Organization: El Detector / Univision Noticias
Applicant: Carlos Chirinos
Assessor: Ramón Salaverría
Background
Active since 2016, El Detector is the fact-checking unit of Univision News, a media corporation targeting U.S. Hispanic population. It became signatory of the IFCN Code of Principles signatory for the first time in 2021.
Assessment Conclusion
El Detector fully complies with all the criteria of the IFCN Code of Principles. It is worth noting that it has successfully applied a couple of minor improvements suggested in the assessment made in 2021. The recommendation to the Board is to renew the accreditation.
Ramón Salaverría assesses application as Compliant
A short summary in native publishing language
Activo desde 2016, El Detector es la unidad de verificación Univision Noticias, corporación de medios dirigida a la población hispana de EE.UU. Se convirtió en signatario del Código de Principios de la IFCN por primera vez en 2021.
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.
El Detector / Univision Noticias
20-Jul-2022 (2 years ago)
elDetector is Univision's fact-checking platform and the first Spanish-language fact-checking platform in the U.S. Univision is the leading media company in the U.S. and has been the No.1 source of news and information for Hispanics for over 25 consecutive years.
Our home page has two tabs: tab 1: "That’s how we do it" (Así lo hacemos), located at the top of the page, and tab 2 on the right-hand bottom of the page, in a highlighted button. A click on the tabs opens a page that states the following: "El Detector is the first Spanish-language fact-checking platform in the U.S. It was launched in March 2016 under the name of 'The Lie Detector', to fulfill the journalistic mission of seeking the truth and debunking misinformation and disinformation in the United States and Latin America. elDetector is part of Univision’s news division. We then have a link to an “About Univision” page that has all the history regarding the media company.
That last sentence links to our corporate page, which contains the entire history of the company, its portfolio, directory, governance and all additional details about Univision.
https://corporate.univision.com/timeline/
There, users can also find all the details about the company’s legal status and its finances through its quarterly financial reports.
https://investors.univision.net/investor-news/default.aspx
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Launched in 2016, El Detector is the fact-checking unit of Univision, a large Spanish-language broadcast and internet media company in the U.S. As requested, the applicant has presented evidence of its legal status within that media company.
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?
El Detector / Univision Noticias
20-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
1. When and why was your fact-checking operation started?
elDetector was launched in 2016 as the first Spanish-language fact-checking platform in the U.S. This platform was created to provide fact-checking to US Hispanic audiences, with a focus on the issues that are central to the Latino population. Until then, there was no access to US based fact-checking production in Spanish.
2. How many people work or volunteer in the organization and what are their roles?
elDetector’s team has editors and reporters, most of them working remotely. The team is composed of members of the Univision News staff and freelancers, under the direction of Carlos Chirinos. It has one general editor, one editor, one designer and three regular fact-checkers, apart from one fact-checker who publishes occasionally. We hire videographers, animators and infographers for specific projects, as necessary.
We have an active partnership for sharing content with Factcheck.org and Factchequeado, which means we indirectly count on some of their fact-checkers and editors for the republishing of certain content (political, health, immigration, viral and harmful hoaxes in social media).
Neither our fact-checkers and editors nor their relatives are affiliated with any political party. We are all governed by journalistic and ethical principles, and abide to the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) code of principles.
3. What different activities does your organization carry out?
We verify public discourse and messages that become viral on Social Media, debunking dis/misinformation and working to explain everything we consider to be relevant to Hispanic’s decision-making process.
Right after our relaunch in 2020, we fact-checked messages of the electoral campaign. As of January 2021, in the midst of the pandemic and for over a year, we focused mainly on issues that distort facts about coronavirus and vaccines and how they affect the Hispanic community, although we did publish fact-checks related to others issues affecting our audience.
We currently fact-check a diverse range of topics from which distorted or false messages are produced and go viral, potentially harmful to our community. We monitor them on Social Media, or we receive them on our WhatsApp chatbot. We also fact-check dis/misinformation on current affair issues (politics, economics, immigration, etc.) relevant to our audience.
