Organization: Les Surligneurs
Applicant: Vincent Couronne
Assessor: Laurent Bigot
Background
Les Surligneurs was set up in 2017, exclusively for the purpose of fact-checking, in France. Its team (80 volunteers and 3 interns) works in French, in France and in Belgium.
Les Surligneurs has also launched events events related to fact checking, Media Literacy Education and professional training activities. They published books relative to their fact-checks...
The main activity of Les Surligneurs is related to legal checking: they publish articles that highlight mistakes made by politicians and confront them with the law.
France, where this medium is based, is a democratic country which allows "Les Surligneurs" to work independently.
Assessment Conclusion
According to my assessment, Les Surligneurs are a reliable fact-checking partner.
This media is compliant with all he principles enacted by the IFCN.
But they need to make corrections about three points of the IFCN Code of Principles :
But we still encourage "Les Surligneurs" to take a good look at the evaluation of the other criteria, as they contain recommendations to bring the site more in line with the IFCN code of principles.
Laurent Bigot assesses application as Compliant
A short summary in native publishing language
Les Surligneurs ont été créés en 2017, exclusivement à des fins de fact-checking, en France. Son équipe (80 bénévoles et 3 permanents) travaille en français, en France et en Belgique.
Les Surligneurs ont également lancé des événements liés à la vérification des faits, à l'éducation aux médias et aux activités de formation professionnelle. Ils ont publié des livres relatifs à leurs vérifications des faits...
L'activité principale des Surligneurs est liée à la vérification juridique : ils publient des articles qui mettent en lumière les erreurs commises par les politiques et les confrontent à la justice.
La France, où est basé ce média, est un pays démocratique qui permet aux "Surligneurs" de travailler de manière indépendante.
Il s'agit de la première demande de renouvellement d'adhésion des Surligneurs au Code de principes de l'IFCN.
Selon mon évaluation, Les Surligneurs sont un partenaire fiable de fact-checking.
Ce média est conforme à tous les principes édictés par l'IFCN.
Mais nous encourageons tout de même "Les Surligneurs" à bien regarder l'évaluation des autres critères, car ils contiennent des recommandations pour mieux aligner le site sur le code de principes de l'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.
Les Surligneurs
07-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Les Surligneurs makes it a point of honour to be as transparent as possible, that's why on our website, by clicking on “Mentions légales” (legal notices) you will find our legal status.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago)
Les Surligneurs is a legally registered organization.
All the evidences of its legal registration are presented in the “Mentions légales” section, in the Menu, here:
https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/mentions-legales/
Les Surligneurs is headquartered in Paris 35, rue du Retrait, 75020 France) and is registered in the trade and companies register under number 884 638 149 R.C.S. Paris.
Information about the status of Les Surligneurs is set out quite clearly, and is quite quick to find.
done_all 1.1 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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?
Les Surligneurs
07-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
1) The idea of Les Surligneurs emerged during the French presidential election of 2017. Many of the candidate proposals were either approximative or wrong in the light of the law. In order to clarify the debate, we have decided to examine their proposals from a legal point of view. Thus, it was with the aim of re-establishing the truth that we started our legal checking work. Since the beginning of our project, we have published more than 900 articles.
2) Les Surligneurs is a non-partisan French organization that consists of a core of permanent workers (Vincent Couronne, Tania Racho and Jean-Paul Markus). Morevore, we have around 80 volunteers – including university lecturers, students and lawyers –, 3 interns and 1 journalism student-apprentice. They have the mission to find legally false statements but also to write some articles.
Our management team is composed of Vincent Couronne as director of publication, Alex Yousfi as president of the association, Jean-Paul Markus as Editor-in-chief, Boris Le Pelleter as treasurer, Myriam Clémenceau as Director of communication and Juliette Toussaint is our partnership director.
3) The main activity of our organization is related to legal checking. We publish articles that highlight mistakes made by politicians and confront them with the law. Moreover, we have created a podcast on fact check about the European Union.
In addition to this, we organize regular events (in person at first and through webinars since the pandemic) related to fact checking. In 2021-2022 we had a cycle of events for the project "Objection votre Europe in regions". This consisted of traveling to six French cities to record live broadcasts of our podcast which deconstructs misinformation about Europe.
