Organization: Full Fact
Applicant: Phoebe Arnold
Assessor: Raymond Joseph
Background
Full Fact was launched in 2010 by a cross-party group of trustees to fill the need for a “truly independent, nonpartisan, and non-governmental organisation”.
In the years that have followed, Full Fact has matured into an innovative and leading member of the worldwide fact-checking community. From small beginnings, it now employs 31 staff members across six teams: Editorial, Communications, Policy & Research, Automated Fact-Checking, Fundraising and Operations. It also receives occasional support from volunteers on various projects, and during elections and referendums.
Full Fact needs to be acknowledged for the high degree of transparency on its website about its processes and funding. The site is easy to navigate and is written in simple, easy-to-understand language. They have also developed some excellent tools and resources to educate their users and to help them do their own fact-checking.
I particularly like the fact-checking search on the home page, which helps users zoom in on the different fact-checks they’ve already done, especially about covid-19 and vaccines, around which disinformation abounds.
I would recommend that new fact-checking organisations refer to the Full Fact site when setting up, or improving, their own sites, as a model of best practice.
What was especially gratifying for me was to see was the diversification of their income, which ensures that Full Fact is not over-dependent on any one funder.
Assessment Conclusion
I have no hesitation in assessing Full-Fact fully complaint with IFCN's Code of Principles
Raymond Joseph assesses application as Compliant
A short summary in native publishing language
See background
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.
Full Fact
03-Aug-2021 (3 years ago)
On every page of the website in the footer, it says:
Full Fact is a registered charity (no. 1158683) and a non-profit company (no. 6975984) limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales.
This links to the following, respectively
- https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1158683&subId=0
- https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06975984
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
There is a statement about Full Fact's legal status in the footer of every page on its website. It says: "Full Fact is a registered charity (no. 1158683) and a non-profit company (no. 6975984) limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales."
Full Facts Charity Commission for England and Wales registration here: https://bit.ly/2W36LrJ
Full Fact's Companies House registration here: https://bit.ly/37VFjyy
done_all 1.1 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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?
Full Fact
03-Aug-2021 (3 years ago)
Full Fact was launched in 2010 by a cross-party group of trustees. The initial idea came from conversations about the accuracy of public debate in the UK and the gap that could be filled by a truly independent, nonpartisan and non-governmental organisation. The first task was to bring together a cross-party group of trustees to ensure that Full Fact started on a cross party basis. Before launch, we agreed rigorous safeguards in place at every level of the organisation to ensure our neutrality. These were carefully constructed based on advice from our board and examples ranging from Amnesty International to the BBC. They include the cross-party board, fundraising safeguards, a conflict of interests policy, restrictions on staff political activity, feedback processes, operating guidelines, external reviews, and more. Most importantly, they include carefully recruiting staff who are sensitive to these issues.
At the time of writing, Full Fact employs 31 staff members across six teams: Editorial, Communications, Policy & Research, Automated Fact Checking, Fundraising and Operations. The staff team is led by our Chief Executive and Management team, who are accountable to our volunteer trustee board. We occasionally receive support from volunteers on various projects and during elections and referendums.
Full Fact fights the causes and consequences of bad information in four ways:
Fact checking - to inform our audiences and maintain scrutiny of people in power
Corrections & interventions - to stop the spread of specific unsubstantiated claims and hold people to account
Systems change - to help make bad information rarer and less harmful
Advocating high standards - to help maintain high expectations of and from those in public life
Our goals for this year are:
Objective 1. Expose and challenge those in positions of responsibility who misuse information
Objective 2. More people take action to inform and improve public debate
Objective 3. Diversify our income so that we can sustain our current charity budget and work towards an ambition of getting no more than 15% of our funding from any one source
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
From Full Fact's application:
1) Full Fact was launched in 2010 by a cross-party group of trustees. The initial idea to launch Full Fact (FF) arose from conversations about the accuracy of public debate in the UK and the gap that could be filled by a truly independent, nonpartisan, and non-governmental organisation, FF says in its application. Their first task was to bring together a cross-party group of trustees to ensure that Full Fact started on a cross-party basis.
Before launch, agreement was reached on "rigorous safeguards" that needed to be in place at every level of the organisation to neutrality.