In addition, we fact-check images (photos or videos) relevant to understand current affairs and what is happening in the US and the world. We did so, for example, at the beginning of the invasion of Russia to Ukraine.
elDetector was granted financial support from WhatsApp for its relaunch in 2020, as part of the FactChat project, which brought together 12 fact-checking platforms in the United States, including us, coordinated by the Poynter Institute’s International Fact-Checking Network.
In the midst of the coronavirus emergency, we had been awarded two grants with six months and one year duration: one from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) , the other from the Google News Initiative to expand our fact-checking about vaccines and covid-19.
The latter helped us consolidate our collaboration and partnership with Factcheck.org, for the production and publication of fact-checks texts and videos through multimedia pieces that have the support of Univision’s audiovisual unparalleled reach and impact. We keep that increasingly robust partnership to amplify our message to a bilingual audience, as we keep publishing their content in Spanish.
In 2022 we received two other grants:
One for the creation and implementation of the WhatsApp tipline and chatbot, in which we receive queries and tips to verify. We respond directly on the chat, or take the tips to produce longer, more in-depth fact-checks.
The Climate Misinformation Grant Program, granted by META/IFCN. Our fact-checking of misinformation and disinformation about climate focuses on the states with the largest Hispanic population in the US (Florida, California, New York, Texas, Illinois, Arizona, plus Puerto Rico). U.S. Hispanics live in areas affected by drought, hurricanes, fires, heat waves, floods, among other events. We produce texts as well as images and video content (illustrations, slideshows, animation, reels.)
This year we also started a partnership with Factchequeado, for the joint publication of fact-check pieces. They have also taught refresher training courses to our team and to a team of interns we worked with during two months through an alliance with Bilingual Journalism at Newmark J-School.
Univision serves over 60 million Hispanics living in the US and abroad, for whom elDetector's content is essential. Univision News currently reaches over 90 percent of Latino households in the US and continues to expand its reach with the new merger with Televisa.
As a result of the merger, TelevisaUnivision now reaches over 100 million Spanish speakers every day - more than 60% of the respective TV audiences in both the U.S. and Mexico across television, digital, streaming, and audio. The potential of reaching 600 million Spanish-language speakers around the world.
Although our main focus is to serve US Hispanics, we also serve Latin America: around 25% of Univision.com readership comes from countries like Mexico, Colombia, Perú or Venezuela. The experience of our WhatsApp chatbot has corroborated this: in our last balance sheet, from the end of March to the beginning of July, Mexico and Colombia were the countries from which we received the most queries. The United States was the third one. We received questions/tips from all the countries of Spanish-speaking South America and Brazil. Also from Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica and Spain.
4. What are the goals of your fact-checking operation over the coming year?
One of our main goals this year is to build up on our fact-checking service on WhatsApp, as this is a very direct tool for community building, and a vessel to make our content available to our audience on the messaging app they use most. This will help fight misinformation on one of the platforms that it is disseminated most.
We also aim to expand the verification of the public discourse with the upcoming campaign and midterms elections, as well as messages related to it on social media. A similar coverage to the one we did in 2020/21.
As the midterms election campaign gets closer, we will increase the production of fact-checks on the matter, not only on our own, but with a joint effort of content sharing with our partners in FactCheck.org and Factchequeado.
We will keep fact-checking messages on public policies that impact US Hispanics, including immigration, health (covid-19 and vaccination included) and politics.
On the other hand, the climate misinformation grant has proven to be very timely, as this is increasingly becoming a current affairs issue that is growing in the public conversation. We expect this to be a high topic during the electoral campaign.
We will continue to fact-check messages, misconceptions, myths and beliefs about this topic in our community. We will take this opportunity to create more explainer graphic/ visual pieces about this that are useful to understand it better.
On the other hand, we have started the process of closing the deal of a partnership with Meta for taking part in their Facebook/Instagram fact-checking tool program (3PFC) this year.
