Organization: dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
Applicant: Stefan Voss
Assessor: Dagmar Thiel
Background
Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA) is a German, privately owned and independent media organization that started with a fact-checking department in 2013, in addition to the agency’s journalistic work done by the outlet since its foundation in 1949. In partnership with Meta, DPA expanded its fact-checking reach to five other European countries: Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg in 2019. DPA currently fact-checks in three languages: German, French, and Dutch. The team comprises 30 people providing several weekly researches for their different audiences and considering the most relevant claims, allowing readers to have needed insights and context to establish truth in the verified issues.
Assessment Conclusion
As an organization with over seven decades of journalistic history and demanding stakeholders, the assessment testifies that DPA consistently adheres to the five principles of the IFCN Code of Non-Partisanship and Fairness and applies the highest standards and transparency to its news sources and funding. The organization follows its methodology thoroughly and has a published correction policy that is rarely needed to correct minor errors.
It was a privilege for me to evaluate this organization and read the deep research and analysis published, which are typically only available to DPA's clients.
Dagmar Thiel assesses application as Compliant
A short summary in native publishing language
Als Organisation mit einer mehr als sieben Jahrzehnte langen journalistischen Geschichte und anspruchsvollen Interessengruppen bescheinigt die Bewertung, dass DPA die fünf Grundsätze des IFCN-Kodex für Überparteilichkeit und Fairness konsequent einhält und bei seinen Nachrichtenquellen und seiner Finanzierung höchste Standards und Transparenz anwendet. Die Organisation verfolgt ihre Methodologie gründlich und verfügt über eine veröffentlichte Korrekturpolitik, die nur selten erforderlich ist, um kleinere Fehler zu korrigieren.
Für mich war es ein Privileg diese DPA zu bewerten und die gründlichen Recherchen und Analysen zu lesen, die normalerweise nur den Kunden der Organisation zugänglich sind.
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.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago)
The German Press Agency (dpa) was founded in 1949 and is one of the globally leading independent news agencies, comparable in purpose and structure to the Associated Press (AP).
These are the first six paragraphs of the articles of incorporation of our company: http://docs.dpaq.de/14286-gesellschaftsvertrag.docx
We mainly produce editorial content like text, photos, infographics, audio, and video coverage as well as online content. Our clients are publishing houses, corporations, and organizations. Around 1000 journalists in 50 German locations as well as in 80 locations abroad work for the company. https://www.dpa.com/de/unternehmen/faktencheck/#faktencheck-regelnbusiness dpa gathers facts, conducts interviews with sources, covers and analyses newsworthy developments strictly based on the rules and principles established in our editorial statutes. No story is ever published if it hasn't been checked by at least two dpa journalists. Being right is always preferred to being first. Trust and truth are immensely important to everything we do. The business model is based on reliability. Errors and mistakes, which can happen, are always swiftly and transparently corrected
(see chapter Korrekturregeln: https://www.dpa.com/de/unternehmen/faktencheck/#faktencheck-regeln).
More information about our editorial principles at the news agency dpa: https://www.dpa.com/de/unternehmen/faktencheck/#aufbau-und-redaktionelle-grundsaetze
Fact-checking is the main part of our daily work in the editorial department since every information and story we publish has to be fact-checked beforehand. But we are also publishing dedicated fact-checking formats on a regular basis.
All details on our dedicated fact-checking operation: https://www.dpa.com/faktencheck
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago)
DPA's legal status, foundation, and history are published on the website.
done_all 1.1 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 1.2
Proof you meet criteria
Please answer the following questions – (see notes in Guidelines for Application on how to answer)
1. When and why was your fact-checking operation started?
2. How many people work or volunteer in the organization and what are their roles?
3. What different activities does your organization carry out?
4. What are the goals of your fact-checking operation over the coming year?
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
1.2.1.Deutsche Presse-Agentur has been publishing fact checks since 2013 (http://docs.dpaq.de/17395-screencapture-dpa-news-de-mediaobject-jsf-2021-02-17-15_59_12.pdf) .
