In October 2016 ECUADOR CHEQUEA is born as the first media dedicated to the fact checking of public discourse and misleading content circulating on the Internet. The platform is an initiative of Fundamedios, which since 2007 defends freedom of expression and press, promotes quality journalism and trains journalists.The statutes of the organization and its legal registration are available in the Quiénes somos tab of our portal: http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/quienes-somos/

In 2023, Ecuador Chequea completes seven years of uninterrupted activity of fact-checking, since it was founded in 2016. The applicant is backed by Fundamedios, a foundation devoted to promote press freedom in Ecuador. The applicant, a non-profit organization, discloses this information on its 'Our history' page (Quiénes somos > Nuestra historia). Ecuador Chequea got the IFCN accreditation for the first time in 2019 and has renewed it annually since then.    

I warn the applicant that the link http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/quienes-somos/ points to a blank page. This deficiency should be fixed.

Ecuador Chequea, EC, was born in October 2016, as the first media dedicated to the fact checking of public discourse and misleading content circulating on the Internet. The platform is an initiative of Fundamedios, which since 2007 defends freedom of expression and press, promotes quality journalism and trains journalists:

http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/quienes-somos/

EC emerged to verify the discourse of those who at that time were running for the Presidency of the Republic of Ecuador. Once the electoral campaign ended, in April 2017, it was maintained as an initiative to verify public discourse and misleading content circulating on the Internet. For the 2021 elections, Ecuador Chequea led the creation of a large coalition called Ecuador Verifica to fight against disinformation in electoral contexts that includes civil society, universities and media. The coalition currently has about 100 members and the contents produced by Ecuador Chequea are regularly reproduced in a dozen media and other portals.

We are also part of the regional network LatamChequea and in January 2019 we obtained the certification from Poynter's IFCN. That certificacition was renewed in 2020, 2021 y 2022.

Our team is composed by Alexis Serrano Carmona is the editor in chief and is responsible for planning and reviewing the information before it is published. We have a team of six journalists: (Paola Simbaña, Hugo Constante, Karen Mantilla, Esteban Cárdenas, Camilo Escobar and Pablo Terán). In addition, Cristian Chérrez is responsible for the graphic design and visualization; Carolina Ponce is our coordinator for social media, and Nicolle Naranjo is our community manager: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTube: https://ecuadorchequea.com/nosotros/. In Ecuador Chequea we are journalists and we do journalism. It includes but is not limited to fact checking; we also do: breaking news, explanatory notes and in-depth journalism. Our contents are disseminated on the website www.ecuadorchequea.com which is updated daily and posted on our social networks.

In addition, we develop workshops for journalists and citizens in general on fact checking and useful tools to verify information circulating on the Internet.

One of the objectives for the coming years is to consolidate as a mass media in Ecuador. 

Ecuador Chequea has presented, in full detail, information about:

1. The year (2016) and the reasons why this fact-checking operation started. Information about the developments of this organization since it was launched is also available. This information is available for its users.

2. The composition of its team in 2023, which is made up of 10 workers: 1 editor in chief, 6 journalists, 1 designer, 1 social media editor, and 1 community manager. This fact-checking outlet has increased its staff in 4 more journalists comparing to the assessment performed in 2022.

3. The different activities that are carried out by Ecuador Chequea, which are entirely focused on fact-checking.

4. The main goal that this organization is pursuing in the forthcoming year, which the coming years is "to consolidate as a mass media in Ecuador".

The spreadsheet is attached.

Ecuador Chequea published way beyond the minimum of at least one fact-check a week. According to the evidences provided by the applicant, in the course of the six months prior to the date of application (Jan.-Jun. 2023) it published more than 500 fact-checks, thus publishing an average of 20 fact-checks fact-checks a week.

Over 75% of the fact checks published over the three-month period assessed (Apr. - Jun. 2023), focused on claims related to issues that relate to or could have an impact on the welfare or well-being of individuals, the general public or society in Ecuador. Topics comprise fact-checks mainly about national politics, but also other topics such as economy, crime, weather and environmental news, and so on. 

