Organization: El Detector / Univision Noticias
Applicant: Carlos Chirinos
Assessor: Ramón Salaverría
Background
In operation since 2016, El Detector is the fact-checking unit of Univision News, a media entity published in Spanish and targeted at the U.S. Hispanic population. It first became a signatory of the IFCN Code of Principles in 2021.
Assessment Conclusion
El Detector adheres completely to all the criteria outlined in the IFCN Code of Principles. The recommendation to the Board is to renew the accreditation.
Ramón Salaverría assesses application as Compliant
A short summary in native publishing language
En funcionamiento desde 2016, El Detector es la unidad de verificación de datos de Univision News, un medio publicado en español y dirigido a la población hispana de Estados Unidos. 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
15-Sep-2023 (1 year ago)
elDetector is Univision's fact-checking platform and the first Spanish-language fact-checking platform in the U.S. TelevisaUnivision (formerly Univision) is the leading Spanish content and media company in the World, and has been the No.1 source of news and information for US 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 TelevisaUnivision” 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.televisaunivision.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.televisaunivision.com/overview/default.aspx
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago)
Established in 2016, El Detector serves as the fact-checking division of Univision, a large Spanish-language broadcast and online media corporation in the United States. In compliance with the request, the candidate has provided documentation confirming its official standing within the 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
15-Sep-2023 (1 year 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 four (4) regular fact-checkers, apart from one fact-checker associated who publishes occasionally. We also 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).
In the Factcheado´s case (https://factchequeado.com/), it regularly republishes many of our verifications, making them available to a network for more than 50 allies nationwide.
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?
At elDetector 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 from the electoral campaign. As of January 2021, in the midst of the COVID pandemic and for over a year, we focused mainly on the many distortions of facts about coronavirus and vaccines and how they affected the Hispanic community, although we did publish fact-checks related to others issues affecting our audience, as economy or politics.
The irruption of the war on Ukraine brought a new topic to verify and also the start of the political process towards 2024 primaries. Also the death of Queen Elizabeth II was an issue that generate disinformation and to which we dedicated resources.
We continue fact-checking a diverse range of topics, from which distorted or false messages are produced and go viral, potentially harmful to our community. We monitor the public conversation on Social Media or as shown on the Media, or we receive them directly from users on our WhatsApp chatbot.
Current affair issues, like politics, economics, immigration, or climate change have proven to be relevant to our audience.
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.
Since 2022 elDetector has been part of the Third-Party Fact-Checking Program (3PFC), Meta's independent data verification program.
We continue nurturing our 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.
In 2022 we also started a partnership with Factchequeado, for the joint publication of fact-check pieces.
TelevisaUnivision 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 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. It has the potential of reaching 600 million Spanish-language speakers around the world.
Although our focus is to serve US Hispanics, around 25% of Univision.com readership comes from countries in Latin America:
In the period from August 2022 to August 2023, in the chatbot we have received messages from dozens of countries in Latin America, including Portuguese-speaking Brazil, and not only from the US, which is our main field of action. Also, from Spain.
The three main sources of interactions in our chat are: United States United, Mexico and Colombia.
4. What are the goals of your fact-checking operation over the coming year?
We plan on consolidating and expanding the reach of our WhatsApp chatbot, to try to engage better with the audience and create a more sustained conversation and take the most from this excellent community building tool.
At the same time, we will continue our partnership with Meta under the 3PFC network which allows us to monitor more effectively the misinformation circulating on IG or Facebook.
Those tools will be essential when if comes to the monitoring of the 2024 primaries and presidential campaigns that we expect will demand a good deal of resources from our side.
We will continue building up on the relationship with the rest of TelevisaUnivision corporation to take advantage of their strengths, chiefly TV (legacy and digital), that have demonstrated to be a powerful engine to generate traffic to our website verytime a QR code is display during the broadcasting. The aim is not just to have more appearances con TV outlets, but to create a space specifically for factchecking (elDetectorTV).