Our expansion relies on Univision’s main strengths, which is TV (legacy and digital) with its slate of news programming. The production of a regular spot for elDetector in our streaming TV (VIX) and open TV is in the making.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
As requested, the applicant has presented, in full detail, references that prove compliance of this criterion:
1. The year (2016) when this news organization was set up.
2. The identity, background and roles of the journalists (7) who work directly in the organization. The team is composed of a general editor, a text editor, a video coordinator and four fact-checkers (three full-time and one part-time). When necessary, this core team of El Detector is supported by the Univision News staff and/or freelancers
3. The activities carried out by El Detector have been adequately explained, as well as its collaboration with FactCheck.org, set up in 2003, and the Factchequeado alliance of U.S.-based Spanish-language fact-checkers, launched in 2022. This collaborations aims at expanding the reach of El Detector to both Spanish- and English-speaking audience.
4. The goals of El Detector over the coming year, which comprise 1) developing their fact-checking service on WhatsApp, 2) performing a special coverage of the U.S. midterm elections, 3) joining efforts with FactCheck.org and Factchequeado, with special attendance to issues relevant for Hispanics, and 4) setting up a collaboration with Meta to become a provider within its fact-checking program.
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.
El Detector / Univision Noticias
20-Jul-2022 (2 years ago)
elDetector has posted more than two to three fact-checks per week during the last six months. We are submitting 135 fact-checks for your consideration. We have opened the period of the sample to 10 months (September 2021-July 2022.)
Here is our sample, covering a variety of topics that are relevant to our communities:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17KgQKkwQoh19xmyvJIJumlKteaGDlIyYrjkDHekxOSM/edit#gid=0
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
El Detector has presented a sample of fact-checks (134) performed over the ten months prior to the date of application (Sep 2021 - Jul 2021, both included). The sample proves that the applicant clearly surpassed the minimum of publishing at least one fact-check a week.
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
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
More than three quarters of El Detector’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 the U.S. and, more specifically, the Hispanic population.
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.
El Detector / Univision Noticias
20-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
elDetector does not receive funding from the federal government or any state entity in the U.S., or the government of any other country.
As a Univision News project, our verification unit benefits from our media company’s business model, which allows the total editorial independence of our news division.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
According to the information provided by the applicant, El Detector does not receive funding from the U.S. federal government or any state entity, or the government of any other country.
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.
El Detector / Univision Noticias
20-Jul-2022 (2 years ago)
We do not receive funding, as mentioned, but here are some comments about how we maintain editorial independence in general. In the section 'How we do it' (“Así lo hacemos”) we include an explanation of how we perform our fact-checks, how we choose which content to verify and the method we follow/process we follow.
https://www.univision.com/noticias/asi-lo-hacemos
We also explain the meaning of our labels (ratings).
In addition, we include the following link in the same section, which leads to the detailed methodology of how we do our work:
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
In the view and knowledge of the assessor, El Detector’s editorial output by no means is controlled by the U.S. state, a political party, politician or lobby. The applicant sets out to this independence in the information provided in their website about the how they perform their fact-checking activities.
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.
El Detector / Univision Noticias
20-Jul-2022 (2 years ago)
One of the first steps of our methodology requires the fact-checkers to assume absolutely nothing about the claim we are verifying. That is, that we do not anticipate the verdict/rating even if there are indications that may announce it. So regardless of who is the object of our fact-check (the author of the claim), we try to apply the same principle. We follow the same methodology and the same route whether we fact-check one political tendency or the other or whatever the subject is.
In the following sample, you will find that we have fact-checked President Biden’s speech and his administration’s statements using the same methodology we used during the Trump administration to fact-check figures and verify its statements. We performed a live fact-check of his last State of the Union Address and, shortly before that, we reviewed the numbers and data he gave during his first year in office press conference, concentrating on reviewing their source and checking their context. We also fact-checked Biden's statements on the coronavirus, guns, the economy, etc.