Ecuador Chequea, EC, has no commercial, financial and/or institutional relationship with the State, nor with politicians or political parties. The EC funding mechanism is made transparent in the Quiénes somos tab: There it is stated that the initiative is supported through: 85% international cooperation and 15% own resources: http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/quienes-somos/

Ecuador Chequea publishes on its website sufficient information about its funding scheme: in 2023, according to their statement,60% of their funding comes from the U.S. Embassy in Ecuador, 20% from private donors, 10% from the parent organization Fundamedios, and 10% from own resources. This funding scheme confirms that, as requested, Ecuador Chequea does not have "any commercial, financial and/or institutional relationship your organization has to the state, politicians or political parties in the country or countries you cover".

The EC funding mechanism is made transparent in the Quiénes somos tab: There it is stated that the initiative is supported through: 60% international cooperation and 20% private resources 20% own resources: http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/quienes- somos/

Ecuador Chequea is transparent in revealing on its 'About us' page (Sobre nosotros > Historia) that, in 2023, up to 60% of its funding comes from the U.S. Embassy in Ecuador. However, despite this transparency, this IFCN assessor notes that, in the interest of the organization's editorial independence, it is concerning that more than half of its funding comes from a foreign country. This can lead to situations of insufficient independence.

Although the assessor understands the difficulty of having a diversified set of funding sources, the applicant is encouraged to reduce financial dependency on any foreign country.

1.- https://ecuadorchequea.com/no-hay-registro-de-que-bukele-haya-realizado-esa-afirmacion/

2.- https://ecuadorchequea.com/las-elecciones-se-mantienen-para-el-20-de-agosto/

3.- https://ecuadorchequea.com/saben-cuantas-campanas-publicas-existen-en-este-momento-para-prevencion-de-droga-cero-xavier-hervas-candidato-presidencial-reto/

4.- https://ecuadorchequea.com/no-hay-registro-de-que-perez-fue-abogado-de-mineros-su-nombre-si-es-yaku/

5.- https://ecuadorchequea.com/el-correismo-no-esta-recibiendo-hojas-de-vida-como-parte-de-su-campana/

6.- https://ecuadorchequea.com/category/verificaciones/espanol/enganoso/

7.- https://ecuadorchequea.com/fernando-villavicencio-denuncio-dos-amenazas/

8.- https://ecuadorchequea.com/la-pacificacion-fue-una-de-las-causas-de-la-reduccion-de-homicidios-pero-no-la-unica/

9.- https://ecuadorchequea.com/17-personas-al-dia-mueren-por-homicidio-en-ecuador-xavier-hervas-candidato-presidencial-reto/

10.- https://ecuadorchequea.com/bukele-critico-a-los-defensores-de-derechos-humanos-tras-asalto-en-ecuador/

Chequeado, from Argentina, trained the Ecuador Chequea team in the fact checking methodology at the end of 2016. In this sense, as the links show, the subjects of verification are diverse. The condition and characteristic of published verifications is that the reader can access the source and check for himself whether it corresponds to what is published, whether it is relevant and significant or, on the other hand, whether it is distorted or taken out of context.

The articles seek to make the reader follow the steps that the fact checker went through to reach the conclusion: hyperlinks, open and shared documents work as a backup.

Ecuador Chequea has sufficiently demonstrated its non-partisanship by providing ten examples of fact-checks to political leaders and parties across the ideological spectrum in Ecuador. The applicant has fact-checked, under the same standards, statements by political leaders of parties from right to left.

That explanation is contained in the Methodology tab of the Ecuador Chequea website: https://ecuadorchequea.com/metodologia/

As requested, Ecuador Chequea discloses on its website. as part of the methodology (Metodología), the policy to avoid any partisanship or unduly concentration of fact-checking on any ideological side.

After a random review of fact-checks published since August 2022 to July 2023, no trace has been found of any commercial interest that might influence the fact-checking activity of the applicant.

After a random review of fact-checks published since August 2022 to July 2023, no trace has been found of any political interest that might influence the fact-checking activity of the applicant.