This year we have included elDetector in the general budget as part of the team that will deal with the electoral campaign.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
The applicant has provided comprehensive references verifying compliance with the following criteria:
1. The establishment year (2016) of this news organization.
2. Detailed information regarding the identity, background, and roles of the eight journalists directly involved in the organization. This team consists of a general editor, an editor, a designer, and five fact-checkers (four full-time and one part-time). Compared to 2022 assessment, the aplicant has added one more journalist to its team. Additionally, when required, the core team of El Detector receives support from Univision News staff and/or freelancers.
3. A thorough explanation of the activities undertaken by El Detector throughout the year assessed (August 2022 to August 2023), which comprise multiple topics and projects. As regards the projects, it is worth mentioning the liveliness of their chatbot, where the applicant claims to have ceived messages from dozens of countries beyond the US, including countries of Latin American (mainly Mexico and Colombia) and Spain.
3. The articulated goals of El Detector for the upcoming year, encompassing: 1) the consolidation and expantion of the reach of their WhatsApp chatbot, 2) the partnership with Meta under the 3PFC network, 3) the strengthening of the collaboration with the rest of TelevisaUnivision corporation, and 4) an special coverage of the US presidential campaign and elections.
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
15-Sep-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Since our last application (july 2022) we have increased the number of pieces publish from an average of 2 to 3 weekly to at least 10 a week (sometimes 3 daily)
Here we submit 250 pieces or fact-checks for your consideration. The sample comprises a whole year (August 2022 to August 2023)
In our sample you will see how elDetector covers a great variety of topics relevant to the Hispanics inside the US and abroad:
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
El Detector has submitted a compilation of 250 fact-checks (116 more than those submitted in 2022) conducted during the ten months leading up to the application date (August 2022 to August 2023, inclusive). This sample, which demonstrates an average publication pace of five fact-checks per week, serves as evidence that the applicant has significantly exceeded the minimum requirement of publishing at least one fact-check per 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
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
Over 75% of El Detector's fact-checks center around claims pertaining to issues that directly affect the welfare or well-being of individuals, the general public, or U.S. and Latin American countries. These topics encompass various areas significant to the target audience of Univision, including U.S. politics, finance, and immigration, among others. Furthermore, a notable portion of the fact-checks is dedicated to scrutinizing claims related to issues affecting Latino American 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
15-Sep-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year 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 an Univision News project, our verification unit have total editorial independence, in line with our news division business model.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
El Detector does not receive financial support from the federal government, any U.S. state entity, or the governments of other countries. Operating as a project under Univision News, our verification unit leverages the business model of our media company, ensuring the complete editorial independence of our news division.
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
15-Sep-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
As stated before, we do not receive funding from local or foreign state or political sources.
Here you can find an explanation of how we maintain editorial independence, how we do our fact-checks, and how we choose the content to verify, as well as the process we follow.
https://www.univision.com/noticias/asi-lo-hacemos
We include the following link in the same section, which leads to the detailed methodology of how we do our work:
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
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
15-Sep-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
https://www.univision.com/noticias/foto-simpatizantes-dr-oz-cartel-dice-no-manipulada
https://www.univision.com/noticias/enganoso-biden-creacion-empleos-por-mes-cualquier-otro-presidente
https://www.univision.com/noticias/verificacion-afirmaciones-trump-anuncio-candidatura-2024
https://www.univision.com/noticias/verificaciones-sotu-biden-2023
https://www.univision.com/noticias/contribuyentes-no-pagaran-clientes-silicon-valley-bank
https://www.univision.com/noticias/trump-deportara-todos-inmigrantes-si-gana-falso
https://www.univision.com/noticias/robar-tiendas-california-no-penalizado-falso
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
El Detector has effectively showcased its non-partisan stance by presenting, as requested, 10 instances of fact-checks conducted on politicians, political parties, and leaders across the entire political spectrum in the U.S. and beyond. In the process of fact-checking, El Detector consistently applies a robust methodology, substantiating information with reliable links and maintaining uniform standards irrespective of the ideological orientation of the institution, political party, or individual under scrutiny.