The first of our fact checks referred to politicians' claims in that year of the Bundestag elections. Since then, we have significantly expanded our fact-checking activities. In spring 2019, the dpa fact check team became a partner in the Facebook (Meta) project.
Meanwhile, in addition to the regular agency checks in German, dpa also offers fact checks in cooperation with Facebook in six European countries: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg.
1.2.2 Currently there are around 30 people working for dpa's fact-checking team. Roles are Verification Officer, Managing Editor, Team Leader, Coordinator Benelux, Product Owner Training, Product Owner WhatsApp, Product Owner TikTok, Developer, Fact-Checker, Fact-Checking Editor, Trainer, and Freelancer. The team works transnationally with regular team meetings of all fact-checkers to discuss standards, special cases, verification tools and methods, and innovations. The daily editorial questions are discussed in two separate subteams: Germany/Austria/Switzerland (DACH) and Belgium/Netherlands/Luxembourg (Benelux).
- training in digital research and verification -especially for media houses in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (https://www.dpa.com/de/faktencheck23)
- GADMO - part of the EDMO network (https://gadmo.eu/)
- fact-checks for the European Newsroom ENR (https://europeannewsroom.com/de/services/fact-check/)
- supporting German media in verifying user-generated content for news reports, e.g. alleged eyewitness reports "Faktencheck Support" (https://www.dpa.com/de/faktencheck-support-redaktionen)
- fighting disinformation with fact graphics in CEE (https://gadmo.eu/en/new-project-by-gadmo-partner-dpa-fighting-disinformation-with-fact-graphic)1.2.4
- We want to expand our training in digital research, verification and fact checking for journalists in Germany and Europe.
- We want to increase the number of fact-checking operations in Germany and Europe significantly.
- With the help of content creators, we want to transform comparatively dry fact-check content into sharable social media postings.
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
DPA has a dedicated team of 30 people working on fact-checking in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
done_all 1.2 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 1.3
Proof you meet criteria
- The applicant has published an average of at least one fact check a week over the course of the six months prior to the date of application.
- For applicants from countries with at least 5 or more verified signatories need to have at least a fact check a week over the twelve months of publishing track.
- Consult to factchecknet@poynter.org for confirmation.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Since 2019, dpa publishes regularly publishes dozens of fact-checks per month. Since 2020 we publish fact checks not only in German, but also in French and Dutch.
(https://dpa-factchecking.com/)
All of these factchecks are also published on our client portal and can be used for publication by all of our clients.
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
DPA publishes several fact-checks in three languages, German, French, and Duch per month.
done_all 1.3 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 1.4
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will assess compliance through a review of the fact checks published over the previous three months. No additional information required.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
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Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
DPA fact-checks relevant issues that are significant to its audience.
done_all 1.4 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 1.5
Proof you meet criteria
Please explain any commercial, financial and/or institutional relationship your organization has to the state, politicians or political parties in the country or countries you cover. Also explain funding or support received from foreign as well as local state or political actors over the previous financial year.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
dpa is an independent and 100% privately organised news agency that is fully financed on the free market since its foundation in 1949. We do not receive funding or support from the state, politicians or political parties.
https://www.dpa.com/de/unternehmen/faktencheck/#aufbau-und-redaktionelle-grundsaetze
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
DPA is an independent and privately owned organization.
done_all 1.5 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 1.6
Proof you meet criteria
If you confirmed the organization receives funding from local or foreign state or political sources, provide a link to where on your website you set out how you ensure the editorial independence of your work.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
We do not receive funding or support from the state, politicians or political parties.
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
DPA does not get state or political parties funding.
done_all 1.6 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Section 2: A commitment to Non-partisanship and Fairness
To be compliant on nonpartisanship and fairness, applicants must meet these five criteria
- 2.1 The applicant fact-checks using the same high standards of evidence and judgement for equivalent claims regardless of who made the claim.
- 2.2 The applicant does not unduly concentrate its fact-checking on any one side, considers the reach and importance of claims it selects to check and publishes a short statement on its website to set out how it selects claims to check.