"These safeguards were carefully constructed, based on advice from the FF board, and also investigating examples that ranged from Amnesty International to the BBC. These include FF's cross-party board, fundraising safeguards, a conflict of interests policy, restrictions on staff political activity, feedback processes, operating guidelines, external reviews, and more. Most importantly, FF says in its application, this includes "carefully" recruiting staff who are sensitive to these issues."
2) Full Fact currently employs 31 staff members across six teams: Editorial, Communications, Policy & Research, Automated Fact-Checking, Fundraising and Operations. The staff team is led by a Chief Executive and a management team, who are accountable to FF's volunteer trustee board. FF also receives occasional support from volunteers on various projects, and during elections and referendums.
3) Fighting the causes and consequences of bad information in four ways:
i) Fact-checking - to inform its audiences and maintain scrutiny of people in power;
ii) Corrections & interventions - to stop the spread of specific unsubstantiated claims and hold people to account
iii) Systems change - to help make bad information rarer and less harmful
iv) Advocating high standards - to help maintain high expectations of - and from - those in public life
4) FF says its goals for this year are:
Objective 1. Expose and challenge those in positions of responsibility who misuse information
Objective 2. More people taking action to inform and improve public debate
Objective 3. Diversify income so that FF can sustain its current charity budget and work towards an ambition of getting no more than 15% of funding from any one source.
done_all 1.2 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Full Fact
03-Aug-2021 (3 years ago)
At the time of writing, we have published 319 fact checks in 2021. In 2020 we published over 570. All our fact checks can be viewed on our website at www.fullfact.org/latest.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
FF far exceeds the minimum requirement for published fact-checks. It published over 570 in 2020 and has so far published 319 fact-checks in 2021.
See here for latest fact-checks: www.fullfact.org/latest
done_all 1.3 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Full Fact meets the required criteria.
done_all 1.4 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Full Fact
03-Aug-2021 (3 years ago)
We do not accept any funding from the state or political parties in the UK or otherwise. We have not received any funding from local state or political actors over the previous financial year, nor do we have any commercial or financial relationships with state or political actors.
Representatives of the largest UK political parties form part of our trustee board. We have always ensured that there is one member from each of the three largest UK-wide parties, alongside politically independent board members. All board members can be viewed on our website. Our board has no input into Full Fact’s editorial content and all editorial decisions are made by our Editor and our Chief Executive.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Full Fact does not accept any funding from the state or political parties in the UK or anywhere else. In its application, FF says it has not received any funding "from local state or political actors over the previous financial year. Nor do we have any commercial or financial relationships with state or political actors."
Representatives of the largest UK political parties form part of FF's trustee board and they ensure that there is one member from each of the three largest UK-wide parties, who serve alongside politically independent board members.
The board has no input into Full Fact’s editorial content and all editorial decisions are made by the Editor and Chief Executive
Photos and short CVs of all board members are published here: See "Trustees" https://fullfact.org/about/our-team/
done_all 1.5 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Full Fact
03-Aug-2021 (3 years ago)
N/A We have not received any funding from local or foreign state or political actors.Full Fact is a registered charity so we are legally required to be ‘objective, ‘balanced’, and to observe ‘strict political neutrality’. We monitor media, politicians and pressure groups across the political spectrum.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
N/A as Full Fact has not received any funding from local or foreign state sources, or political actors.
Full Fact is a registered charity and, therefore, is legally required to be 'objective' and 'balanced', and to observe ‘strict political neutrality'. "We monitor media, politicians, and pressure groups across the political spectrum," Full Fact states unequivocally in its application.
done_all 1.6 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Full Fact
03-Aug-2021 (3 years ago)
When publishing roundups (multiple claims from a TV show/debate), if we check a claim from a member of the government, we ensure that we also check one from the member of the official opposition (and vice versa). We also ensure that we do not only check claims from one person in a roundup, and aim for balance from across the debate.
As fact checkers, the accuracy of our work is the highest priority. Our operating guidelines and editorial standards are designed to ensure that our work is thoroughly reviewed, well evidenced, unbiased and written in the clearest possible terms. All our pieces are reviewed by more than one fact checker and we work hard to ensure that our work is done to the highest standard.
When fact checking, we follow a clear process. First we need to understand the claim. We don’t only fact check the evidence used in a claim, but also the underlying assumption. Factually correct information can be used to make a point which is misleading or incorrect, so it’s important to draw out exactly what someone means when they make a statement.