As mentioned in our first application, President Donald Trump's personality and style imposed a great challenge to the journalists and led to constant fact checking. You will find that in this sample there are several fact-checks to Republican personalities that keep repeating the same messages about immigration, various conspiracy theories, the so called ‘Big Lie’, mass shootings, vaccines and covid-19, many of them inherited from Trump’s term.
During the midterms' election campaign, we will apply the same methodology and principles for the treatment of the candidates' speech and social media messages related to them and the campaign. During 2020, we achieved balance to the multiple "false" and "deceitful" that deserved his allegations by seeking claims from other political actors of the opposite party and also finding false statements that were made about the then president Trump and his family. We also published fact-checks in which he or his government had correct/true claims. One of the tasks we focused on at the end of the campaign, was to verify falsehoods that the networks had spread over the families of both candidates.
We expect a similar approach during the midterms elections, but also taking into account that the events of the last year have added other issues.
On the other hand, the sample includes fact-checking to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
Here the links of examples:
https://www.univision.com/noticias/elecciones-sigue-siendo-falso-fraude-trump
https://www.univision.com/noticias/falso-biden-financiar-fondos-federales-distribucion-pipas-crack
https://www.univision.com/noticias/verificamos-afirmaciones-discurso-de-la-union-2022?mn
https://www.univision.com/noticias/putin-distorsiona-papel-rusia-alto-el-fuego
www.univision.com/noticias/verdad-precio-gasolina-marzo-2022-mas-alto-registrado-eeuu
https://www.univision.com/noticias/lo-que-sabemos-sentencias-ketanji-jackson-pornografia-infantil
https://www.univision.com/noticias/falso-cambio-gobierno-ucrania-2014-golpe-estado-eeuu
https://www.univision.com/noticias/vacuna-polio-si-cuatro-dosis-taylor-greene-falsedad
https://www.univision.com/noticias/enganoso-estado-murio-debanhi-escobar-no-mas-violentos-de-mexico
https://www.univision.com/noticias/falta-contexto-roe-v-wade-deroga-derecho-aborto-seria-ilegal
https://www.univision.com/noticias/verdad-carlson-promotor-teoria-conspirativa-gran-reemplazo
https://www.univision.com/noticias/agente-patrulla-fronteriza-uvalde-disparo-atacante
https://www.univision.com/noticias/no-hay-evidencias-caravana-migrante-mas-grande-de-la-historia
https://www.univision.com/noticias/falso-vicepresidente-puede-cambiar-resultado-electoral
https://www.univision.com/noticias/republicanos-usan-cifra-enganosa-inmigracion-ilegal
https://www.univision.com/noticias/que-es-cierto-sobre-derecho-aborto-fallo-roe-vs-wade
https://www.univision.com/noticias/enganoso-biden-redujo-en-90-muertes-por-covid
https://www.univision.com/noticias/verdad-biden-dijo-fin-de-la-diapositiva-repetir-linea
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
El Detector has adequately demonstrated its non-partisanship by providing up to 27 examples of fact-checks to politicians, political parties and leaders of all the political spectrum in U.S. and beyond. When performing fact-checks, El Detector applies a consistent and sound fact-checking methodology, backing the information with reliable links and covering issues with equivalent standards, 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.
El Detector / Univision Noticias
20-Jul-2022 (2 years ago)
We follow journalistic principles and ethical standards and focus on revealing the truth and exposing falsehoods or deceptions, with factual and contextual information, without favoring any political tendency. We follow our methodology and the IFCN’s Code of Principles..
We consult live and documentary sources, including experts, databases, publications and other journalistic resources that allow us to reach firm conclusions. We use digital tools and publish the right attributions and links to the sources that led to our fact-checks so that our audience can also check them.
Our WhatsApp chatbot also gives us a measure of what is being shared and spread and what is being harmful as dis/misinformation.
We always question ourselves:
Is this a matter that affects people’s daily lives?
Are we contributing to improving the quality of public debate on the issue?
