Organization: FUMDAMEDIOS
Applicant: Verónica Manosalvas
Assessor: Ramón Salaverría
Background
Funded in 2016, Ecuador Chequea is a fact-checking organization that, according to the assessment made, complies with the standards required by the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN).
Assessment Conclusion
The applicant requests a renewal of the accreditation. According to the assessment made, Ecuador Chequea complies with all the requirements of the IFCN Code of Principles. Therefore, the recommendation to the board is to ACCEPT accreditation.
Ramón Salaverría assesses application as Compliant
A short summary in native publishing language
Fundada en 2016, Ecuador Chequea es una organización dedicada a la verificación informativa. Cumple con los estándares y protocolos exigidos por la International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN).
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.
FUMDAMEDIOS
22-Mar-2021 (3 years ago)
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/
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Set up in 2016, Ecuador Chequea is a consolidated fact-checking organization backed by Fundamedios, a foundation devoted to promote press freedom in Ecuador. As requested, the applicant, a non-profit organization, shows evidence of its legal status on its website and has included a copy of its legal registration in the application.
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?
FUMDAMEDIOS
22-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
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. Our contents are currently being replicated in other media such as Ecuavisa, Criterios magazine and Sucesos radio. 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.
Our team is composed by three journalists: Yalilé Loaiza is the content director and is responsible for reviewing the information before it is published. Érika Astudillo is the editor and Paola Simbaña and Félix Amaya are fact checkers and in charge of monitoring and verifying the information that we process. In addition, Camila Olivo is responsible for the graphic design and visualization; and David Revelo is in charge of managing the social networks: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube: http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/equipo/. In addition, we work with Alliwa Pazmiño, an intercultural journalist and Kichwa speaking, in charge of translations into Kichwa
In Ecuador Chequea we are entirely dedicated to fact checking. 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. We also provide content in Kichwa, the largest native indigenous language in Ecuador. This allows us to reach audiences that consume content in their native language and are informed through community media.
During this 2021, we lead a media coalition focused on the verification of public discourse and disinformation in the electoral context of 2021 where Ecuadorians elect again the main national authorities: President, Vice President and Assembly members. The coalition is made up of more than thirty organizations from civil society, the media, and universities.
One of the objectives for the coming year is to provide content that allows citizens to become digitally literate, through tools for the verification of potentially false content that circulates on the internet. For this we propose to work with teachers and students from universities and secondary education in Ecuador.
Similarly, among our objectives is to maintain work with the coalition to verify the public discourse of the main political authorities of Ecuador.
Likewise, one of our objectives is to strengthen intercultural journalism through translations into Ecuadorian indigenous languages.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
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.
2. The composition of its team: 3 journalists, 1 designer, 1 social media editor, and 1 editor in charge of translating content from Spanish to Kichwa.
3. The different activities that are carried out by Ecuador Chequea, which are entirely focused on fact-checking.
4. The goals that this organization is pursuing in the forthcoming, which comprise: 1) setting media literacy initiatives, 2) steering a coalition of fact-checking organizations in Ecuador, and 3) strengthening intercultural journalism through translations into Ecuadorian indigenous languages.
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.
FUMDAMEDIOS
22-Mar-2021 (3 years ago)
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
As evidence of their uninterrupted fact-checking activity, Ecuador Chequea has presented a spreadsheet with 67 fact-checks performed over the five months prior to the date of application (13 Oct. 2020 - 24 Mar. 2021), totalling an average of 3.3 fact-checks per week in the period analyzed. Details on these fact-checks have been provided in detail.
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.
FUMDAMEDIOS
22-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Over 75% of the fact checks focus on claims related to issues that relate to or could have an impact on the welfare or well-being of individuals, the general public or society in Ecuador. Over three-month period assessed (Jan. - Mar. 2021), the topics comprise fact-checks such as economy, security and foreign affairs, although most of the fact-checks concentrated on covid-19 pandemic and national politics..
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.
FUMDAMEDIOS
22-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
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/
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Ecuador Chequea does not receive funds from Ecuadorian state nor intervene in government’s projects. According to the disclosure available on its website, the breakdown of their funding in 2019-2020 was as follows: 70% from the US Embassy, 10% from UNESCO office at Quito, 10% from Fundamedios, and 10% from own resources.
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.
FUMDAMEDIOS
22-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
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/
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In the assessment made in 2020 for their first application to IFCN, some unspecificity was detected at the funding information provided, which was suggested to fix. For this second assessment, that lack of detail has been corrected, so it is fully compliant of this criterion.
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.
FUMDAMEDIOS
22-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
2) http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/falseta-rocio-gonzalez-esposa-de-lenin-moreno-solicito-asilo-en-suiza/
6) http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/la-pandemia-agravo-la-situacion-de-migrantes-venezolanos-en-ecuador/
10) http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/si-pero-sale-a-la-luz-el-reparto-de-hospitales/
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.
During the last year, Ecuador Chequea team has verified publications related with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Inspired in the methodology of Chequeado (Argentina), Ecuador Chequea applies a consistent and sound fact-checking methodology, backing the information with reliable links and covering issues regardless the ideological alignment of the institution, political party or person concerned. The non-partisanship has been adequately demonstrated by providing, as requested, ten examples of fact-checks to Ecuadorian politicians of all the political spectrum.