Then (where possible) we contact the claimant. Unless the claim’s source is self-evident, we try to contact the claimant to ask them about their source, and for any other information we need to understand it.
Then we gather our evidence. We always try and gather a wide range of sources of evidence relating to a claim. We link to primary sources throughout our fact checks.
Sometimes we contact experts. We cover a wide range of topic areas, and we’re not experts on everything. We want to ensure we’re giving readers the most complete picture we can, and sometimes we need guidance in finding or understanding information. In these cases we speak to relevant experts for advice. Crucially, this grant will help to widen our access to legal expertise for legal fact checks.
Once the evidence is gathered and analysed, we can write the article. Our articles are intended to guide the reader through all the evidence as clearly as possible so that they can make up their own mind about a claim. We’ll also explain the wider context around the issue when it’s relevant to do so.
Everything we publish on our website is reviewed by two other editors before publication in order to make sure that it is correct, impartial and engaging.
Reviewing is restricted to experienced fact checkers. Our six week training programme covers statistics, impartiality, polling and surveys, making graphs, and good communication. Please see attached our reviewing checklist, which is not exhaustive.
Fact checks have a standardised claim and conclusion intended to guide not dictate readers’ conclusions.
Examples of our fact checking:
Was Dawn Butler right about Boris Johnson 'lying' to Parliament? https://fullfact.org/news/dawn-butler-boris-johnson-lying/
Labour's figures on the cladding crisis are too high https://fullfact.org/economy/11-million-cladding-crisis/
Boris Johnson wrong to say everybody entitled to extra self isolation support https://fullfact.org/health/self-isolation-support/
Boris Johnson broadly right about aid spending https://fullfact.org/economy/foreign-aid-2021/
Keir Starmer did want the UK to remain in the European Medicines Agency https://fullfact.org/health/keir-starmer-european-medicines-agency/
Evidence doesn’t show that 400k people have long Covid 'right now' in the UK https://fullfact.org/health/long-covid-layla-moran/
How common is sexual abuse in schools? https://fullfact.org/education/ofsted-sexual-abuse-schools/
Clearing up the NHS pay debate https://fullfact.org/health/nhs-pay-rise-march-2021/
Is Transport for the North's budget being reduced by 40%? https://fullfact.org/economy/transport-for-north-budget/
Robert Peston overstated the importance of reinfections https://fullfact.org/health/robert-peston-reinfections/
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
I have reviewed the submitted fact-checks, as well as others on the Full Fact site, and I am satisfied that they demonstrate clear non-partisanship in who they fact-check, and the fact-checks they choose to do. Its fact-checking process is in line with best practices.
See the statement on impartiality: https://bit.ly/3yVThfP
See statement on neutrality: https://bit.ly/3ghU2Zf
See statement on "standards and neutrality" on page advertising jobs at Full Fact: https://bit.ly/37SPcx8
Its application, Full Fact says it uses a standardised claim and conclusion intended to guide, not to dictate, readers’ conclusions. for its fact-checkers. It covers statistics, impartiality, polling and surveys, making graphs, and good communication.
Full Fact's explanation of its fact-checking process.
1) "When publishing roundups (multiple claims from a TV show/debate) if we check a claim from a member of the government, we ensure that we also check one from the member of the official opposition (and vice versa). We also ensure that we do not only check claims from one person in a roundup, and aim for balance from across the debate.
2) "As fact-checkers, the accuracy of our work is the highest priority. Our operating guidelines and editorial standards are designed to ensure that our work is thoroughly reviewed, well-evidenced, unbiased and written in the clearest possible terms. All our pieces are reviewed by more than one fact-checker and we work hard to ensure that our work is done to the highest standard.
3) When fact-checking, we follow a clear process.
i) First, we need to understand the claim. We don’t only fact-check the evidence used in a claim, but also the underlying assumption. Factually correct information can be used to make a point that is misleading or incorrect, so it’s important to draw out exactly what someone means when they make a statement.
ii) Then (where possible) we contact the claimant. Unless the claim’s source is self-evident, we try to contact the claimant to ask them about their source, and for any other information we need to understand it.
iii) Then we gather our evidence. We always try and gather a wide range of sources of evidence relating to a claim. We link to primary sources throughout our fact checks.
iv) Sometimes we contact experts. We cover a wide range of topic areas, and we’re not experts on everything. We want to ensure we’re giving readers the most complete picture we can, and sometimes we need guidance in finding or understanding information. In these cases, we speak to relevant experts for advice.
v) Once the evidence is gathered and analysed, we can write the article. We’ll also explain the wider context around the issue when it’s relevant to do so.
vi) Everything we publish on our website is reviewed by two other editors before publication in order to make sure that it is correct, impartial and engaging. Reviewing is restricted to experienced fact-checkers."
done_all 2.1 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Full Fact
03-Aug-2021 (3 years ago)
Please refer to the FAQs section entitled “About Fact Checking”, in particular “Got a claim for us to check?” and “What kind of thing do you check?”