- 2.3 The applicant discloses in its fact checks relevant interests of the sources it quotes where the reader might reasonably conclude those interests could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided. It also discloses in its fact checks any commercial or other such relationships it has that a member of the public might reasonably conclude could influence the findings of the fact check.
- 2.4 The applicant is not as an organization affiliated with nor declares or shows support for any party, any politician or political candidate, nor does it advocate for or against any policy positions on any issues save for transparency and accuracy in public debate.
- 2.5 The applicant sets out its policy on non-partisanship for staff on its site. Save for the issues of accuracy and transparency, the applicant’s staff do not get involved in advocacy or publicise their views on policy issues the organization might fact check in such a way as might lead a reasonable member of the public to see the organization’s work as biased.
Criteria 2.1
Proof you meet criteria
Please share links to 10 fact checks published over the past year that you believe demonstrate your non-partisanship.
Please briefly explain how the fact checks selected show that (I) you use the same high standards of evidence for equivalent claims, (II) follow the same essential process for every fact check and (III) let the evidence dictate your conclusions.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
The dpa fact check verifies allegations without the source playing a role. In this respect, we often do not know and do not check from which political direction an assertion comes. We are only interested in whether it is true or false. The examples given cover all parties represented in the Bundestag (German).
https://dpa-factchecking.com/germany/221004-99-00787/ Former SPD politician Sigmar Gabriel has no link to Reichsbürger movement
https://dpa-factchecking.com/germany/230123-99-325554/ Fabricated quote from SPD politician with migrant background (Aydan Özoguz)
https://dpa-factchecking.com/germany/230120-99-291342/ Germany’s minister of defence, Boris Pistorius, SPD, is not the brother of Oscar Pistorius
https://dpa-factchecking.com/germany/221026-99-272228/ Alleged Green MP is an AfD politician
https://dpa-factchecking.com/germany/220916-99-783435/ The Greens do not want to abolish agricultural traditions in Bavaria
https://dpa-factchecking.com/germany/230331-99-160450/ Wrong context on video, showing AfD politician
https://dpa-factchecking.com/germany/230301-99-783240/ Quote of CDU’s chairman put in wrong context
https://dpa-factchecking.com/germany/221220-99-973213/ Quotes of politicians from CSU, CDU, SPD, Greens put in wrong context (Reichsbürger Movement)
https://dpa-factchecking.com/germany/220810-99-337002/ Missing context on debate about pedophilie (FDP, Greens)
https://dpa-factchecking.com/germany/230718-99-441949/ Answer of Germany’s minister of finance, Christian Lindner (FDP), was taken out of context
https://dpa-factchecking.com/germany/220914-99-760005/ German cabinet members are misquoted (SPD, FDP, The Greens)
https://dpa-factchecking.com/germany/220901-99-593127/ German political party (The Left) did not join a rally of extremists
https://dpa-factchecking.com/germany/230330-99-150187/ Politician of The Left, Gregor Gysi, was misquoted on NSA wiretapping scandal
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
DPA does not have a political bias and uses the same high standards to fact check claims from all political parties.
done_all 2.1 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 2.2
Proof you meet criteria
Please share a link to a place on your website where you explain how you select claims to check, explaining how you ensure you do not unduly concentrate your fact-checking on any one side, and how you consider the reach and importance of the claims you select to check.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
The claims are selected under journalistic criteria due to public interest and not responding to political bias.
done_all 2.2 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 2.3
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will assess compliance through a review of the fact checks published over the previous year. No additional information required.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
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Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
DPA discloses sources and links the pieces of evidence to help readers dig deeper into the information, allowing transparency on any commercial or political interests of the quoted sources.
done_all 2.3 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 2.4
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will assess compliance through a review of the fact checks published over the previous year. No additional information required.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
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Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
DPA's fact checks present political balance along the ideological, and religious spectrum, as well as interests.
done_all 2.4 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 2.5
Proof you meet criteria
Please share a link to a place on your website where you publish a statement setting out your policy on non-partisanship for staff and how it ensures the organization meets this criteria.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Journalists working for dpa are free and independent in their reporting. We mustn't declare any preferences or support for political parties, religious or cultural beliefs, any industry or other interest group.