Are we presenting positions that are so controversial that they may ultimately lead people to support certain proposals of the politicians in power?
Is it possible to carry out a solid verification of the statement that interests us?
In addition, we guarantee that the parties are equally verified, without favoring any political tendency. We simply apply the same criteria, tools and method to verify any political speech or public affairs statement. We fact-check everyone in the political spectrum equally.
In “Asi Lo hacemos” section, we explain how we choose the topics we verify and how we use each label, explaining what each color means and what differentiates one from the other:
https://www.univision.com/especiales/noticias/detector/asi-lo-hacemos.html
We also have a tab on our homepage that links directly to our methodology and includes details about how our process works, how we publish, edit information and our correction policy.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
As requested, El Detector commits itself to non-partisanship, not unduly concentrating its fact-checking on any side. The applicant pledges to be "governed by principles of journalistic responsibility to reveal the truth and denounce what is false or misleading, without favoring any political side" (translated from the original in Spanish: "Nos regimos por principios de responsabilidad periodística de revelar la verdad y denunciar lo falso o engañoso, sin favorecer a ninguna parcialidad política").
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
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
After a random review of a number of fact-checks published over the previous year (Sept. 2021 - Jul. 2022), no traces have been found of any commercial interest that might influence the fact-checking activity of El Detector. The applicant publicly discloses the sponsorship received from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and Google, which involves financial relationship between the two organizations.
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
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
After a random review of a number of fact-checks published over the previous year (Sept. 2021 - Jul. 2022), no traces have been found of any political or ideological interest that might influence the fact-checking activity of El Detector.
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.
El Detector / Univision Noticias
20-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Así lo hacemos:
Here’s how we do it:
https://www.univision.com/noticias/asi-lo-hacemos
In this tab we have a section titled: Who are we?, in which we declare: "El Detector is run by a team of journalists from the Univision news division - now virtual - and has external collaborators. Our fact-checkers are not affiliated with any political party and are governed by journalistic and ethical principles and standards. We also adhere to the code of principles of the International Fact Checking Network (IFCN)."
Univision Noticias is an independent news organization and is governed by the journalistic principles of truth, independence, intellectual honesty and balance. Principles that are inherent to elDetector.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Self-defined as "the first fact-checking site data in Spanish in the U.S.," El Detector pledges that its "fact-checkers are not affiliated with any political party and are governed by journalistic and ethical principles and standards" (translated from Spanish: "el primer sitio de chequeo de datos en español en EEUU"; "nuestros verificadores no mantienen filiación con ningún partido político y se rigen por principios éticos periodísticos").
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
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
After a random review of a number of fact-checks published by El Detector, 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
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The sources used by El Detector 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
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Relying on a wide array of sources, El Detector gives priority on its fact-checks 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
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
El Detector uses free-access and reliable sources, so that readers can conclude the interests that could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided. No examples have been found of cases where the applicant has contextualized the sources used to back its fact-checks, explaining why some sources have been used instead of others.
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.
El Detector / Univision Noticias
20-Jul-2022 (2 years ago)
elDetector is the fact-checking unit of Univision News, the news division of Univision Communications Inc. now TelevisaUnivision, the leading Spanish-language media company in the US. This is its website: univision.com/eldetector
Our funding comes from grants, as displayed in ‘Así lo hacemos’, but our director’s salary is paid by Univision News.
In addition, elDetector has a special widget/section on the UnivisionNoticias.com homepage that clearly states that elDetector is part of its content: “TRUE OR FALSE?: ElDETECTOR VERIFIES IT”
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
El Detector is part of Univision, a large Spanish-language media company in the U.S. The applicant has its own staff, whose members are clearly disclosed.
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.
El Detector / Univision Noticias
20-Jul-2022 (2 years ago)
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.
elDetector is the fact-checking unit of Univision News. The news division of Univision Communications Inc., the leading Spanish-language media company in the US. This is its website: univision.com/eldetector
Our main homepage, UnivisionNoticias.com has a section dedicated to show our content under the title: TRUE OR FALSE?: THE DETECTOR VERIFIES IT
https://www.univision.com/noticias
In ‘Así Lo Hacemos’ we explain that.