The transparency policy is published on ECUADOR CHEQUEA's website. The section nosotros states that:

ECUADOR CHEQUEA is defined as a non-partisan site whose objective is to determine the veracity of statements made by politicians, civil society leaders, public figures, the media or other opinion-forming institutions. In this context, those who make up their team remain distant from political and / or economic interests. https://ecuadorchequea.com

The verifications published on this portal reach people and institutions with relevance in the public space, regardless of their political identification.

In addition, the names and the curriculum of those who do the data verification work are public. Making it clear that the staff does not participate or belong to any political partie or advocacy

organizations: https://ecuadorchequea.com/nosotros/ 

Ecuador Chequea self-defines as "a non-partisan and non-profit site that aims to check the statements of politicians, civil society leaders, public persons, the media or other opinion-leader institutions. In this context, those who make up the team remain distant from political and/or economic interests" (asssesor's translation).

After a random review of a number of fact-checks published over the previous months, the use of links to back fact-checks found in Ecuador Chequea is deemed sound. These resources allow users to easily verify by themselves the relevant information published. 

According to the assessor's knowledge, the sources used by Ecuador Chequea to back fact-checks are sufficiently diversified, relevant and sound. 

After a random review of a number of fact-checks published over the previous year (Feb. 2022 - Jul. 2023), the overall assessment for this criterion is positive. Ecuador Chequea provides details about the sources used to back its statements, not only in the embedded links throughout the fact-checking articles but also in the list of external sources linked at the bottom of each article. 

Infoveritas sufficiently identifies the sources used to support its fact-checks. When some contextualization of information sources is needed, it is reasonably provided. Ultimately, this criterion is considered compliant.

ECUADOR CHEQUEA is an initiative of Fundamedios, a non-governmental organization that has been defending freedom of expression and press since 2007, promoting quality journalism and training journalists. The ngo is legally constituted and that information is available on the About Us tab: http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/quienes-somos/ 

According to the advisor's request, the information on Ecuador Chequea's financing was updated, based on the most recent reports. The updated information is available at: http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/quienes- somos/

Ecuador Chequea is the fact-checking spin-off of Fundamedios, non-governmental organization that promotes freedom of expression in Ecuador. The principles and values of the fact-checking unit is fully consistent with that of its parent media outlet. 

That information is available on the About Us tab: http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/quienes-somos/

The information provided by Ecuador Chequea about its funding scheme in the current year 2023 is deemed sufficient. 

However, as noted above (see criterion 1.6), it is concerning that more than half of an applicant's funding comes from a foreign country, as this may lead to compromising its editorial independence. Therefore, as far as possible, the applicant is encouraged to avoid excessive financial dependency on any foreign country.

That information is available on the El equipo tab: https://ecuadorchequea.com/nosotros/

Ecuador Chequea discloses on its website the identities and professional bios of all team members (10). 

That information is available on the El equipo tab:https://ecuadorchequea.com/nosotros/

Short biographies of Ecuador Chequeas's key team members are available in the website. The transparency of this criterion would be improved if the applicant adds the social media handles and/or means of contact (email) of the employees, at least those with leading roles.

Information available in the Contact Us tab: http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/contactanos/ OJO NO HAY ESTA SECCION

Information available in the Contact Us tab: https://ecuadorchequea.com/contactanos/

Several means of contact are available in the applicant's website, including email, telephone numbers, as well as social media profiles (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube!). However the website lacks a Contact page (the link provided by the applicant for this assessment is blank: http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/contactanos/ ). The assessor kindly invites the applicant to fix this deficiency.

• Several means of contact are available in the applicant's website, including email, telephone numbers, as well as social media profiles (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube!). However the website lacks a Contact page (the link provided by the applicant for this assessment is blank: http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/contactanos/ ). The assessor kindly invites the applicant to fix this deficiency.

As required, the applicant has resolved technical issues associated with its contact page. It has implemented an improved an user-friendly online form and has also included additional contact options such as telephone, email, and postal mail. These enhancements have resulted in a positive evaluation of this criterion.

https://ecuadorchequea.com/metodologia/?nocache=1

Inspired in the methodology developed by Chequeado (Argentina), the fact-checking procedure of Ecuador Chequea is sound and reliable. The applicant publishes on its website a statement about the methodology (Metodología) used to select, research, write and publish its fact-checks.

