Organization: FUMDAMEDIOS
Applicant: Verónica Manosalvas
Assessor: Ramón Salaverría
Background
Ecuador Chequea is a media organization dedicated to fact-checking and hoax debunking that, according to the assessment made, complies with the standards and protocols required by the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN).
Assessment Conclusion
After clarifying some doubts about the criterion 6.4 at request of the assessor, 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
Ecuador Chequea es una organización dedicada a la verificación informativa que cumple con los estándares y protocolos exigidos por la International Fact-Checking Network (IFCn). Tras aclarar ciertas dudas sobre el criterio 6.4 a solicitud del asesor, este evaluador confirma que Ecuador Chequea cumple con todos los requisitos del Código de Principios de la IFCN. Por lo tanto, la recomendación a la junta es ACEPTAR la acreditación.
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
16-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 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
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
After four years of activity, Ecuador Chequea is in 2020 a well established organization devoted to fact-checking. Backed by Fundamedios, a foundation devoted to promote press freedom in Ecuador, the applicant provides information about its legal status on its website, including a copy of the statutes of Fundamedios, where the societal goals and legal address of the organization can be found. In addition, Ecuador Chequea has included in the application a copy of its legal registration.
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
16-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 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.
Our team is composed by three journalists: Desirée Yépez is the content director and is responsible for reviewing the information before it is published. Gabriel Narváez and Félix Amaya are fact checkers and in charge of monitoring and verifying the information that we process. In addition, Bryan Ordóñez 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 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.
For the coming year, the main objective is to lead a media coalition focused on the verification of public discourse and disinformation that will arise in the electoral context of 2021 where the President, Vice President and Assembly members will be elected again. We are inspired by initiatives such as Verificado in Mexico and Comprova in Brazil. And we already have solid relationships with media such as the television channel Ecuavisa, radio Sucesos and Criterios magazine.
We also want to improve the impact of our verifications on vulnerable populations and groups; therefore we have begun to develop a project that includes material translated into Quichua the largest native indigenous language in Ecuador.
Our third main objective is to promote a training program in schools, aimed at teachers and students, focused on tools to debunk information circulating on the Internet. To this purpose, we're already working on an initiative with the Ministry of Education.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
As requested, Ecuador Chequea has presented detailed information about the origin, evolution, staff, activities, and goals of the organization. In a more concise manner, most of this information is also available in their website.
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
16-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
As requested, Ecuador Chequea has presented a spreadsheet with 14 fact-checks performed by this organization over the three months prior to the date of application. The additional details on these fact-checks are also provided, with full clarity.
However, there is room for improvement in this aspect, because it is hard to ascertain the date when the fact-checks were published. The template currently used by Ecuador Chequea in its CMS does not display the date when fact-checks have been published, not even any bylines (see a couple of examples here and here). This is a defficiency that should be solved by the applicant, in order to provide transparent information to its readers.
done_all 1.3 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.
Criteria 1.4
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will assess compliance through a review of the fact checks published over the previous three months. No additional information required.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
More than 75% of Ecuador Chequea's 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. Nevertheless, as indicated in criterion 1.3, for the sake of the transparency to the public as well as allowing a more systematic assesment, a clearer information on bylines and publishing dates would be advisable.
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
16-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 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
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
According to the information provided by Ecuador Chequea on its website, as well as the disclosure made for their application to IFCN, this organization does not receive funds from Ecuadorian state nor intervene in government’s projects.
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
16-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 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
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Ecuador Chequea informs about its funding scheme in a somewhat unspecific way, indicating that 85% of its funding comes from international cooperation and 15% from own resources. As regards the financial support received from international organizations, there is a full disclosure about who is backing Ecuador Chequea in 2020: Pan American Development Fund (PADF), National Endowment for Democracy (NED), International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX). However, these organizations are only mentioned, without links to their websites. In order to increase the transparency it would be advisable linking to these organizations, if possible to pages where this financial support is indicated.
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
16-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
1) http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/moreno-exportamos-a-los-estados-unidos-usd-6-000-millones/
4) http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/roldan-230-mil-personas-salieron-de-la-pobreza-extrema/
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 and range from the President of the Republic, to assemblymen who are responsible for the design and approval of laws that impact the lives of citizens; to government ministers, mayors and prefects who become local authorities. The premise is that their discourse should be subject of verification, because from there will come out a great part of the arguments of the society to take one or another decision.