A link to ‘Así Lo Hacemos’:
https://www.univision.com/noticias/asi-lo-hacemos
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Integrated as a section of Univision.com, El Detector ( https://www.univision.com/eldetector ) is bound to Univision News, a news organization targeted to Hispanic population in the U.S. As requested, this relationship with its parent media house is clearly disclosed.
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.
El Detector / Univision Noticias
20-Jul-2022 (2 years ago)
The ‘Así lo hacemos’ section contains a list of the main people in charge of elDetector. The team is led by Carlos Chirinos.
https://www.univision.com/especiales/noticias/detector/asi-lo-hacemos.html
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
El Detector discloses on its website the identities of its main staff members (available in the bottom of this page). However, contrary to what is requested to the signatories of the IFCN Code of Principles, members' biographies or professional background information is not clearly provided. These bios are available only by clicking on their credits. In spite of deficiency, this is assessed as a minor issue, as this personal information is not provided either for the rest of journalists that work for the Univision.com portal, where El Detector is integrated.
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.
El Detector / Univision Noticias
20-Jul-2022 (2 years ago)
https://www.univision.com/especiales/noticias/detector/asi-lo-hacemos.html
Dirección de El Detector:
Carlos Chirinos · cachirinos@univision.net
Director de Univision Noticias:
José Gonzalo · jgonzalo@univision.net
Edición de Política:
Carlos Chirinos · cachirinos@univision.net
Edición General:
Sandra Lafuente · reportajesycronicas@gmail.com
Edición:
Tal Ley · levytal@gmail.com
Fact-checkers:
Alberto Andreo · a.andreosandoval@gmail.com
Dayimar Ayala Altuve · dayidayi87@gmail.com
Crisleida Porras · crisleidaporras@gmail.com
Redes sociales:
Carolina Astuya
Diseño y dirección de arte:
Arlene Fioravanti
Videos:
Esther Poveda
Desarrollo de producto:
Johana Corredor / Adriana Bermúdez y Juan Hernández
Consejo asesor de contenido:
David Adams y Daniel Morcate
The bios of Univision Noticias' elDetector editorial team are available by clicking on their credits and can also be located on the google search engine.
https://www.univision.com/temas/crisleida-porras
https://www.univision.com/temas/dayimar-ayala-altuve
https://www.univision.com/temas/sandra-lafuente
https://www.univision.com/temas/alberto-andreo
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
El Detector identifies its main staff members. Detailed information about their bios is also provided, by clicking on their bylines or credits. The applicant discloses personal email accounts for the main editors. Therefore, this criterion is assessed as compliant.
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.
El Detector / Univision Noticias
20-Jul-2022 (2 years ago)
We have various ways to encourage communication with our audience, including a ‘Chat with us’ section in the header of our home page, in which we invite users to write to us on el Detector’s WhatsApp chatbot.
As of March 29th, we launched the WhatsApp chatbot, through which users can reach out to us with tips and requests of fact-checks. We sufficiently promote it on social media when distributing content, and we have done so on many of Univision’s TV shows. We have a newsletter in the chatbot that has also grown in subscribers. There has been an increase in the number of valid queries and user re-questions, which indicates trust in our service.
In addition, we have this message at the bottom of each fact-check piece, as a footnote: ¿Viste algún error o imprecisión? Escríbenos a eldetector@univision.net o a través de nuestro Twitter @eldetectoruni. Tras verificarlo, haremos la corrección que corresponda en un plazo no mayor de 48 horas. Lee aquí nuestra metodología y política de corrección.
It translates: “Did you see any errors or inaccuracies? Write to us at eldetector@univision.net or through our Twitter @eldetectoruni. After verifying it, we will make the corresponding correction within 48 hours. Read here our methodology and correction policy.”
