Organization: La Silla Vacía
Applicant: Juan Esteban Lewin
Assessor: Ramón Salaverría
Background
Operating since 2013, Detector de mentiras is a fact-checking section of La Silla Vacía, a Colombian digital native news publication founded in 2009. According to the assessment made, it complies with all the standards required by the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN).
Assessment Conclusion
La Silla Vacía fully complies with all the requirements of the IFCN Code of Principles. The assessment is POSITIVE in all aspects, so the recommendation to the Board is to validate the renewal of their accreditation.
Ramón Salaverría assesses application as Compliant
A short summary in native publishing language
Activo desde 2013, Detector de mentiras es una sección de verificación de datos de La Silla Vacía, una publicación periodística nativa digital de Colombia, fundada en 2009. Según la evaluación realizada, cumple con todos los estándares exigidos por 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.
La Silla Vacía
04-Feb-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
In this page we explain the shareholder structure of La Silla Vacía and the detail of our finantial incomes and expenditures. https://www.lasillavacia.com/la-silla-vacia/quienes-somos/ We also publish our annual finantial results and the legal information (avaivable in this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Jpz66vESURyQUbvstJZ5B407rIUyeRPu/view
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Founded in 2009, La Silla Vacía is a well established native news publication of Colombia. As requested, this organization has provided detailed information about the origin, legal status, staff, activities, and goals of this organization. These legal and financial references are publicly disclosed at their About us page (Qué es La Silla Vacía). Since 2013, La Silla Vacía runs a section calle Detector de mentiras (Lie spotter) espefically devoted to fact-checking.
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?
La Silla Vacía
04-Feb-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
1. It started in 2014.
2. In the whole organization we currently have 35 full-time employees, plus 15 interns. Their roles and profiles can be seen at https://www.lasillavacia.com/la-silla-vacia/quienes-somos/.
3. La Silla Vacía is an independent news outlet, so we carry out the usual activities related to journalism (reporting, writing, editing, etc.). We also produce courses open to the public.
4. Our main goal is to be able to crear factchecking products aimed at different social media.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
As requested, La Silla Vacía has presented information about:
1. The year (2014) when this fact-checking operation started.
2. The amount of people (35 full-time employees, plus 15 interns that work in the organization. Their respective identities and roles are displayed in the website.
3. The different activities that are carried out by La Silla Vacía.
4. The goals for the coming year have been expressed in rather generic way. The applicant has only mentioned that it is pursuing to create factchecking products aimed at different social media. Although this expression is quite unspecific, it is assessed as compliant. However, for future renewals of the IFCN accreditation, we kindly advise the applicant to provide more detailed information on this question.
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.
La Silla Vacía
04-Feb-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Upon reviewing the archive of fact-checks performed by La Silla Vacía over the six months prior to the date of application, it has been confirmed that the applicant is clearly above the threshold, as it published on average a dozen fact-checks per week.
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
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
As requested, more than three quarters of La Silla Vacía’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 Colombia. The fact-checks published cover a wide array of local topics (politics, finance, health...) relevant for Colombian citizens, as well as a significant number of topics from foreign countries.
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.
La Silla Vacía
04-Feb-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
La Silla Vacía doesn't receive any funds or finantiation from the state, politicians or political parties in Colombia.
We receive support from the British Embassy in Colombia, the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and Canada's Embassy in Colombia, which are organizations from countries we don't cover so they don't represent an issue for our independent journalism. Both Embassys and the KAS support our coverage of environment, gender, social leaders, polarization, and governance of other media in Colombia.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
According to the information provided, the applicant did not have any commercial, financial and/or institutional relationships with the Colombian state, politicians or political parties over the year assessed. It received financial support from foreign embassies and foundations: the British Embassy in Colombia, the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and Canada's Embassy in Colombia. None of these countries are focus of the applicants' news coverage, at least regularly, so no conflict of interest is detected.
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.
La Silla Vacía
04-Feb-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
La Silla Vacía publishes on its website detailed information about its funding scheme. It discloses the sources of income, as well as the overall annual budget and all the relevant facts.
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.
La Silla Vacía
04-Feb-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
La Silla Vacía has run the Lie Detector (Detector de Mentiras) since 2014 to factcheck claims made by powerful figures in Colombia and also to verify information that circulates in social media. We fact-check all parts of the political debate, not only politicians but the judgments made by opinion leaders, media, and the opposition.
Our main methodology is to check through sources and reports if their claims are true or not.
We cite all its sources, as long as it is possible and the source authorizes it. As far as possible, we include the link to the original document that demonstrates with data or regulations the veracity or falsehood of a statement.
In this list of factchecks, you can see checks for all parts of the political debate. For example, verifications of principal politicians as president Ivan Duque, Alvaro Uribe (former president and main character of the right-wing party) and verifications of Gustavo Petro (left senator who is part of the opposition).
