In our home page (https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/), in the section "Sobre o Verifica" (About Verifica), there's a link where we explain that Estadão Verifica is the fact checking unit of O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper. In the same section we explain our methodology, correction policy, etc. https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/recebeu-algum-boato-envie-para-checagem-do-estadao-verifica/

The applicant is a unit of O Estado de S. Paulo, also recognized as Estadão, a daily newspaper that circulates in São Paulo, Brazil. Estadão is the third-largest newspaper in Brazil. This connection is readily discernible from the applicant's branding and website URL. Estadão is officially registered in Brazil, and one can access information about this affiliation at the top of the landing page under the link "Sobre o Verifica" (which translates to "About Verifica" in English).

1) We started our operations in June 2018.

2) Estadão Verifica's team has 17 people working full-time. Details about the team are in here: https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/recebeu-algum-boato-envie-para-checagem-do-estadao-verifica/

3) Estadão Verifica verifies and debunks viral misinformation on social networks and message apps. We also research and publish fact-checks about politicians' speeches, mainly during election campaigns.

4) Over the coming year, we expect to focus on combating misinformation during the municipal elections. We also aim to keep participating in collaborative projects, like Comprova. https://projetocomprova.com.br/ 

1. As per the information provided, Estadão Verifica was established in June 2018 with its primary mission being the analysis of suspicious content that gains traction on social media and WhatsApp. Since 2019, this unit has become a signatory of the IFCN code of principles.

2. According to their website, the Estadão Verifica team comprises seventeen members, including Daniel Bramatti (editor), Alessandra Monnerat (assistant editor), Pedro Prata (assistant editor), Samuel Lima (reporter), Gabi Coelho (journalist), Thais Brunoro (journalist), Bernardo Costa (journalist), Luciana Marschall (reporter), Ariel Freitas (reporter), Marcelo Perrone (journalist), Maria Eduarda Nascimento (journalist), Milka Moura (journalist), Giovana Frioli (journalist), Gabriel Belic (journalist), Gabriela Meireles (journalist), Clarissa Pacheco (journalist), and Iago Proença (journalist).

3. Estadão Verifica's activities primarily involve analyzing suspicious content that goes viral on social media and WhatsApp. While their website showcases fact-checks related to politicians' speeches, especially during election campaigns, this particular focus is not explicitly stated on their "About" page. According to the information provided, it's worth noting that Estadão Verifica does not fact-check opinions and predictions.

4. The Estadão Verifica team has set forth their goals for 2023, which include combating misinformation during municipal elections and participating in collaborative projects, such as Comprova.

We attached a file with a sample of our most read fact checks in the last 12 months. Google shows that we published 317 fact-checks in that period: https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.estadao.com.br%2Festadao-verifica%2F&biw=1422&bih=641&tbs=qdr%3Ay&sxsrf=AB5stBjFfu6fgNpADUwox9aIGBCizUVcyA%3A1689938163082&ei=82i6ZI_UBOCj1sQP-cGUoAY&ved=0ahUKEwjPmZyf1p-AAxXgkZUCHfkgBWQ4rAIQ4dUDCA8&uact=5&oq=site%3Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.estadao.com.br%2Festadao-verifica%2F&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiMXNpdGU6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXN0YWRhby5jb20uYnIvZXN0YWRhby12ZXJpZmljYS9IsxFQAFgAcAJ4AJABAJgBAKABAKoBALgBA8gBAOIDBBgBIEGIBgE&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

Estadão Verifica has provided a link to its Google search results, where the organization has published 317 verifications in a year, which equates to an average of around 26 publications per month. It's important to note that some of this content has been created in collaboration with the Comprova alliance, of which Estadão is a member. What's significant is that the applicant exceeds the minimum requirement of publishing at least one fact-check per week.

Estadão Verifica fact-checks claims encompass a wide spectrum of subjects, spanning politics, health, the economy, conflicts, and societal concerns. These fact-checks are connected to current news events, not only in Brazil but also in the United States, Latin America, and on a global scale.

Estadão Verifica has no commercial, financial, and/or institutional relationship to the state, politicians, or political parties. We don't receive funding or support from state or political actors. Estadão's code of ethics does requires political impartiality. https://www.estadao.com.br/codigo-etica/codigo-de-etica.pdf 

Estadão Verifica maintains a strict adherence to the Code of Ethics established by Estadão, and as per this code, the organization has no commercial, financial, or institutional relationships with the state, politicians, or political parties. However, there appears to be a lack of information on the website regarding foreign funding, possibly originating from platforms like Meta and Google. It would be advisable for the organization to include this information on their About page for greater transparency.