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
See "About Fact-Checking in FAQs, especially "Got a claim to check?" and "What kind of thing do you check?"
done_all 2.2 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Full Fact meets the required criteria
done_all 2.3 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Full Fact meets the required criteria
done_all 2.4 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Full Fact
03-Aug-2021 (3 years ago)
FAQ
https://fullfact.org/about/frequently-asked-questions/ see "How do you stay neutral?"
Impartiality
https://fullfact.org/about/impartiality/
Job page under our standards and neutrality
https://fullfact.org/about/jobs/
All members of staff fill in declaration of personal interests (attached)
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
See FAQ: https://bit.ly/3z0BN1L
Impartiality: See: https://fullfact.org/about/impartiality/
On its "Jobs at Full Fact" page, the standards and restrictions imposed on staff are clearly spelled out under "Our standards and neutrality": https://bit.ly/37SPcx8
"Full Fact’s work must be independent, impartial, rigorous and balanced. It’s essential that we have clear rules in place to ensure that, and they entail some requirements for members of our team while you work here.
You will be required to operate within our standards, including the Nolan Principles of conduct in public life, our rules on conflicts of interest and so on.
You will have to complete a declaration of personal interests form (a copy was supplied with this application) in the later stages of recruitment, once a year while you work here, and whenever your circumstances change. This is to help us ensure that any potential or potentially perceived conflicts of interest are managed and mitigated so that they do not affect either Full Fact’s or your own work and reputation.
Although anybody is entitled to be a non-active member of a political party or other organisation within the law, if you come to work here you won’t be able to:
* Say publicly how you vote or express support for any political party
* Express a view for or against any policy that’s currently a topic of political debate
* We do encourage people to contribute to public life in ways that are compatible with our non-partisan role — where possible within our resources, we support people to do voluntary work such as jury service, magistracy, reserve forces, and so on."
done_all 2.5 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Full Fact meets all the required criteria.
done_all 3.1 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Full Fact meets the required criteria.
done_all 3.2 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Full Fact meets the required criteria.
done_all 3.3 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Full Fact meets the required criteria.
done_all 3.4 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Full Fact
03-Aug-2021 (3 years ago)
Full Fact is an independent organisation. A registered charity (no. 1158683) and a non-profit company (no. 6975984) limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales.
Proof of independent charity status https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1158683&subid=0
Proof of independent company registration https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06975984
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Full Fact is an independent organisation. It is a registered charity (no. 1158683) and a non-profit company (no. 6975984) limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales.
Proof of independent charity status: https://bit.ly/3y1ZwgX
Proof of independent company registration: https://bit.ly/37VFjyy
done_all 4.1 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Full Fact
03-Aug-2021 (3 years ago)
https://fullfact.org/about/funding/
Full Fact is a registered charity (no. 1158683) and a non-profit company (no. 6975984) limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Full Fact is a registered charity (no. 1158683) and a non-profit company (no. 6975984) limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales.
Full-Fact is very transparent in its sources of funding: See Funding: https://bit.ly/3mkwMO7
done_all 4.2 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Full Fact
03-Aug-2021 (3 years ago)
You can see all of our staff and their roles at: https://fullfact.org/about/our-team/
In our FAQs section, under “about fact checking” https://fullfact.org/about/frequently-asked-questions/ you can see the process our editorial team undergoes in more detail too.
Our funding page (www.fullfact.org/about/funding) states that "Our funders have no input into our editorial content or decision making."
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Details of staff and their roles: See https://bit.ly/2XFhjxX
See "How do you fact check?" in FAQs for details of the processes Full Fact follows: https://bit.ly/3z0BN1L
done_all 4.3 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Full Fact
03-Aug-2021 (3 years ago)
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
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.