We regularly work with students to bring them a Media Literacy Education, to enable them to verify online information.
In 2022 we have also launched professional training activities.
4) In 2022, given that France entered a new round of elections including the presidential, legislative and local elections, Les Surligneurs has been very active in following them closely, by analyzing the statements and the programmes of the candidates .
Based on our experiences in these areas, Les Surligneurs have also published two books gathering their articles on the themes of religion and immigration respectively, published by Enrick B.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Les Surligneurs was set up in 2017, exclusively for the purpose of fact-checking, in France. Its team (80 volunteers and 3 interns) works in French.
Les Surligneurs has also launched events related to fact checking, Media Literacy Education and professional training activities. They published books relative to their fact-checks..
The answer provided by Les Surligneurs seem trustworthy.
done_all 1.2 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Les Surligneurs
07-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
List of publications from the past 6 months : https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GvrW-CBQXSGxMvPBVk4-ThoSzUnBDmeaneo5xLLy-Gs/edit#gid=634347005
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Les Surligneurs team attached a Google doc to its application. In view of what we have observed, they publish at least one fact check a week over the twelve months of publishing track.
done_all 1.3 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
According to our assessment, the fact-checking articles of Les Surligneurs are in line with IFCN's expectations.
We find that these fact checks deal in majority (more than 75%) with “public interest” issues that “relate to or could have an impact on the well-being of individuals, the general public or society”.
done_all 1.4 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Les Surligneurs
07-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Les Surligneurs does not have any direct link with the State, and we are completely independent of any politicians and political parties.
The project is financially supported by membership fees and donations from individuals, which represent less than 5% of the association's resources. The other resources, in 2021-2022, are : The Francis-Lefèbvre Foundation (40%), the Hippocrene Foundation (10%), the VIP laboratory of the University of Paris-Saclay (5%), the European Commission (35%).
The association Les Surligneurs received a grant from the European Commission in 2021 to produce the podcast Objection votre Europe. This grant covers 40% of the costs of producing the podcast, and in no way influences the editorial choices of the podcast.
Members of Les Surligneurs receive personal remuneration from higher education institutions for training their students in the legal analysis of political discourse. The institutions concerned for the academic year 2021-2022 are Sciences Po Saint-Germain-en-Laye, the University of Lille, Aix-Marseille University.
The editorial choices of Les Surligneurs are made in complete independence from the funders.
All this information is made available to the reader on the "Notre méthode" tab, available from the Menu page.
Les Surligneurs also has several partners: Public Sénat (a Parliament TV), who consult Les Surligneurs as legal experts. Amicus Radio (a Belgian non-profit organization) hosts our podcasts. And Cabinet Vigo which is a legal expert consultant for Les Surligneurs.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The applicant’s editorial output is not, for us, controlled by the state, a political party or politician.
Les Surligneurs sets out how the team ensure the editorial independence of its work here:
https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/notre-methode/
"WHO FINANCES Les Surligneurs ?
"The project is financially supported by membership fees and individual donations, which represent less than 5% of the association's resources. The other resources, in 2021, are: The Francis-Lefèbvre Foundation (40%), the Hippocrène Foundation (10%), the VIP laboratory of Paris-Saclay University (5%), the European Commission (35%). The association Les Surligneurs received a grant from the European Commission in 2021 for the production of the podcast Objection votre Europe. This grant covers 40% of the production costs of the podcast, and can in no way influence the editorial choices of the podcast."
The team also explains: "The editorial choices of Les Surligneurs are made independently of funders." ("Notre méthode" section, in the Menu page, here:
https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/notre-methode/
done_all 1.5 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Les Surligneurs
07-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
On our website, you will find all the information needed on the page named “Notre méthode" (accessible from the main page).