1. Las mentiras de políticos más visibles de 2021 https://www.lasillavacia.com/historias/silla-nacional/las-7-mentiras-de-politicos-mas-visibles-de-2021/
2. Detector a imagen que muestra datos para no vacunarse https://www.lasillavacia.com/la-silla-vacia/detector-de-mentiras/esta-imagen-que-muestra-datos-para-no-vacunarse-es-falsa
3. Petro acierta en datos de transición energética https://www.lasillavacia.com/la-silla-vacia/detector-de-mentiras/petro-acierta-en-datos-sobre-transici%C3%B3n-energ%C3%A9tica-
4. El muro de la desinformación en el paro (y sus replicadores) https://www.lasillavacia.com/historias/silla-nacional/el-muro-de-la-desinformaci%c3%b3n-en-el-paro-y-sus-replicadores-
5. Detector: Esta foto no corresponde al cambuche de alias Otoniel https://www.lasillavacia.com/la-silla-vacia/detector-de-mentiras/detector:-esta-foto-no-corresponde-al-cambuche-de-alias-%E2%80%98otoniel%E2%80%99
6. Detector a los mitos contra la despenalización del aborto https://www.lasillavacia.com/historias/silla-nacional/detector-a-los-mitos-contra-la-despenalizacion-del-aborto/
7. A Rodolfo sí lo destituyó la Procuraduría como concejal https://www.lasillavacia.com/la-silla-vacia/detector-de-mentiras/detector:-a-rodolfo-s%C3%AD-lo-destituy%C3%B3-la-procuradur%C3%ADa-como-concejal
8. Esta foto no prueba que el Esmad fue el que prendió fuego a un bus de Transmilenio https://www.lasillavacia.com/la-silla-vacia/detector-de-mentiras/este-video-no-prueba-que-el-esmad-fue-el-que-prendi%C3%B3-fuego-a-un-bus-de-transmilenio-en-suba
9. Caleños no estaban celebrando cambios a la reformo, como dijo RCN https://www.lasillavacia.com/historias/silla-nacional/detector-cale%C3%B1os-no-estaban-celebrando-cambios-a-la-reforma,-como-dijo-rcn
10. Detector la reapertura de la frontera no se dio por el cerco diplomático, como dice Duque https://www.lasillavacia.com/la-silla-vacia/detector-de-mentiras/la-reapertura-de-la-frontera-no-se-dio-por-el-cerco-diplom%C3%A1tico,-como-dice-duque-
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
La SIlla Vacía has demonstrated, as requested, its non-partisanship by providing ten examples of fact-checks to politicians of all the Colombian political spectrum. When performing fact-checks, this organization applies a consistent and sound fact-checking methodology, backing the information with authoritative sources and reliable links. All in all, no evidence has been found of any selection of issues guided by the ideological alignment of the institution, political party or person concerned.
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.
La Silla Vacía
04-Feb-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The fact-checking methodology and principles to avoid concentration of fact-checking on any ideological side are publicly disclosed by La Silla Vacía . Its policy is sound and reliable.
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
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
After a random review of a number of fact-checks published over the previous year (March. 2021 - Feb. 2022), no traces have been found of any commercial interest that might influence the fact-checking activity of La Silla Vacía.
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
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Simillarly to criterion 2.3, after a random review of a number of fact-checks published over the previous year (March. 2021 - Feb. 2022), no traces have been found of any political or ideological interest that might influence the fact-checking activity of La Silla Vacía.
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.
La Silla Vacía
04-Feb-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
https://www.lasillavacia.com/la-silla-vacia/quienes-somos/
In order to maintain the independence of La Silla Vacía we use the techniques of good journalism: we have anobjective method of verifying data, we report against our prejudices, we do not make stories from a single source, we call all sides of a history, and we do research until we convince ourselves of what happened.
La Silla Vacía is not politically affiliated with any party although that doesn't mean that individual journalists donot have their political preferences. But we try to report against our prejudices and preferences to filter outthose biases. We are only ideologically aligned to the Colombian Political Constitution of 1991.
We don't enter into any relationship that may restrain our freedom to report what we want. We don't accept donations or funding from national government offices or political parties. Invitations or gifts from the sources are never accepted.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
La SIlla Vacía commits itself to offering "the best independent journalism in Colombia, transparent, digital and without access barriers for those who want to actively participate in the construction of a better country," and "rather than allying itself with a political faction, it includes the largest number of voices" (asssesor's translation). The applicant also commits itself to transparency. These statements are deemed as acceptable and compliant with the requirement of non-partisanship.
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
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
After a random review of a number of fact-checks published by La SIlla Vacía, a very consistent and widespread use of links to back fact-checks has been found. Thanks to the availability of these information resources, users can easily dig into 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
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The sources used by La Silla Vacía to back fact-checks are well diversified, relevant and sound. It frequently uses scientific, legal or statistical sources, free of any political alignment or ideological bias.
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
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
La Silla Vacía does not show any unduly concentration in any specific sources. External sources, which are consistently referred, are the core of the background information. Itgives priority to public, open-access content. All in all, it relies on a wide array of sources to back its fact-checks.