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
15-Sep-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year 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. The access we have to 3PFC program of Meta enhance our capacities to identify misleading or disinformation content.
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?
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. Likewise, 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
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
In the 'We do it like this' (Así lo hacemos) section, El Detector assures its dedication to non-partisanship, pledging not to disproportionately focus its fact-checking efforts on any particular side. The applicant commits to being guided by principles of journalistic responsibility, aiming to uncover the truth and expose falsehoods or misleading information without showing favoritism to any political faction.
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
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
Following a random examination of several fact-checks released in the past year (August 2022 to August 2023), no evidence has been discovered indicating any commercial interests that could potentially impact the fact-checking operations of El Detector.
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
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
Simillarly to criterion 2.3, after a random review of a number of fact-checks published over the previous year (August 2022 ti August 2023), 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
15-Sep-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
In '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 state: "elDetector is made by journalists from the Univision Noticias newsroom and has external collaborators. Our fact-checkers are not affiliated with any political party or economic group and are governed by journalistic ethical principles and 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
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
In the 'We do it like this' (Así lo hacemos) section, 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: "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
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
Following a random assessment of several fact-checks released in recent months, the inclusion of links to support the fact-checks on El Detector is considered satisfactory and suitable. These references enable users to independently verify the pertinent information presented.
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
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
To the best of the assessor's knowledge, El Detector employs a diverse, pertinent, and credible array of sources to substantiate its fact-checks.
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
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
Following a random examination of several fact-checks published in the six months leading up to this assessment (March to August 2023), no disproportionate concentration in any specific sources has been identified in El Detector.
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
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
El Detector furnishes sufficient details for readers to reasonably discern the interests that might impact the accuracy of the presented evidence. It adequately contextualizes information about the sources used to support the fact-checks.
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
15-Sep-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
elDetector is the fact-checking unit of Univision News, the news division of TelevisaUnivision ( formerly Univision), the leading Spanish-language content and media company in the world. 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. We received additional resources from our membership to the 3PFC program of Meta, which varies according to the number of pieces produced under that agreement.
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 our Politics landing page, we also display a carousel called "elDetector en Política", showing fact-checking pieces related to political issues.
https://www.univision.com/noticias/politica
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
El Detector is affiliated with Univision, a major Spanish-language media company in the U.S. The applicant has its dedicated team, with all members being transparently 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
15-Sep-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
elDetector is the fact-checking unit of Univision News, the news division of TelevisaUnivision ( formerly Univision), the leading Spanish-language content and media company in the world. 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 our Politics landing page, we also display a carousel called "elDetector en Política", showing fact-checking pieces related to political issues.
https://www.univision.com/noticias/politica
In ‘Así Lo Hacemos’ we give an explanaition about our website ownership.
A link to ‘Así Lo Hacemos’:
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
Operating as a segment within Univision.com, El Detector (https://www.univision.com/eldetector) is affiliated with Univision News, a news organization aimed at the Hispanic population in the U.S. As specified, the connection with its parent media entity is openly acknowledged.