The employment contracts of every editioral staff states clearly: "The employee is obliged to obeying the fundamental rules of the Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa), which state that the production of dpa services has to be impartial and independent from incfluences by parties, groups."
https://www.dpa.com/de/faktencheck#faktencheck-regeln
and
https://www.dpa.com/de/faktencheck#redaktionelle-grundsaetze
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
DPA's independence policy is visible to the public on its website.
done_all 2.5 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Section 3: A commitment to Standards and Transparency of Sources
To be compliant on sources, applicants must meet these four criteria
- 3.1 The applicant identifies the source of all significant evidence used in their fact checks, providing relevant links where the source is available online, in such a way that users can replicate their work if they wish. In cases where identifying the source would compromise the source’s personal security, the applicant provides as much detail as compatible with the source’s safety.
- 3.2 The applicant uses the best available primary, not secondary, sources of evidence wherever suitable primary sources are available. Where suitable primary sources are not available, the applicant explains the use of a secondary source.
- 3.3 The applicant checks all key elements of claims against more than one named source of evidence save where the one source is the only source relevant on the topic.
- 3.4 The applicant identifies in its fact checks the relevant interests of the sources it uses where the reader might reasonably conclude those interests could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided.
Criteria 3.1
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the applicant’s use of sources in a randomised sample of its fact checks to assess compliance. No additional evidence is required.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
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Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
DPA conducts thorough and plural work in the search for sources. Links to several pieces of evidence are provided in their fact checks.
done_all 3.1 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 3.2
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the applicant’s use of sources in a randomised sample of its fact checks to assess compliance. No additional evidence is required.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
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Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
DPA uses mainly primary sources in the original language to explain the claims.
done_all 3.2 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 3.3
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the applicant’s use of sources in a randomised sample of its fact checks to assess compliance. No additional evidence is required.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
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Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
DPA uses different sources to verify information. All sources are quoted,and links are provided.
done_all 3.3 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 3.4
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the applicant’s use of sources in a randomised sample of its fact checks to assess compliance. No additional evidence is required.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
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Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
The fact checks are contextualized and allow readers to understand the sources' interests.
done_all 3.4 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Section 4: A commitment to Transparency of Funding & Organization
To be compliant on funding and organization, applicants must meet these five criteria
- 4.1 Applicants that are independent organizations have a page on their website detailing each source of funding accounting for 5% or more of total revenue for its previous financial year. This page also sets out the legal form in which the organization is registered (e.g. as a non-profit, as a company etc).
- 4.2 Applicants that are the fact-checking section or unit of a media house or other parent organization make a statement on ownership.
- 4.3 A statement on the applicant’s website sets out the applicant’s organizational structure and makes clear how and by whom editorial control is exercised.
- 4.4 A page on the applicant’s website details the professional biography of all those who, according to the organizational structure and play a significant part in its editorial output.
- 4.5 The applicant provides easy means on its website and/or via social media for users to communicate with the editorial team.
Criteria 4.1
Proof you meet criteria
Please confirm whether you are an ‘independent organization’
or ‘the fact-checking section or unit of a media house or other parent organization’ and share proof of this organizational status.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
No customer contributes more than five per cent to the dpa Group's annual turnover
https://www.dpa.com/de/faktencheck#redaktionelle-grundsaetze and https://www.dpa.com/de/impressum
Our legal form https://www.dpa.com/de/ueber-die-dpa/leitung-aufsichtsgremien
Annual report for 2022 https://geschaeftsbericht.dpa.com/de/2022/kennzahlen-2022
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
The company's legal and financial information is properly disclosed on its page. DPA is a limited liability company with 170 partners, most of them printed media organizations. None of them contribute more than 5% of the annual turnover.
done_all 4.1 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 4.2
Proof you meet criteria
If your organization is an “independent organization”, please share a link to the page on your website where you detail your funding and indicate the legal form in which the organization is registered (e.g. as a non-profit, as a company etc).