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The team explains: "The editorial choices of Les Surligneurs are made independently of funders." ("Notre méthode" section, in the Menu page, here:
https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/notre-methode/
Without founding from local or foreign state or political sources.
done_all 1.6 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Les Surligneurs
07-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Our non-partisanship is one of the commitments of Les Surligneurs. As you will see in these 10 fact checks, we have fact checked a wide panel of politicians, from the far left to the far right. Each of these articles respects the same strict method which consists of: firstly, we look for problematic statements (compared to the law) made by politicians. They can be legally problematic because they are either false, or they need more precision, or they are simply impossible. And then we confront them with the law. By following this method, we analyze what is problematical in the statement and not the political figure. Therefore, this method ensures total objectivity, and a fine approach to the intensity of the politician’s mistake.
Links:
Emmanuel Macron, La République En Marche, French president.
Marine Le Pen, Rassemblement National, President of Rassemblement National.
Eric Zemmour, Reconquête!, President of Reconquête!
https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/eric-zemmour-affirme-vouloir-arreter-les-flux-migratoires-a-zero/
Anne Hidalgo, Parti Socialiste, Mayor of Paris.
Fabien Roussel, Parti communiste français (PCF-, President of PCF and French deputy.
Valérie Pécresse, Les Républicains (LR), President of LR and President of the Regional Council of Île-de-France.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, La France insoumise (LFI), President of LFI and French deputy.
Yannick Jadot, Europe Écologie-Les Verts (EELV), President of EELV and European deputy.
Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, Debout la France, President of Debout la France and French deputy.
Philippe Poutou, Nouveau Parti anticapitaliste (NPA), President of NPA
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The applicant fact-checks use the same high standards of evidence and judgement for equivalent claims regardless of who made the claim. We didn't find any example of unfair treatment...
done_all 2.1 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Les Surligneurs
07-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
On our website, you will find all the information needed on the page "Notre méthode" accessible from the main page.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Les Surligneurs does not seem to unduly concentrate its fact-checking on any one side; it seems to consider the reach and importance of claims it selects to check; and it publishes an explaination on its website to set out how it selects claims to check, here :
"Notre méthode" section, in the Menu page, here: https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/notre-methode/
"We highlight comments made publicly by public figures (elected officials, candidates, and anyone taking part in the public debate); the statement must contain a legal dimension; the statement must be, with regard to the law, either erroneous, or call for a more or less strong nuance. Legally sound statements are not addressed unless they are publicly challenged. As far as possible, a balance is respected between the different political sensitivities present in the media."
done_all 2.2 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
In view of what we have observed, Les Surligneurs disclose in its fact checks relevant interests of the sources it quotes and 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.
done_all 2.3 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
In view of what we have observed, Les Surligneurs are not an organization affiliated with any party, any politician or political candidate. It doesn't advocate for or against any policy positions on any issues.
done_all 2.4 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Les Surligneurs
07-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Please see the statement on the main page and the page "Notre Méthode" accessible from the main page
See also the Code of ethics, accessible from Notre méthode page : https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3Ac2bae066-7aab-45d5-ae79-d15b78f8de75#pageNum=1
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Les Surligneurs explain their policies to preserve its non-partisan way of fact-checking claims on a page titled “Notre méthode”, accessible from the main page, here:
https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/notre-methode/
It evokes :
"As far as possible, a balance is respected between the different political sensitivities present in the media."
Their code of ethics is foundable via their website here:
It evokes :
"LES SURLIGNEURS ensure their editorial independence with regard to public and private funders, donors, advertisers, public authorities including universities, in accordance with the French constitutional principle of independence of university professors, political or religious personnel."
done_all 2.5 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Les Surligneurs
07-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
For our legal checking work, we mainly use primary legal sources such as European treaties or laws from official sources (eur-lex.europa.eu, Constitutional council, legifrance.gouv.fr). Nevertheless, we sometimes use secondary sources like articles from other media. All sources are cited in our articles (with a hyperlink). Legal sources do not include undisclosed legal materials such as legal contracts between private parties. All legal sources Les Surligneurs use are accessible online.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
In view of what we have observed, Les Surligneurs identify the source of all significant evidence used in their fact checks (primary legal sources such as European treaties or laws from official sources). They also provide relevant links where the source is available online, in such a way that users can replicate their work if they wish.