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
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
La SIlla Vavía provides details so that readers can reasonably conclude the interests that could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided. It contextualizes sufficiently the information about 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.
La Silla Vacía
04-Feb-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
La Silla Vacía is an 'independent organization'. We are not part of any business group or association.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
According to the information provided, La Silla Vacía is a independent digital-native news organization. Its fact-checking operation, called Detector de mentiras, is integrated in the organization and its fully consistent with the principles and values of its parent media outlet.
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.
La Silla Vacía
04-Feb-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The information disclosed by the applicant on the About us page (Qué es La Silla Vacía) provides a detailed profile of its funding scheme, which includes a table with a list of main funding organizations. This information 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.
La Silla Vacía
04-Feb-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
La Silla Vacía informs in detail about its staff members and employees, as well as the interns, 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.
La Silla Vacía
04-Feb-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The information about the La SIlla Vacías's team members is clearly disclosed. Although there is no information available for a few of them, the vast majority of employees show a short biography as well as personal means of contact through social media. This information about the staff is deemed as sufficient.
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.
La Silla Vacía
04-Feb-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
La Silla Vacía encourages users to communicate and it provides several means of contact on its website, including email, as well as social media profiles (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), as well as WhatsApp.
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.
La Silla Vacía
04-Feb-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
https://www.lasillavacia.com/la-silla-vacia/detector-de-mentiras/nuestra-metodologia/
We have developed a specific method for our WhatsApp checks. If a WhatsApp user contacts La Silla Vacía with a piece of misleading information, we will answer, either with a fact-check or explaining why we cannot factcheck it, mainly because it can be outside the scope of our work. The hope: each user will then share the fact-check with his or her social circle. Checking WhatsApp chain messages is a way to get involved in conversations that real people are actually participating in, and to give them tools to form opinions based on facts, rather than falsehoods. 90 percent of what we’ve factchecked turns out to be untrue, which suggests that people share information on WhatsApp based on their emotions and interests, not what they know to be factual. The WhatsApp Detector relies on the same tagging system developed for La Silla Vacía’s Lie Detector: sections are labeled as “True,” “False,” “True but…,” “Debatable and “Misleading”. La Silla Vacía publishes 10 to 15 detectors per week in order to cover enough topics and fake news.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
La Silla Vacía openly discloses its fact-checking methodology, which is deemed sound and reliable. It runs a specific method for WhatsApp checks, which procedure has been clearly explained.
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
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Drawing upon a random review of a number of fact-checks, enough examples have been found that La SIlla Vacía 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
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Drawing upon a number of randomly selected fact-checks, the assessor has come to the conclusion that La Silla Vacía 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
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 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
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
No examples have been found of the misbehaviours or infringements indicated in this criterion. In absence of such evidence, the assessment of La Silla Vacía for this criterion is deemed as compliant.
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.
La Silla Vacía
04-Feb-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Readers could replicate the fact check by writing directly to the team of La Silla Vacía by the contact form and the mail editor@lasillavacia.com.
In factchecks that come from WhatsApp, we remind our audience that they can send us information to factcheck through said line https://wa.me/573183124521. Example: https://www.lasillavacia.com/la-silla-vacia/detector-de-mentiras/detector:-este-video-es-real-pero-cambian-la-voz-de-petro. In Facebook users can report false content and then we verify it. La Silla Vacía also includes a form open to any user that want to submit new or additional information about a specific story.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
As requested, La Silla Vacía has provided detailed information about how it encourages users to propose claims to check, provide data and knowledge, as well as warn about possible errors in their team’s checks, through WhatsApp, 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.
La Silla Vacía
04-Feb-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The corrections policy is deemed sound and professional. In exceptional cases, when a debate has arisen about a piece published by La Silla Vacía, beyond correcting the article, the editor-in-chief writes an specific article, explaining the medium's position on the subject.
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
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The corrections policy is explained in reasonable detail, so that readers can know in advance the how their claims will be handled.
Some room for improvement has been detected, though, as regards the time that migh take to get response. We kindly advise La Silla Vacía to announce in how much time commits itself to performing the analysis of a correction request.
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.
La Silla Vacía
04-Feb-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
We provide en email address as an initial point of contact. We answer emails in the 24 hours afeer the initial request, and make any necessary adjustments in the following 48 hours
The previous year, we recieved six appeals. In all of them, the interested parties accepted that they needed to make a correction, and changed their publication and we thus updated our factchecks. An example of this can be seen in https://www.lasillavacia.com/la-silla-vacia/detector-de-mentiras/detector:-sin-pruebas,-anonymous-s%C3%AD-acuso-a-pastrana-de-liderar-red-de-pedofilia.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
La Silla Vacía has presented evidence of a clarification of a previous article, published on October 13, 2021. Although this is not exactly a 'correction', in absence of any additional evidence of misbehavior in this respect, 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.
La Silla Vacía
04-Feb-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
As requested, La Silla Vacía informs the users how to 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.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
04-Mar-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
La Silla Vacía is a stand-alone media organization, with a specific fact-checking service, which is not bound to any other parent organization.