If your organization is “the fact-checking section or unit of a media house or other parent organization”, please share a link to the statement on your website about your ownership.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
"The dpa fact-checking team is an editorial department of the Deutsche Presse-Agentur."
https://www.dpa.com/de/faktencheck#c12159:~:text=Redaktionelle%20Organisation (So arbeiten wir - Aufbau und redaktionelle Grundsätze der dpa)
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
DPA is an independent organization.
done_all 4.2 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 4.3
Proof you meet criteria
Please share a link to where on your website you set out your organizational structure, making clear how and by whom editorial control is exercised.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Editorial control at dpa in general https://www.dpa.com/de/ueber-die-dpa/leitung-aufsichtsgremien#chefredaktion
Editorial control in dpa's fact-checking team https://www.dpa.com/de/unternehmen/faktencheck/#aufbau-und-redaktionelle-grundsaetze
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
DPA's organizational structure, as well as the fact-checking team members and responsibilities and editorial controls, are accessible on the website.
done_all 4.3 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 4.4
Proof you meet criteria
Please share a link to where on your website you set out the professional biographies of those who play a significant part in your organization’s editorial output.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
Bios are published.
done_all 4.4 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 4.5
Proof you meet criteria
Please share a link to where on your website you encourage users to communicate with your editorial team.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
DAP provides links for readers to connect with the fact-checking team on its website, as well as on each verification.
done_all 4.5 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Section 5: A commitment to Standards and Transparency of Methodology
To be compliant on methodology, applicants must meet these six criteria
- 5.1 The applicant publishes on its website a statement about the methodology it uses to select, research, write and publish its fact checks.
- 5.2 The applicant selects claims to check based primarily on the reach and importance of the claims, and where possible explains the reason for choosing the claim to check.
- 5.3 The applicant sets out in its fact checks relevant evidence that appears to support the claim as well as relevant evidence that appears to undermine it.
- 5.4 The applicant in its fact checks assesses the merits of the evidence found using the same high standards applied to evidence on equivalent claims, regardless of who made the claim.
- 5.5 The applicant seeks where possible to contact those who made the claim to seek supporting evidence, noting that (I) this is often not possible with online claims, (II) if the person who makes the claim fails to reply in a timely way this should not impede the fact check, (III) if a speaker adds caveats to the claim, the fact-checker should be free to continue with checking the original claim, (IV) fact-checkers may not wish to contact the person who made the claim for safety or other legitimate reasons.
- 5.6 The applicant encourages users to send in claims to check, while making it clear what readers can legitimately expect will be fact-checked and what isn’t fact-checkable.
Criteria 5.1
Proof you meet criteria
Please provide a link to the statement on your website that explains the methodology you use to select, research, write and publish your fact checks.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
DPA publishes and follows its methodology.
done_all 5.1 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 5.2
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the methodology used in a randomised sample of your fact checks to assess compliance with these criteria. No additional evidence is required.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
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Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
In the verification samples reviewed, the published methodology is applied as established.
done_all 5.2 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 5.3
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the methodology used in a randomised sample of your fact checks to assess compliance with these criteria. No additional evidence is required.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
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Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
DPA uses different sources and many pieces of evidence to support its investigations.
done_all 5.3 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 5.4
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the methodology used in a randomised sample of your fact checks to assess compliance with these criteria. No additional evidence is required.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
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Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
DPA applies high standards on all its fact checks.
done_all 5.4 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 5.5
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the methodology used in a randomised sample of your fact checks to assess compliance with these criteria. No additional evidence is required.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
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Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
DPA complies with its methodology.
done_all 5.5 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 5.6
Proof you meet criteria
Please describe how you encourage users to send in claims to check, while making it clear what readers can legitimately expect will be fact-checked and what isn’t fact-checkable. Include links where appropriate. If you do not allow this, explain why.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Under each of our fact checks is this notice:
If you have any objections or comments regarding the content, please send them to faktencheck@dpa.com with a link to the Facebook post concerned. Please use the appropriate templates for this. You can find information on objections here.