done_all 3.1 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
In view of what we observed, Les Surligneurs use the best available primary sources of evidence.
done_all 3.2 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
In view of what we observed, Les Surligneurs check all key elements of claims against more than one named source of evidence, even if their legal checking activity often requires them to use only one source.
done_all 3.3 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
In view of what we have observed, Les Surligneurs identify in their fact checks the relevant interests of the sources they use where the reader might reasonably conclude those interests could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided.
done_all 3.4 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Les Surligneurs
07-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The SARL (Société à responsabilité limitée) company is the owner of the website lessurligneurs.eu. The SARL is independent and owned by Jean-Paul Markus, Vincent Couronne and Tania Racho (see JTI transparency report on the page Notre Méthode). The website carries activities of fact-checking only and is not the fact-checking section or the unit of a media house or other parent organization.
The Association Les Surligneurs is a non-profit organization aiming at running the media outlet Les Surligneurs. The association also supports the participation of students and volunteers to the functioning of the website. According to a licence agreement, the SARL Les Surligneurs authorises the Association Les Surligneurs run the media outlet.
In the section named “Notre méthode” a statement ensures that lessurligneurs.eu defines its editorial line independently. In the Mentions légales page a statement explains that the SARL Les Surligneurs cannot influence the editorial line of the media outlet, in accordance with the IFCN Code of Principles.
On the "Notre méthode" page, a paragraph describes sources of funding of Les Surligneurs for its previous financial year.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Les Surligneurs are an independent company (SARL).
And there's a page that sets out the legal form in which the organization is registered, here:
https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/a-propos/
There's also a page on their website detailing with precisions each source of funding accounting for 5% or more of total revenue for its previous financial year, here:
https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/notre-methode/
done_all 4.1 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Les Surligneurs
07-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Funding is detailed on "Notre méthode" page https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/notre-methode/
The legal form is explained on "Mentions légales" page https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/mentions-legales/
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Les Surligneurs are an independent organization.
done_all 4.2 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Les Surligneurs
07-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The organizational structure and the way the editorial control is exercised is clarified on "Notre méthode" page.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Les Surligneurs present their organizational structure and makes clear how and by whom editorial control is exercised (Chief editor, editors, authors, etc.) here :
https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/a-propos/
https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/notre-methode/
done_all 4.3 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Les Surligneurs
07-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
On our website, you will find all the information needed on the section named “A Propos” (About us). https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/a-propos/
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Les Surligneurs present a page detailing the professional biography of most of those who play a significant part in its articles here :
https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/a-propos/
Caution: some of these biographies have yet to be detailed (for next time)
done_all 4.4 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Les Surligneurs
07-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
-On the page “A propos” (about us), the paragraph “Contact Us” reads as follows : “Have you read or heard a statement containing a legal mistake? Let us know!
Are you a member of a legal research centre and want to make a contribution? Write to us! contact@lessurligneurs.eu.
Readers are also welcome to react to publications by filling the online form. We will reply to you and either integrate your reaction into the publication in question with a footnote mentioning the change, or we will explain why it should not be integrated.”
- The same paragraph appears on the page "Notre méthode' > "Nous contacter" (contact us)
- At the bottom of each article readers find the mention “An error in this content? Let us know: contact@lessurligneurs.eu”.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
It’s quite easy for readers to contact Les Surligneur’s team.
There’s an email address here:
https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/notre-methode/ (with a form to complete, too)
https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/a-propos/
Caution : it would be better, for next time, to make some quite hidden sections easier to find:
https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/notre-methode/
done_all 4.5 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Les Surligneurs
07-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
This is described on "Notre méthode" (our method) page, accessible from our main page, and containing as well our Code of ethics.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Les Surligneurs give precisions about its fact-checking methodology, here:
https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/notre-methode/
The details are in line withe the specific domain that Les Surligneurs explore : the legal-checking.
done_all 5.1 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
In view of what we observed, Les Surligneurs select claims to check based primarily on the reach and importance of the claims, and sometimes explain the reason for choosing the claim to check.
done_all 5.2 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
In view of what we observed, Les Surligneurs set out in its fact checks relevant evidence that appears to support the claim as well as relevant evidence that appears to undermine it.
done_all 5.3 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
In view of what we observed, Les Surligneurs assess the merits of the evidence found using the same high standards applied to evidence on equivalent claims, regardless of who made the claim.
done_all 5.4 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Les Surligneurs
07-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Since 15 June 2020, Les Surligneurs send an email or a private message on social media or via any other way aiming at establishing a contact, to those who made the claim. The answer is always taken into account. In addition, whether those who made the claim answered or not, a reference to the attempt to contact is made in the article.