Users can also write to us on the staff emails addresses shown in Criteria 4.4.
In the middle of our texts and at the end, there’s a tagline in which we remind again that users can contact us through the WhatsApp chatbot.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
El Detector provides several means of contact on its website, which comprise a general email address (eldetector@univision.net), social media handles and several staff members' email addresses. The applicant shows a 'chat with us’ section in the header of their home page.
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.
El Detector / Univision Noticias
20-Jul-2022 (2 years ago)
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The fact-checking methodology of El Detector is clearly disclosed on its website, with an extensive explanation. It is well explained the different labels to qualify content, which rangre from true (verdadero), context lacking (falta contexto), without evidence (sin evidencia), misleading (engañoso), to false (falso).
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
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Based on a random review of a number of fact-checks published over several months prior to this assessment, enough examples have been found that El Detector 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
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Drawing upon a number of randomly selected fact-checks published by the applicant organization, the assessor has come to the conclusion that El Detector 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
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
This criterion is assessed as compliant, as no usage of different standards for fact-checking has been detected, 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
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
No examples have been found of the objectionable situations indicated for this criterion. In absence of any apparent infringement of the Code of Principles, the assessment 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.
El Detector / Univision Noticias
20-Jul-2022 (2 years ago)
As of March 29th, we launched the WhatsApp chatbot, through which users can reach out to us with tips and requests of fact-checks. We sufficiently promote it on social media when distributing content, and we have done so on many of Univision’s TV shows. And also in every promo image there is a video tutorial of how to use it. We promote it also in the middle of the article and at the end.
At the bottom of each article we have the following statement:
¿Viste algún error o imprecisión? Escríbenos a eldetector@univision.net o a través de nuestro Twitter @eldetectoruni. Tras verificarlo, haremos la corrección que corresponda en un plazo no mayor de 48 horas. Lee aquí nuestras metodología y política de corrección.
“Did you see any errors or inaccuracies? Write to us at eldetector@univision.net or through our Twitter @eldetectoruni. After verifying your request, we will make the corresponding correction within 48 hours. Read here our methodology and correction policy."
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
As requested, El Detector has provided evidence on how it encourages users to propose claims to check, provide data and knowledge, as well as warn about possible errors in the checks. When such claims are received, their feasibility is assessed by the staff and they proceed accordingly.
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.
El Detector / Univision Noticias
20-Jul-2022 (2 years ago)
As mentioned before, we do it at the bottom of each article:
¿Viste algún error o imprecisión? Escríbenos a eldetector@univision.net o a través de nuestro Twitter @eldetectoruni. Tras verificarlo, haremos y publicaremos la corrección que corresponda en un plazo no mayor de 48 horas. Lee aquí nuestras metodología y política de corrección.
“Did you see any errors or inaccuracies? Write to us at eldetector@univision.net or through our Twitter @eldetectoruni. After verifying your request, we will make the corresponding correction within 48 hours. Read here our methodology and correction policy.”
As suggested by our assessor Ramón Salaverría, we have added one contact form through our Twitter account and we have indicated the maximum time that the correction may take to be checked and published.
Our correction policy is detailed in our methodology: https://www.univision.com/noticias/esta-es-la-metodologia-que-siguen-los-verificadores-de-datos-de-el-detector-en-univision-noticias
14. Update Policy
A fact-check may be updated after publication if we get the response of a source we are waiting for, if new information comes to light that is relevant to our story, or if a correction needs to be made. The date and time of update is placed at the top, at the beginning of the text; the information we update is placed within the text, where appropriate; and a note explaining why we update is placed at the end, before the list of sources.
15. Correction Policy
In the case of making an error that affects the verdict of the verification or its meaning, in addition to mistakes in names, dates or key data and incorrect attributions to sources (publishing in the text things that they did not say or that are not in the cited documents), we apply our correction policy.