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
15-Sep-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year 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
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
In the 'We do it like this' (Así lo hacemos) section, El Detector reveals the identities of its key staff members on its website, accessible at the bottom of the page. Contrary to the stipulations of the IFCN Code of Principles, detailed biographies or professional background information for the members are not explicitly presented but can be found by clicking on the fact-checks' bylines. This discrepancy with the IFCN recommendations, which was already noted in the previous year's assesment, is considered a minor concern, as similar personal information is not provided for other journalists working on 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
15-Sep-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Dirección de El Detector: Carlos Chirinos · cachirinos@univision.net https://www.univision.com/temas/carlos-chirinos
Director de Univision Noticias: José Gonzalo · jgonzalo@univision.net https://www.univision.com/temas/jose-angel-gonzalo
Edición General: Tal Ley · Tal Levy · levytal@yahoo.com https://www.univision.com/temas/tal-levy
Editora Sénior: Ana María Carrano· anamariacarrano@gmail.com https://www.univision.com/temas/ana-maria-carrano
Edición de Política: Carlos Chirinos · cachirinos@univision.net
Fact-checkers:
- Alberto Andreo · a.andreosandoval@gmail.com https://www.univision.com/temas/alberto-andreo
- Dayimar Ayala Altuve · dayidayi87@gmail.com https://www.univision.com/temas/dayimar-ayala-altuve
- Lissy De Abreu · lissdag@gmail.com https://www.univision.com/temas/lissy-de-abreu
- Ivette Franco · ivetteemily12@gmail.com https://www.univision.com/temas/ivette-franco
Diseño y dirección de arte: Arlene Fioravanti Müller
Coordinación Redes sociales: Carolina Astuya
Coordinación de Locales: Álvaro Corzo · acorzovirviescas@univision.net https://www.univision.com/temas/alvaro-corzo-virviescas-1
Desarrollo de producto: Johana Corredor / Adriana Bermúdez y Juan Hernández
Asesor de contenido: Daniel Morcate
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
El Detector recognizes its primary staff members and offers comprehensive information about their backgrounds, accessible by clicking on their bylines or credits. The applicant also shares personal email accounts for the main editors. Consequently, this criterion is deemed to be in compliance.
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
15-Sep-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year 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.
Since March 2022, 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 a footnote on each fact-check piece:
"¿Viste algún error o imprecisión? Escríbenos a eldetector@univision.net o a través de nuestra cuenta X (antiguo 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".
It translates: “Did you see any errors or inaccuracies? Write to us at eldetector@univision.net or through our X account (formerly 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.
Inside the texts, we include instruction and an explanatory video reminding users how can they contact us through the WhatsApp chatbot.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
El Detector offers multiple contact options on its website, including a general email address (eldetector@univision.net), social media handles, and email addresses for various staff members. Additionally, the applicant features a 'chat with us' section in the header of their homepage, and it also has a footnote on each fact-check piece offering a means of contact to report errors.
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
15-Sep-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
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
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
Through a random examination of numerous fact-checks published in the months leading up to this assessment, sufficient examples have been identified to indicate that El Detector primarily selects claims to fact-check based on their reach and significance.
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
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
Drawing on a number of randomly selected fact-checks, 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
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
No evidence has been found of the eventual usage of different standards for fact-checking, depending on who made the claim, or the subject checked.
done_all 5.4 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.
Criteria 5.5
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the methodology used in a randomised sample of your fact checks to assess compliance with these criteria. No additional evidence is required.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
In the random sample of fact-checks conducted by the applicant, no instances have been identified that correspond to the objectionable situations outlined in this criterion. Given the absence of evidence suggesting misconduct or violation of this aspect of the Code of Principles, the assessment is positive.
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
15-Sep-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
In March 29th, 2022, we launched the WhatsApp chatbot, through which users can reach out to us with tips and requests of fact-checks.
We constantly promote it through our Social Media accounts, TV appearences, and instruction of how to use it are displayed in each of our pieces, including an explanatory video.
In addition, we have a footnote on each of our fact-check pieces:
"¿Viste algún error o imprecisión? Escríbenos a eldetector@univision.net o a través de nuestra cuenta X (antiguo 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".
It translates: “Did you see any errors or inaccuracies? Write to us at eldetector@univision.net or through our X account (formerly Twitter) @eldetectoruni. After verifying it, we will make the corresponding correction within 48 hours. Read here our methodology and correction policy.”