Example in which a response has been integrated can be read here : https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/philippe-ballard-conseiller-regional-veut-reinstaurer-la-primaute-du-droit-national-tout-en-restant-au-sein-de-lunion-europeenne/
Example in which no response was received but the contact attempt is mentioned can be read here : https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/le-prefet-de-lisere-introduit-un-refere-laicite/
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
In view of what we observed and what the team explains, Les Surligneurs seeks where possible to contact those who made the claim.
done_all 5.5 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Les Surligneurs
07-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
-On the page “A propos” (about us) users are encouraged to contact us by filling an online form if they have found a problematic statement, after reading the criteria according to which a statement can be fact-cheked. The paragraph “Contact Us” reads as follows : “Have you read or heard a legal aberration? Let us know!
Are you a member of a legal research centre and want to make a contribution? Write to us! contact@lessurligneurs.eu
Readers are also welcome to react to publications by filling the online form. We will reply to you and either integrate your reaction into the publication in question with a footnote mentioning the change, or we will explain why it should not be integrated.”
- The same paragraph appears on the page "Notre méthode' > "Nous contacter" (contact us): https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/notre-methode/
Finally, we encourage users to send in claims via our social medias such as Twitter and Facebook.
Concerning what readers can legitimately expect will be fact-checked and what isn’t fact-checkable, we clearly mention it in the section “Notre méthode". We also directly answer to the request on our social media.
Les Surligneurs
22-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
On the home page, there is a message for the readers: "Got a statement you want us to legal-check? Fill in the online form. You can read the criteria on the "Notre méthode" page". The form recalls that the readers can submit a declaration for verification.
The same paragraph appears on the pages “A propos", "Notre méthode", and at the bottom of each publication.
We also encourage readers to send in claims via our social media accounts such as Twitter and Facebook.
Concerning what readers can legitimately expect will be fact-checked and what isn’t fact-checkable, we clearly mention it in the section “Notre méthode". We also directly answer to the requests on our social media.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
There’s an e-mail address for readers who want to submit claims to fact-check on Les Surligneurs website. We can find it in the "About us" section here:
https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/a-propos/
And the address is also in the methodology, here:
https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/notre-methode/
It explains :
"Have you read or heard of a legal aberration? Let us know !
You are a member of a legal research center and you want to propose a contribution? Write us!
contact@lessurligneurs.eu"
Les Surligneurs also explain in those pages:
"Readers are also invited to react to publications via the online form. We will reply to you and either we will include your reaction in the publication in question with the addition of the mention of the modification at the bottom of the publication, or we will explain to you why there is no need to include it.
Conversely, we may not respond when the reader's reaction is in fact political and not legal opinion, when it does not relate to a request to modify an article, or when it proceeds from a means of digital bullying."
And Les Surligneurs make it clear what readers can legitimately expect will be fact-checked and what isn’t fact-checkable.
But the wording of the invitation to submit declarations for verification is not very encouraging and the possibility offered to readers to submit declarations needs to be further highlighted on the site (home page?)... Especially since the encouragement to write via the form does not seem to concern the submission of declarations to be checked.
cancel 5.6 marked as Request change by Laurent Bigot.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
04-Sep-2022 (2 years ago)
There’s an e-mail address for readers who want to submit claims to fact-check on Les Surligneurs website. We can find it in the "About us" section here:
https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/a-propos/
And the address is also in the methodology, here:
https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/notre-methode/
It explains :
"Have you read or heard of a legal aberration? Let us know !