We don't receive funding or support from state or political actors.

As previously mentioned, the unit does not receive funding or support from state or political actors.This information was provided by a link to the Estadão's Code of Ethics.

We aim to fact check actors from the political spectrum with the same standarts and fairness. We only fact check social media posts that went viral, that are noticeable or that may cause harm.  We always seek to use diverse and multiple sources to verify a claim, and let the evidences dictate the conclusions. 

Here are some examples of verifications:

Verifications about Lula and his political allies:

https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/alckmin-taxacao-pix/

https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/lula-nao-disse-que-vai-fechar-igrejas-caso-seja-eleito-como-sugere-mensagem/

https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/hadda-taxar-onlyfans/

Verifications about Bolsonaro and his political allies:

https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/video-de-sergio-moro-em-aeroporto-teve-audio-adulterado-para-inclusao-de-vaias/

https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/bolsonaro-acabar-feriado-12-outubro/

https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/video-de-2017-foi-editado-para-parecer-que-bolsonaro-apoia-namoro-com-meninas-de-10-anos/

https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/padre-kelmon-preso-por-roubo-falso/

Fact checks on election debates:

https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/checamos-o-debate-da-globo-para-o-governo-de-sao-paulo/

https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/bolsonaro-x-lula-checamos-o-debate-da-globo-no-segundo-turno/

https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/checamos-debate-presidencia-globo/

https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/debate-governo-sp-2022/

As request, Estadão Verifica has effectively demonstrated its non-partisanship by providing ten instances of fact-checks carried out on political leaders and parties spanning the entire political spectrum in Brazil.

It's essential to underscore that over the past year, the former President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, has frequently accused the news media of professional misconduct, bias, and partisanship, resulting in him becoming a subject of fact-checking. Nonetheless, the collected evidence for this assessment indicates that Estadão Verifica extends its coverage to other political parties and consistently upholds high evidentiary standards when evaluating claims from all ideological backgrounds.

Furthermore, it is evident that the unit strives to employ a wide range of diverse sources to verify claims and allows the available evidence to determine their conclusions. According to their approach, they exclusively fact-check social media posts that have achieved virality, are prominently visible, or have the potential to cause harm.

We explain that on our home page, section "Sobre o Verifica", in the following link: https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/recebeu-algum-boato-envie-para-checagem-do-estadao-verifica/

According to the information available on Estadão Verifica's website, the unit adheres to uniform standards of verification for all rumors, with the evidence guiding their conclusions. The team places a priority on rumors that have the potential to cause harm to both groups and individuals, with the level of virality influencing their attention to specific cases.

The provided explanation is relatively concise, and it could benefit from additional details to further enhance the public's understanding and trust in their fact-checking processes.

After conducting a random review of fact-checks published since September 2022, no evidence of any commercial interests that might have the potential to influence the fact-checking activities of the applicant was discovered. The initiative seems to uphold journalistic neutrality as it consistently provides disclosure of relevant interests associated with the sources it references in its fact-checks. This transparency enables readers to reasonably evaluate whether these interests could have an impact on the accuracy of the evidence presented.

Following a random review of fact-checks published since September 2022, no connections with any political party, politicians, or political candidates were detected. Additionally, there is no apparent advocacy in favor of or against specific policy positions on any issues within the fact-checks. Fact-checks span a wide political spectrum, encompassing viewpoints from the far-right to the left.

We explain that on our home page, section "Sobre o Verifica", in the following link: https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/recebeu-algum-boato-envie-para-checagem-do-estadao-verifica/

As per your request, Estadão Verifica has included its statement of non-partisanship (apartidário, in Portuguese) in the provided link: "Since January 2019, Estadão Verifica has been a signatory to the code of principles established by the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN). This signifies our commitment to operating in accordance with the following principles: non-partisanship and impartiality; transparency regarding sources, funding, and methodology; and maintaining an open and honest corrections policy." (Desde janeiro de 2019, o Estadão Verifica é signatário do código de princípios estabelecidos pela International Fact Checking Network (IFCN).Isso significa que trabalhamos respeitando os seguintes compromissos: apartidarismo e imparcialidade; transparência em relação a fontes, financiamento e metodologia; e política de correções aberta e honesta).