Drawing on a random review of a number of fact-checks published over six months prior to this assessment, no examples of infringement have been found that Infoveritas does not comply with this criterion.

Drawing upon a number of randomly selected fact-checks, the assessor has come to the conclusion that Infoveritas commits to transparency and fairness when processing claims. 

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.

In the random sample of Ecuador Chequea's fact-checks examined, no examples were found of the objectionable situations indicated for this criterion. In absence of any evidence of misbehaviour or infringement of this part of the code of principles, the assessment is positive.

The Request for Correction tab explains that this fact checking experience recognizes that statements by policy makers can involve a variety of meanings and nuances. To send requests for rectification, the following e-mail address is available: info@ecuadorchequea.com.

To request a correction, the following procedure should be followed:

https://ecuadorchequea.com/rectificaciones/

The Request for Correction tab explains that this fact checking experience recognizes that statements by policy makers can involve a variety of meanings and nuances. To send requests for rectification, the following e-mail address is available: info@ecuadorchequea.com.

To request a correction, the following procedure should be followed:

https://ecuadorchequea.com/rectificaciones/

Ecuador Chequea allows users to send claims and corrections through different means of contact present in many website pages.

However, when this assessment was performed, the page of Corrections (Rectificaciones) showeve several layout problems that made difficult to read the content. Like in the criterion 4.5, the assessor kindly invites the applicant to fix this deficiency.

In a first round of assessment, the applicant was invited to implement the following specified improvements:

• Ecuador Chequea allows users to send claims and corrections through different means of contact present in many website pages.
  
  However, when this assessment was performed, the page of Corrections (Rectificaciones) showed several layout problems that made difficult to read the content. Like in the criterion 4.5, the assessor kindly invites the applicant to fix this deficiency.
  

The applicant has resolved technical issues associated with its Corrections page (Rectificaciones), which can now be read and browsed withouth problems. These improvements have led to a favorable evaluation of this criterion.

https://ecuadorchequea.com/rectificaciones/

Ecuador Chequea allows users to send their claims and corrections, under an easy-to-find corrections policy (Recitificaciones). As of the date of this evaluation, it does not appear that users have requested corrections. In the absence of additional evidence and the fact that no apparent infringement has been detected, the overall assessment of this criterion is positive.

Inspired in the methodology of the Argentinean fact-checker Chequeado, the corrections policy of Ecuador Chequea is sound and it is explained with reasonable detail, so that readers can know in advance how their claims will be handled.

Since 2018, every year Ecuador Chequea verifies in real time the Report to the Nation made by the President of the Republic, we call this initiative #Chequeo24EC. As it is a real-time exercise, the possibility of having mistakes in the category of the phrases being verified is increased. That is why few days laters we review these checks and publish it as Chequeo (verification) to #Chequeo24EC:

http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/ecuador-chequea-al-chequeo24ec/

In the link there’s a long-form article that explains each phrase and in case of changes why initially in #Chequeo24EC 2019 some were given a category, but after the review exercise, we modified it. We support that decision in more sources and information that we found.

In addition, we include links to rectifications we post in our social media:

https://twitter.com/ECUADORCHEQUEA/status/1567212564827852800?s=20

https://twitter.com/ECUADORCHEQUEA/status/1637290314539884545?s=20

https://twitter.com/ECUADORCHEQUEA/status/1652059098546941954?s=20

https://twitter.com/ECUADORCHEQUEA/status/1668324774794100754?s=20

Ecuador Chequea has submitted one example of a corrected article, published in May 2023. During the six-month period evaluated (February - July 2023), apparently, there have been no additional examples of corrected fact checks. However, four tweet correction examples have been provided, which received proper development. Nevertheless, this criterion is considered compliant.

https://ecuadorchequea.com/metodologia/

https://ecuadorchequea.com/rectificaciones/

As requested, Ecuador Chequea informs to their users how they should proceed in case they want to inform the IFCN of any violation of the Code of Principles. This information is available in the corrections page (Rectificaciones).

We're not the fact-checking unit of a media company. We are a mass media.

Although it is bound to the NGO Fundamedios, Ecuador Chequea is a stand-alone fact-checking organization, not linked to any parent media company.