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.
FUMDAMEDIOS
22-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
That explanation is contained in the Methodology tab of the Ecuador Chequea website: http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/metodologia/
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
As requested, Ecuador Chequea discloses on its website the policy to avoid any partisanship or unduly concentration of fact-checking on any ideological side.
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
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
After a random review of of fact-checks published over the previous year (Apr. 2021 - Jan. 2021), no trace has been found of any commercial interest that might influence the fact-checking activity of Ecuador Chequea.
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
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
No trace was found of any political or ideological interest that might influence the fact-checking activity of Ecuador Chequea.
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.
FUMDAMEDIOS
22-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The transparency policy is published on ECUADOR CHEQUEA's website. The section El equipo 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.
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: http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/equipo/
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
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).
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
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Ecuador Chequea shows a very consistent and widespread use of links to back fact-checks was found. Users can easily check the relevant information by themselves.
done_all 3.1 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.
Criteria 3.2
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the applicant’s use of sources in a randomised sample of its fact checks to assess compliance. No additional evidence is required.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
According to the assessor's knowledge, the sources used by Ecuador Chequea to back fact-checks are well diversified, relevant and sound.
done_all 3.2 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.
Criteria 3.3
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the applicant’s use of sources in a randomised sample of its fact checks to assess compliance. No additional evidence is required.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Ecuador Chequea shows a good diversity of sources to back its fact-checks, giving priority for public, open-access content. No unduly concentration in any specific sources has been detected.
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
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Ecuador Chequea adequately identifies and, when needed, contextualizes the sources used to back 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.
FUMDAMEDIOS
22-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
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/
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Ecuador Chequea is a non-profit fact-checking organization, bound to a parent organization, Fundamedios, which is commited to human rights and the promotion of freedom of expression in Latin America.
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.
FUMDAMEDIOS
22-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
That information is available on the About Us tab: http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/quienes-somos/
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The information provided by Ecuador Chequea about its funding scheme, which includes a list of funding organizations over the last two years, is deemed sufficient.
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.
FUMDAMEDIOS
22-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
That information is available on the El equipo tab: http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/equipo/
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
As requested, Ecuador Chequea discloses on its website the identities and background of its team members (7).
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.
FUMDAMEDIOS
22-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
That information is available on the El equipo tab: http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/equipo/
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The biographies of the Ecuador Chequea members are published on the website.
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.
FUMDAMEDIOS
22-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Information available in the Contact Us tab: http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/contactanos/
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Several means of contact are available in the applicant's website, including email, as well as social media profiles (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube!) and messaging apps (WhastApp). These are also available in every fact-checking article, an aspect for improvement that was advised in the assessment made in 2020. All in all, the applicant is fully compliant with this criterion.
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.
FUMDAMEDIOS
22-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The applicant publishes on its website a statement about the methodology it uses to select, research, write and publish its fact-checks. Inspired in the methodology developed by Chequeado (Argentina), the fact-checking procedure of Ecuador Chequea is sound and reliable.
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
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Based on a random review of a number of fact-checks published over several months prior to this assessment, enough examples have been found that Ecuador Chequea selects claims to check based primarily on the reach and importance of the claims.
done_all 5.2 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.
Criteria 5.3
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the methodology used in a randomised sample of your fact checks to assess compliance with these criteria. No additional evidence is required.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Based on a number of randomly selected fact checks published by the requesting organization over several months, the assessor concludes that Ecuador Chequea is committed 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
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years 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
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In the random sample of Ecuador Chequea's fact-checks analized, 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.
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.
FUMDAMEDIOS
22-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
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:
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
As requested, Ecuador Chequea has provided detailed information about how it allows users to send claims and corrections through different means of contact, including email and social media profiles.
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.
FUMDAMEDIOS
22-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Ecuador Chequea has a sound corrections policy. It allows users to send claims and and corrections through different means of contact (mail, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp). In case any claims have been submitted by the readers, Ecuador Chequea commits itself to responding in a maximum of 2 days.
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
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The corrections policy is explained in remarkable detail, so that readers can know in advance the how their claims will be handled and how much time migh take to get response.
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.
FUMDAMEDIOS
22-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In the previous year we did not have any request for rectification of information. However, in previous years we have applied our rectification policy.
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 the links to the posts we published in our social media about that rectification:
https://twitter.com/ECUADORCHEQUEA/status/1133577546338131969?s=20 https://twitter.com/ECUADORCHEQUEA/status/1133578301044404225?s=20
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
According to the information provided by the applicant, it was not urged to perform any correction in the previous year. However, Ecuador Chequea has presented evidence of two corrections (see: 1, 2) made before that period. The corrections were clearly highlighted and labeled as such, so this criterion is assessed as compliant.
done_all 6.3 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.
Criteria 6.4
Proof you meet criteria
If you are an existing signatory, please provide a link to show where on your site you inform users that if they believe you are violating the IFCN Code, they may inform the IFCN of this, with a link to the complaints page on the IFCN site.
FUMDAMEDIOS
22-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
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.
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.
FUMDAMEDIOS
22-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
We're not the the fact-checking unit of a media company.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
07-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Although it is bound to the NGO Fundamedios, Ecuador Chequea is a stand-alone fact-checking organization, not linked to any parent media company.