By using a randomized sample, I can confirm that Estadão Verifica extensively incorporates links to substantiate its fact-checks. These resources empower users to autonomously verify the relevant information presented by this fact-checking initiative. 

Through an analysis of a randomized sample, it becomes evident that Estadão Verifica consistently underpins its fact-checks with a diverse and relevant array of sources. When appropriate, primary sources, including government entities and open data sources from official bodies, are employed. Additionally, secondary sources are referenced in these reports, predominantly consisting of news articles published by well-established and dependable media outlets. These sources serve a complementary role, either bolstering the fact-checking conclusions or supplying readers with additional context.

Following a random review of various fact-checks published in the past year, the overall assessment for this criterion is favorable. Notably, the applicant consistently verifies all essential aspects of claims by cross-referencing them with multiple identifiable sources of evidence, unless there is a situation where a single source is the sole relevant one on the subject.

When employing sources, Estadão Verifica consistently identifies them and offers context, enabling readers to assess any pertinent interests that might influence the fact-check. These sources are publicly accessible, and their relevance in the verifications is evident.

Our affiliation to O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper is stated in the name of our organization. The newspaper regularly explains our role when mentioning us on news articles and social media posts.

https://www.estadao.com.br/politica/estadao-verifica-lanca-novo-servico-por-whatsapp/

The link provided by the applicant leads to a paywall. Nonetheless, it's crucial to emphasize that this information (Estadão Verifica as a unit of Estadão) is accessible on the About page at the following URL: https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/recebeu-algum-boato-envie-para-checagem-do-estadao-verifica/

Our affiliation is stated in this post. https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/recebeu-algum-boato-envie-para-checagem-do-estadao-verifica/

Our parent organization (Estadão) is part of our name and we are hosted on Estadão's website.

In the link provided, the applicant clearly states that Estadão Verifica is a unit of Estadão

We detail our organizational structure in this post fixed to our home page: https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/recebeu-algum-boato-envie-para-checagem-do-estadao-verifica/

The link provided by the applicant outlines the organizational structure of the unit, offering a clear understanding of the editorial team members and their operational roles.

We detail each team member role in this post fixed to our home page: https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/recebeu-algum-boato-envie-para-checagem-do-estadao-verifica/

The link provided by the applicant includes concise professional biographies of the editorial team members, providing details about their responsibilities, previous experiences in newsrooms, and their backgrounds.

We have a post encouraging users to send us messages through WhatsApp https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/recebeu-algum-boato-envie-para-checagem-do-estadao-verifica/

We also detail all different ways readers can get in touch with us on our home page (section "Envie suas dúvidas / Send your questions").

In the link provided by Estadão Verifica, there is a passage that mentions, "If you find any errors in one of our articles, you can fill out this Estadão form to request a correction. For inquiries related to our fact-checks, you can also get in touch via email at estadaoverifica@estadao.com." Similarly, the unit has a channel for submitting content to be debunked via WhatsApp and Telegram.

We state our methodology here: https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/recebeu-algum-boato-envie-para-checagem-do-estadao-verifica/

It can be accessed through our home page - section "Sobre o Verifica" (About Verifica).

Estadão Verifica's methodology is available on their website. On this page, the team explains what they fact-check and what type of content falls under the category of "information disorder." According to the page, the team follows consistent verification standards for all rumors and allows the evidence to guide their conclusions. They prioritize rumors that have the potential to cause harm to groups and individuals based on their level of virality. The debunking of misleading content primarily involves consulting official sources related to the subject, such as public databases and government agencies, as well as conducting interviews with authorities and experts.

To enhance the reader's understanding, it would be beneficial for this page to have a more descriptive title and improve the narrative to explain how they select, research, write, and publish their fact checks.

After conducting a random review of several fact-checks published by Estadão Verifica, no instances of infringement have been identified. This suggests that the initiative aligns with this criterion by addressing matters of social significance and reach. According to the organization, their priority is determined by assessing how these rumors can potentially harm groups and individuals based on their level of virality.