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
As requested, El Detector has submitted documentation detailing its approach to encouraging users to submit claims for fact-checking, contribute data and knowledge, and alert the team to potential errors in the checks. Upon receiving such claims, the staff evaluates their feasibility and takes appropriate action.
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
15-Sep-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
As stated before, we have a footnote on each of our fact-check pieces:
"¿Viste algún error o imprecisión? Escríbenos a eldetector@univision.net o a través de nuestra cuenta X (antiguo 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".
It translates: “Did you see any errors or inaccuracies? Write to us at eldetector@univision.net or through our X account (formerly Twitter) @eldetectoruni. After verifying it, we will make the corresponding correction within 48 hours. Read here our methodology and correction policy.”
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 corrections done to our pieces, 2 of them requested by a soource
https://www.univision.com/noticias/autos-electricos-tambien-contaminan-menos-gasolina
https://www.univision.com/noticias/no-hay-evidencias-venezuela-prisiones-exconvictos-trump
https://www.univision.com/noticias/casio-shakira-clara-chia
https://www.univision.com/noticias/nucleo-interno-de-la-tierra-detuvo-falso
https://www.univision.com/noticias/gobierno-estados-unidos-no-entrega-gratis-paneles-solares
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
El Detector adds a footnote on all fact-check pieces where it encourages readers to report any error or lack of accuracy. Besides that, it enables users to submit claims and corrections through email, Twitter, or WhatsApp. If an error is identified by anyone, the commitment is made to incorporate a correction clearly labeled as such within the relevant article. Additionally, El Detector pledges to share the correction on social networks and remove the original content.
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
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
The corrections policy is satisfactory and is explained in detail, providing readers with clear insight into how their claims will be addressed in advance.
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
15-Sep-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
During the year, we didn't receive requests for corrections via email, WhatsApp or other contact form.
The corrections we have made were on errors spotted during editorial review after the story was published.
Two corrections were requested by sources (on the pieces: “No hay evidencias de que Venezuela ‘abrió sus prisiones’ y envía exconvictos a EEUU, como afirmó Trump” y “Es falso que el gobierno de Estados Unidos entrega gratis paneles solares en once estados”), del resto fueron correcciones hechas porque nos dimos cuenta nosotros.
These are 5 corrections made to our fact-checking pieces:
https://www.univision.com/noticias/autos-electricos-tambien-contaminan-menos-gasolina
https://www.univision.com/noticias/no-hay-evidencias-venezuela-prisiones-exconvictos-trump
https://www.univision.com/noticias/casio-shakira-clara-chia
https://www.univision.com/noticias/nucleo-interno-de-la-tierra-detuvo-falso
https://www.univision.com/noticias/gobierno-estados-unidos-no-entrega-gratis-paneles-solares
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
To substantiate compliance with this criterion, El Detector has furnished five examples (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) of fact-checks that were corrected or updated during the assessment period, spanning from August 2022 to August 2023. Notably, three of these corrections were initiated by the applicant itself and another two were not prompted by reader requests. In summary, the criterion is considered to be in compliance.
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
15-Sep-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
As stated before, we have a footnote on each of our fact-check pieces:
"¿Viste algún error o imprecisión? Escríbenos a eldetector@univision.net o a través de nuestra cuenta X (antiguo 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".
It translates:
“Did you see any errors or inaccuracies? Write to us at eldetector@univision.net or through our X account (formerly Twitter) @eldetectoruni. After verifying it, we will make the corresponding correction within 48 hours. Read here our methodology and correction policy.”
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
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
15-Sep-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
To the bottom to our Univision News homepage, there is a link inviting users to request corrections:
https://www.univision.com/noticias
Which leads to a dedicated email in which request the corrections.
http://static.univision.com/fragments/noticias/fact-checking/index.html
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
29-Oct-2023 (11 months ago) Updated: 11 months ago
As a unit of Univision, El Detector's corrections policy is inferred to apply to its parent organization. A static link for submitting correction claims is provided at the bottom of every page on the Univision News website.