to readers. However, as already noted in the assessments performed from IFCN in 2019 and 2021, the applicant keeps lacking details regarding the timeframe for addressing corrections requests. Again, we kindly urge the applicant to address this deficiency and provide more clarity on the timeframe for handling corrections requests.

The corrections policy is satisfactory and, despite the deficiency indicated in criterion 6.1, is explained in reasonable detail, providing readers with clear insight into how their claims will be addressed in advance.

We offer the possibility of requesting corrections and also of being reported for professional malpractice. However, we have not received any correction requests or complaints against us.

https://cotejo.info/contacto/

As per the information provided by the applicant, there have been no requests for corrections in the past year. With no evidence of misconduct or violation by Cotejo.info against this criterion of the Code of Principles, the assessment is considered compliant.

https://cotejo.info/contacto/

As requested, Cotejo.info provides users with means to inform the IFCN of any violation of the Code of Principles. The information is available in the Policy on complaints, corrections and replies (Política sobre quejas, correcciones y réplicas) page.

We are an independent organization

While Cotejo.info operates as an independent media outlet, it is affiliated with the NGO Medianálisis, which upholds ethical values aligned with an honest and transparent corrections policy.