You are a member of a legal research center and you want to propose a contribution? Write us!
contact@lessurligneurs.eu"
Les Surligneurs also explain in those pages:
"Readers are also invited to react to publications via the online form. We will reply to you and either we will include your reaction in the publication in question with the addition of the mention of the modification at the bottom of the publication, or we will explain to you why there is no need to include it.
Conversely, we may not respond when the reader's reaction is in fact political and not legal opinion, when it does not relate to a request to modify an article, or when it proceeds from a means of digital bullying."
And Les Surligneurs make it clear what readers can legitimately expect will be fact-checked and what isn’t fact-checkable.
Recently Les Surligneurs added an invitation to submit fact-checking claims to their homepage. The site thus becomes compliant with this criterion. Even if the form should also be corrected, because it only mentions the reporting of errors.
done_all 5.6 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Les Surligneurs
07-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
On "Notre méthode" page, it is stated that "En cas d’erreur, l’article est amendé avec mention de l’ajout en pied d’article". (In case of a mistake, the article is modified and the modification is referenced at the bottom of the article).
At the bottom of each article, it is written "Une erreur dans cet article ? Faites-le nous savoir : contact@lessurligneurs.eu" (A mistake in this article? Tell us: contact@lessurligneurs.eu). As such, the reader is able to send an us an email. See here for an example https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/emmanuel-macron-estime-que-tous-les-francais-beneficient-dun-droit-a-lerreur-dans-leurs-declarations-a-ladministration/
For an example of an article which has been modified, please see https://lessurligneurs.eu/didier-raoult-nous-continuerons-a-traiter-nos-patients-avec-les-traitements-que-nous-estimons-les-plus-adaptes-en-letat-actuel-de-la-science-et-des-connaissances/
Since the beginning of our activity, we have removed only 2 articles.
Les Surligneurs
22-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
On "Notre méthode" page, a paragraph replicates Article 7 of the Les Surligneurs' Code of ethics: "Readers can also react to publications by filling in the online form. Les Surligneurs answers the request by email, and then either modifies the publications including a mention of the update at the bottom of the publication, or explains to the reader the position exposed in the publication. However, Les Surligneurs does not answer the reader when no answer is expected (if the request is in fact an observation), not when the request is violent or insulting, nor when the reader brings a political opinion instead of a legal one, not when the request is abusive. The correction requests shall deal with the correctness of the facts, the legal correctness of the reasonnings, the objectivity of the analysis or of the choice of subject. The correction requests may concern any publication on the website."
At the bottom of each article, it is written "Have you spotted a mistake in this publication? Let us know by filling in the online form. You can find the correction and information submission policy on the "Notre méthode" page". See here for an example https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/emmanuel-macron-estime-que-tous-les-francais-beneficient-dun-droit-a-lerreur-dans-leurs-declarations-a-ladministration/
For an example of an article which has been modified, please see https://lessurligneurs.eu/didier-raoult-nous-continuerons-a-traiter-nos-patients-avec-les-traitements-que-nous-estimons-les-plus-adaptes-en-letat-actuel-de-la-science-et-des-connaissances/
Since the beginning of our activity, we have removed only 2 articles.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Les Surligneurs have a kind of corrections policy.
There's only a claim that explain:
"The reader is also a proofreader. At the bottom of each article, any reader can contact the editorial team and dispute a point in the article. Highlighters always respond. In case of error, the article is amended with mention of the addition at the bottom of the article."
"Have you read or heard of a legal error? Let us know by filling out this form."
We can find it here:
https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/notre-methode/
And there's a specific mention in the ethical and deontological charter:
"Rectify and/or withdraw any publication that proves to be inaccurate; (...) taking into account readers' remarks on the various media supports."
We can find it here:
But we can't say that Les Surligneurs detail a corrections policy that is easily visible and accessible. Even if iit's possible for the readers to send messages: at the bottom of each article, it is written "A mistake in this article? Tell us: contact@lessurligneurs.eu)."
The team should explain with more details in which circumstances it modifies or removes an article and how the readers are informed of the decision... for example.
cancel 6.1 marked as Request change by Laurent Bigot.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
04-Sep-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Les Surligneurs have a kind of corrections policy.