The first step is to note it as soon as possible, then correct it within the verification and write, together with the editor and the director, a brief note detailing where the error was, saying that we corrected it and when, and mentioning the cause of the error. This note is published at the end of the verification, before the list of sources, and at the beginning we write "Update with correction" and the date.
Users can ask us for corrections through the e-mail eldetector@univision.net or through our Twitter @eldetectoruni, as we ask at the end of each published fact-check. We will verify the request, and if it is necessary to make the correction, we will do it within 48 hours.
When it is a matter of correcting grammatical or punctuation errors that do not affect the sense of the verification, we will not notify the correction.
16. Correction in social media
If the error is serious, causes confusion and results in information that is totally contrary to the verification we published and its verdict, we must make it known on social media and remove the tweet or post that misinforms with a transparent explanation of what happened.
These are the corrections we have made over the last year. None of them were requested by users, but noticed by us:
https://www.univision.com/noticias/cierto-no-vacunados-11-veces-mas-riesgo-morir-covid-graficos
https://www.univision.com/noticias/falso-corte-florida-ordena-policia-trasladar-alvaro-uribe
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
El Detector allows users to send claims and corrections, either by email, Twitter or WhatsApp. In case a mistake has been found by anyone, it commits itself to adding a correction clearly labeled as such in the corresponding article. It also commits itself to publishing the correction in social networks, as well as deleting the original content.
Following the suggestion made after the assessment of 2021, the applicant commits itself to responding to the claims in less than 48 hours. This improvement is valued positively.
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
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The corrections policy is clearly and extensively explained, informing users on how their claims will be handled. As indicated above, the applicant also commits itself to provide a response to the claims in less than 48 hours.
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.
El Detector / Univision Noticias
20-Jul-2022 (2 years ago)
We have never directly received a request for correction via email, WhatsApp or other contact form. However, when we have done a correction by ourselves, we follow our correction policy.
In the four cases in which we made corrections this year, we noticed the error during editorial discussion after the story was published. Either the fact-checker or the editors noticed them noticed.
These are the corrections we have made over the last year. None of them were requested by users, but noticed by us:
https://www.univision.com/noticias/cierto-no-vacunados-11-veces-mas-riesgo-morir-covid-graficos
https://www.univision.com/noticias/falso-corte-florida-ordena-policia-trasladar-alvaro-uribe
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
As proof of compliance of this criterion, El Detector has provided four examples (1, 2, 3, 4) of corrected fact-checks released over the period of this assessment, that is since Sept. 2021 to Jul. 2022. These corrections were not published upon request of the readers, but by the applicant itself. All in all, the 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.
El Detector / Univision Noticias
20-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
We added it to the footnote on our fact-checks ¿Viste algún error o imprecisión? Escríbenos a eldetector@univision.net o a través de nuestro Twitter @eldetectoruni. Tras verificar tu solicitud, haremos la corrección que corresponda en un plazo no mayor de 48 horas. Lee aquí nuestra metodología y política de corrección. Seguimos el Código de Principios de la International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), que puedes ver aquí traducido al español. Escribe a la IFCN llenando este formulario si consideras que no estamos cumpliendo ese código.
“Did you see any errors or inaccuracies? Write to us at eldetector@univision.net or through our Twitter @eldetectoruni. After verifying your request, we will make the corresponding correction within 48 hours. Read here our methodology and correction policy. We follow the Code of Principles of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), which you can see here translated into Spanish. Write to the IFCN by filling out this form if you consider that we are not complying with this code.”
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
El Detector informs users on how to proceed in case they want to inform the IFCN of any violation of the Code of Principles. Such reference is clearly accessible in the bottom of every fact-check.
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.
El Detector / Univision Noticias
20-Jul-2022 (2 years ago)
At the end ‘Home” of Univision News:
https://www.univision.com/noticias
This statement is located:
http://static.univision.com/fragments/noticias/fact-checking/index.html
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
As part of Univision News, it is implied that the corrections policy disclosed by El Detector extends to its parent organization. A static link that allows sending corrections claims is available in the bottom of every page of Univision News website.