Full Fact
03-Aug-2021 (3 years ago)
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
There are several ways that Full Fact's audience can make contact.
Via a "Contact" page: https://bit.ly/3yWT2kC
Via a "Feedback and Corrections page: https://bit.ly/37YFwky
Via a "suggest a fact-check" page: https://bit.ly/3z0UjXL
And, via a dedicated WhatsApp numbert
done_all 4.5 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Full Fact
03-Aug-2021 (3 years ago)
Please see our FAQs page (https://fullfact.org/about/frequently-asked-questions). Especially: 1. "How do you factcheck?";
2. Section entitled "ABOUT FACTCHECKING";
3. "What kind of sources do you use?"
4. "Why don't you have ratings?"
We have also published Full Fact’s Operating Guidelines for the Third Party Fact Checking programme publicly here https://fullfact.org/media/uploads/tpfc-q1q2-2019.pdf from page 36 onwards.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
On FAQ page https://bit.ly/3z0BN1L see:
1. "How do you fact-check?";
2. Section entitled "About Fact-Checking;
3. "What kind of sources do you use?"
4. "Why don't you have ratings?"
Full Fact also publicly publishes operating guidelines for its third-party fact-checking programme here: https://bit.ly/37VceDt (see from page 36 onwards).
done_all 5.1 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Full Fact meets the required criteria.
done_all 5.2 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Full Fact meets the required criteria.
done_all 5.3 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Full Fact meets the required criteria.
done_all 5.4 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Full Fact meets the required criteria.
done_all 5.5 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Full Fact
03-Aug-2021 (3 years ago)
We invite people to send us claims to check through our contact form https://fullfact.org/about/contact/ and through our WhatsApp number https://fullfact.org/get-involved/suggest-a-fact-check/
Also please refer to the FAQs section entitled “About Fact Checking”, in particular “Got a claim for us to check?” and “What kind of thing do you check?”
Our toolkit pages help people understand how to spot misleading information: https://fullfact.org/toolkit/
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Full Fact invites people to submit claims for fact-checking via a "Contact" form https://bit.ly/3yWT2kC and via a dedicated WhatsApp number https://bit.ly/3z0UjXL
Also, see “About Fact-Checking” on FAQ page https://bit.ly/3z0BN1L - especially “Got a claim for us to check?” and “What kind of thing do you check?”
Full Fact also has several excellent toolkit pages to help people learn how to spot misleading information: https://fullfact.org/toolkit/
done_all 5.6 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Full Fact
03-Aug-2021 (3 years ago)
Our feedback and complaints process are captured here: https://fullfact.org/about/feedback/ and under the FAQs questions “How can I make a complaint about Full Fact?”. We also invite people to read the IFCN's complaints policy here: https://fullfact.org/about/international-fact-checking-network/
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Full Fact's feedback, complaints and corrections process are captured here: https://fullfact.org/about/feedback/ with info and details covered by FAQ question “How can I make a complaint about Full Fact?” https://bit.ly/3z0BN1L
Full Fact also links to the IFCN's complaints policy here: https://fullfact.org/about/international-fact-checking-network/
done_all 6.1 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
Criteria 6.2
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the corrections policy to verify it meets critera. No additional information needed.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Full Fact meets the required criteria
done_all 6.2 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Full Fact
03-Aug-2021 (3 years ago)
To date in 2021, we have made corrections to 16 fact checks, all in line with our feedback and corrections policy. Details of all 16 fact checks can be found on our public corrections page: https://fullfact.org/about/corrections/
All corrected articles note the correction and the date it was made at the bottom of the article.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
So far in 2021, Full Fact has made corrections to 16 fact checks, in line with its feedback and corrections policy. Details of all of these 16 fact checks can be found on a public corrections page: https://bit.ly/37TsMvL
The correction - and the date it was made - are at the bottom of a corrected article.
done_all 6.3 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Full Fact
03-Aug-2021 (3 years ago)
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The IFCN Code of Principals are explained on this page on the Full Fact site: https://bit.ly/31XuPgg
The page has a link to IFCN's policy on complaints: https://bit.ly/2S4TNok
done_all 6.4 marked as Compliant by Raymond Joseph.
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.
Full Fact
03-Aug-2021 (3 years ago)
This is not applicable, we are an independent organisation with no parent company.
Raymond Joseph Assessor
18-Aug-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
N/A, as Full Fact is an independent organisation.