There's only a claim that explain:
"The reader is also a proofreader. At the bottom of each article, any reader can contact the editorial team and dispute a point in the article. Highlighters always respond. In case of error, the article is amended with mention of the addition at the bottom of the article."
"Have you read or heard of a legal error? Let us know by filling out this form."
We can find it here:
https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/notre-methode/
And there's a specific mention in the ethical and deontological charter:
"Rectify and/or withdraw any publication that proves to be inaccurate; (...) taking into account readers' remarks on the various media supports."
We can find it here:
An error in this content? Do you want to submit information for verification? Let us know using our online form. Find our correction and information submission policy on the Our method page."
The team explains with details in which circumstances it modifies or removes an article and how the readers are informed of the decision... for example.
done_all 6.1 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
Criteria 6.2
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the corrections policy to verify it meets critera. No additional information needed.
Les Surligneurs
07-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The definitions of the correction policy have been added in the "Notre méthode" section, as well as in the code of ethics. It states as follow :
"Readers are also welcome to comment on publications by writing to contact@lessurligneurs.eu. We give an answer by email, and we either take into account the comment and mention the amendment at the end of the article, or we explain the reader why his or her comment hasn't been taken into account.
The other way round, we may not answer whenever the reader's comment isn't a legal opinion but in fact a political one, whenever the comment's aim is not to amend an article, and whenever the comment is part of a digital harassment strategy."
Les Surligneurs
22-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The definitions of the correction policy have been added in the "Notre méthode" section, as well as in the code of ethics (Article 7). It states as follow :
The correction requests shall deal with the correctness of the facts, the legal correctness of the reasonnings, the objectivity of the analysis or of the choice of subject. The correction requests may concern any publication on the website.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
(see 6.1)
Les Surligneurs should clarify their correction policy with more detail in a specific paragraph, in the website and in their code of ethics.
Les Surligneurs' code of ethics mentions the transparency of their relationship with their readers, but not clearly their correction policy...
cancel 6.2 marked as Request change by Laurent Bigot.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
04-Sep-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
(see 6.1)
Les Surligneurs have specified their correction policy with more details in a specific paragraph.
Les Surligneurs' ethics mention the transparency of their relationship with their readers as well as their correction policy...
done_all 6.2 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Les Surligneurs
07-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
No correction request has been made in the previous year, at the date the IFCN application was submitted
In December 2021 however, following a report from those concerned, we have removed an article about the ban on foie gras in town halls. We communicated about this on our social networks with the following message: "Foie gras ban in some town halls: following a factual error, our legal reasoning was also wrong, so we removed the article saying that these decisions were problematic. Thanks to the town halls concerned for their vigilance." (cf. Les Surligneurs’ social media on 10/12/21).
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Les Surligneurs provide evidence that it makes corrections openly and transparently, seeking as far as possible to ensure that users of the original see the correction and the corrected version.
Les Surligneurs give only one example of correction in their website, here:
Caution: Les Surligneurs should make a statement (in this application form) to explain that no other correction request has been made in the previous six months...
done_all 6.3 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Les Surligneurs
07-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
On the “Notre Méthode” page a dedicated section provides the links to the IFCN code of principles, to the Surligneurs’ page on the IFCN website and to the complaint page of the IFCN for non-compliance with the Code of Principles.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Les Surligneurs inform users that if they believe the team is violating the IFCN Code, they may inform the IFCN of this, with a link to the complaints page on the IFCN site. The link is here:
"Filing a complaint with the IFCN for non-compliance with the Code of Principles"
https://www.lessurligneurs.eu/notre-methode/
done_all 6.4 marked as Compliant by Laurent Bigot.
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.
Les Surligneurs
07-Jul-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
We have added in our section named "Mentions légales" this short statement:
The SARL Les Surligneurs does not influence whatsoever the content of the website lessurligneurs.eu, in accordance with the independence requirements set out in the Code of Principles of the International Fact-checking Network. The director of the publication may influence the content only in application of his responsibility status provided for by the law (criminal and civil responsibility).
Laurent Bigot Assessor
03-Aug-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Not concerned.