Did you already know?
If you have doubts about a news item, an allegation, a picture or a video, you can also contact dpa-Faktencheck via WhatsApp. You can find more information here.
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
DPA invites its readers to send claims to be verified on their website and through a WhatsApp number. The organization asks people to send information about what issue to verify, who said it, why this is relevant, and the consequences of not fact-checking it could have.
done_all 5.6 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Section 6: A commitment to an Open & Honest Corrections Policy
To be compliant on corrections policy, applicants must meet these five criteria
- 6.1 The applicant has a corrections or complaints policy that is easily visible and accessible on the organization’s website or frequently referenced in broadcasts.
- 6.2 The policy sets out clear definitions of what it does and does not cover, how major mistakes, especially those requiring revised conclusions of a fact check, are handled, and the fact that some complaints may justify no response. This policy is adhered to scrupulously.
- 6.3 Where credible evidence is provided that the applicant has made a mistake worthy of correction, the applicant makes a correction openly and transparently, seeking as far as possible to ensure that users of the original see the correction and the corrected version.
- 6.4 The applicant, if an existing signatory, should either on its corrections/complaints page or on the page where it declares itself an IFCN signatory inform users that if they believe the signatory is violating the IFCN Code, they may inform the IFCN, with a link to the IFCN site.
- 6.5 If the applicant is the fact-checking unit of a media company, it is a requirement of signatory status that the parent media company has and adheres to an open and honest corrections policy.
Criteria 6.1
Proof you meet criteria
Please provide a link to where you publish on your website your corrections or complaints policy. If you are primarily a broadcaster, please provide evidence you frequently reference your corrections policy in broadcasts.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
The correction and complaints policy is visible on DPA´s website.
done_all 6.1 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 6.2
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the corrections policy to verify it meets critera. No additional information needed.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
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Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
DPA explains its correction and complaints policy. The organization is very detailed on how they correct minor errors as well as rectifications of significant dimensions, and who is responsible for that decisions. The policy was followed in both cases presented as samples.
done_all 6.2 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 6.3
Proof you meet criteria
Please provide a short statement about how the policy was adhered to over the previous year (or six months if this is the first application) including evidence of two examples of the responses provided by the applicant to a correction request over the previous year. Where no correction request has been made in the previous year, you must state this in your application, which will be publicly available in the assessment if your application is successful.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
dpa Fact-Checking corrects all mistakes quickly and transparently by updating the fact-checks and adding a note explaining the correction. We will reply to all user mails as long as they are formulated in a civil tone.
Corrections are very rare in our fact checks.
Here are two examples for corrections.
https://dpa-factchecking.com/germany/210811-99-806848/ (On the delta variant of the corona virus. A health expert called by phone to point out the mistake of a inprecise quotation)
https://dpa-factchecking.com/germany/230719-99-455666/ (Video shows traffic jam inbound to Kiev in August 2022. A German fact checker noticed the mistake of a wrong month)
Please find two examples of our responses to a correction request attached
einspruch_2.JPG (113 KB)
einspruch_1.JPG (122 KB)
einspruch_1.JPG (122 KB)
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
DPA states that it rarely needs to correct its claims. The evidence attached shows how the organization follows its policy and provides transparent information about what facts were fixed. The organization also offered responses sent to readers.
done_all 6.3 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 6.4
Proof you meet criteria
If you are an existing signatory, please provide a link to show where on your site you inform users that if they believe you are violating the IFCN Code, they may inform the IFCN of this, with a link to the complaints page on the IFCN site.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
DPA complies.
done_all 6.4 marked as Compliant by Dagmar Thiel.
Criteria 6.5
Proof you meet criteria
If you are the fact-checking unit of a media company, please provide a link to the parent media company’s honest and open corrections policy and provide evidence that it adheres to this.
dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
23-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Dagmar Thiel Assessor
31-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 10 months ago
The media company correction policy in accessible on DPA´s website.