Based on a random sample, it is evident that Estadão Verifica presents claims and arguments in a responsible manner. They provide pertinent evidence both in favor of and against the claims in their fact-checks. There is no indication of varying fact-checking standards based on the source of the claim or the subject under scrutiny. The initiative appears to consistently apply the same fact-checking standards, regardless of whether the claims are true or false.

In the majority of randomly analyzed fact-checking reports, the authorship of the fact-checked statement is mentioned. In some cases, the reports include a statement made by the author of the claim, while in others, there is information indicating that the author could not be identified or did not respond to the questions from the applicant. Additionally, some reports debunk misleading content without focusing on a specific author, targeting diverse pages and profiles instead.

While finding an exact equivalent number of claims from different points on the political spectrum can be challenging, Estadão Verifica consistently upholds a balanced approach when evaluating claims. As previously noted, they have fact-checked claims across the entire political spectrum, including statements made by both former President Bolsonaro and current President Lula. This evidence suggests that their fact-checking practices are conducted in a responsible manner, with no significant bias apparent.

Based on the random sample, no objectionable situations related to this criterion have been identified. The initiative consistently makes efforts to contact individuals who have made claims for clarification. However, it's acknowledged that in cases involving viral social media posts, this may not always be possible. 

In our home page, we encourage users to send claims through WhatsApp and Telegram (section "Envie suas dúvidas / Send your questions").

This text explains further how to send a tip through our WhatsApp line. https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/whatsapp-estadao-verifica-perguntas-menu/

Our tipline is also frequently mentioned in Estadão's social media. https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17849055179530607/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cular1tsvne/ 

Estadão Verifica actively encourages users to submit claims for fact-checking and maintains transparency about the types of claims they do not verify, such as opinions and forecasts. This information is readily available on their About page, which not only outlines what readers can do to suggest fact-checks but also clarifies how the applicant will handle these suggestions. Additionally, the About page describes their methodology, highlights their adherence to the IFCN code of principles, and provides various channels for the audience to send suggestions and criticisms. Furthermore, on their landing page, the unit offers additional methods for users to submit content for debunking via WhatsApp and Telegram.

As clearly stated in the section "Sobre o Verifica" (About Verifica), we publish our corrections on the same URL of the original article. We detail our correction policy further in this text: https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/recebeu-algum-boato-envie-para-checagem-do-estadao-verifica/ 

The applicant has a well-defined correction policy in place. Users can report errors by using a form for corrections from Estadão. Additionally, for inquiries related to their fact-checks, users can contact them via email at estadaoverifica@estadao.com. This information is accessible through the "About" page.

The Estadão Verifica team commits on their website to analyze all requests for corrections they receive. Upon confirming an error, the team proceeds to make the necessary changes on the page of the fact-checking story. While their error correction policy may be somewhat generic, it appears to be sufficient for addressing and rectifying errors in their fact-checks.

We receive correction requests through an Estadão form and also on our e-mail. We analyse every request and, when we detect a mistake, we update the fact-checking article with new information and a disclaimer on the top of the page. Here are some examples of that:

https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/tutorial-como-descriptografar-urna-eletronica-hacker/

https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/audio-pt-cidade-alerta-sergipe-igreja/

https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/checamos-sabatina-fernando-haddad/ 

The applicant provides links that illustrate how their team has responded to a reader's inquiry regarding an inconsistency in their fact-checks. In this instance, the team acknowledged the error and proceeded to correct the article. They included an errata notice beneath the article's title and near the date. Furthermore, they added explanatory text to clarify what was corrected.

This is stated on a text fixed to our home page: https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/recebeu-algum-boato-envie-para-checagem-do-estadao-verifica/ 

The applicant offers a link that directs readers to an IFCN page, allowing them to file a complaint if they believe the initiative is in violation of the IFCN Code. Consequently, the applicant is in compliance with this criterion.

This is stated in the following links: https://www.estadao.com.br/correcoes/enviar

https://www.estadao.com.br/correcoes

We also detail our correction policy in our own home page (section "Sobre o Verifica) in the following link: https://www.estadao.com.br/estadao-verifica/recebeu-algum-boato-envie-para-checagem-do-estadao-verifica/

The applicant has clarified that Estadão shares similar correction policies, which involve using the "Report Error" ("Comunicar erro") feature at the bottom of an article to communicate potential mistakes. This practice aligns with the principles of transparency and openness in corrections. Consequently, the applicant is in compliance with this criterion.