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.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Ecuador Chequea avoids any partisanship. When performing fact-checks, this organization 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
16-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
That explanation is contained in the Methodology tab of the Ecuador Chequea website: http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/metodologia/
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
As requested, Ecuador Chequea has presented evidence of a page where it provides information about its policy to avoid any 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
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
For this assessment, completed in June 2020, a random review of a number of fact-checks published over the previous months was performed. No evidence was found of any commercial interest that could 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
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
After a random review of a number of fact-checks published over the previous year, 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
16-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 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
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 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). A more specific disclosure of non-partisanship would be advisable, explaining the policy in case of any conflict of interest, but this overall statement is deemed as acceptable and compliant.
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
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
After a random review of a number of fact-checks published over the previous months, a very consistent and widespread use of links to back fact-checks was found. Thanks to the availability of these information resources, Ecuador Chequea's 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
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
According to the assessor's knowledge, the sources used by Ecuador Chequea to support fact-checks are 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
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Ecuador Chequea relies on a wide array of sources to back its fact-checks, giving priority for public, open-access content. External sources are the core of the background information and they are consistently referred. There is not any unduly concentration in any specific sources.
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
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 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
16-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 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/
FUMDAMEDIOS
07-Jul-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
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
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Ecuador Chequea self-defines as non-profit organization, and it has a section on its website where it provides general information about its funding scheme. This information, however, is relatively unspecific, as it does not provide details about each source of funding accounting for 5% or more of total revenue for its previous financial year, contrary to what is requested in this criterion 4.1. I leave to IFCN Board's consideration to decide if this organization needs to provide additional financial information in order to fully meet this criterion.
cancel 4.1 marked as Request change by Ramón Salaverría.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
09-Jul-2020 (4 years ago)
Ecuador Chequea self-defines as a non-profit organization, and it has a section on its website where it provides general information about its funding scheme. Although this information could be more specific, it is deemed as sufficient and compliant of this criterion.
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
16-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
That information is available on the About Us tab: http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/quienes-somos/
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
As requested, Ecuador Chequea has indicated a section on its website where details about funding are provided, as well as information about the legal form in which the organization is registered, disclosing a clear statement on ownership.
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
16-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
That information is available on the El equipo tab: http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/equipo/
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Complete information is provided about the staff of Ecuador Chequea, indicating their respective level of responsibility.
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
16-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The professional 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
16-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Information available in the Contact Us tab: http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/contactanos/
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The applicant provides clear means of contact on its website, including prfiles in several social networks and messaging apps. As an aspect for improvement, it would be advisable to display those contact elements in each fact-check individually, and not only in a general contact page, as it was when this assessment was performed.
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
16-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
As requested, Ecuador Chequea publishes on its website a statement about the methodology it uses to select, research, write and publish its fact-checks. The fact-checking methodology 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
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
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.
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
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Drawing upon a number of randomly selected fact-checks published priot to this assessment, the assessor has come to the conclusion that Ecuador Chequea commits to transparency and fairness when processing claims.
done_all 5.3 marked as Compliant by Ramón Salaverría.
Criteria 5.4
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the methodology used in a randomised sample of your fact checks to assess compliance with these criteria. No additional evidence is required.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 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
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
In the random sample of fact-checks that I used for this assessment, I did not find any examples of the situations indicated in this criterion. Since I don't have any evidence of misbehaviour or infringement of this part of the code of principles by Ecuador Chequea, my 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
16-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 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: http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/solicitud-de-rectificaciones/
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 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
16-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Located in the main menu of the website, Ecuador Chequea has a sound and easy-to-find corrections policy, allowing users to send claims 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.
http://www.ecuadorchequea.com/solicitud-de-rectificaciones/
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
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The corrections policy is explained in reasonable 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
16-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
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
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Upon request of additional information, Ecuador Chequea has presented enough evidence of its policy on corrections. The examples of corrections made prove the commitment of this organization to transparency and openness. The policy is in line with the IFCN principles, so the assessment for this criterion is deemed 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
16-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
As requested, Ecuador Chequea has a section of its website where it indicates how the users 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
16-Apr-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
We're not the the fact-checking unit of a media company.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
16-Jun-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Ecuador Chequea is a stand-alone fact-checking organization, not bound to any other parent organization.