Organization: Les Vérificateurs
Applicant: Thomas Deszpot
Assessor: Laurent Bigot
Background
"Les Vérificateurs" is the distinct fact-checking section of TF1, LCI and LCI.fr, legally registered French media.
LCI published fact-checking in 2012 (a few months), with the label "A l'épreuve des faits" and has returned to this exercise since 2019, with its first label "A la loupe". The team progressively evolved to become "Les Vérificateurs" a couple of months ago, on September 2020.
France, where this medium is based, is a democratic country which allows "Les Vérificateurs" to work independently.
This is the first time that "Les Vérificateurs" want to become signatories of the IFCN code of principles.
Assessment Conclusion
According to my assessment, "Les Vérificateurs" could be a reliable fact-checking partner.
This media is compliant with most of the new principles enacted by the IFCN.
However, changes are needed on several criteria :
- 6.1 : The team "Les Vérificateurs" give precisions about its corrections policy on its website. But TF1 & LCI are primarily broadcasters and the team doesn't give precisions about its corrections policy in broadcasts. The team simply says that she has a mediator who can be contacted by email on the website.
- 6.2 : The team "Les Vérificateurs" doesn't set out clear definitions of how major mistakes, especially those requiring revised conclusions of a fact-check, are handled.
- 6.5 : There's no link to the parent media companies' honest and open corrections policy (called LCI and TF1) and no evidence that they adhere to this.
The work of the TF1 mediator is interesting, but is not highlighted in television programs and therefore cannot replace a strong commitment from the entire editorial staff.
Laurent Bigot assesses application as Non-compliant
A short summary in native publishing language
"Les Vérificateurs" est la section distincte de vérification des faits de TF1, LCI et LCI.fr, médias français légalement enregistrés.
LCI a déjà fait fonctionné une rubrique de vérification en 2012 (quelques mois), sous l'appellation «A l'épreuve des faits» et renoue avec cet exercice depuis 2019, avec sa rubrique «A la loupe». Le nom de l'équipe a ensuite évolué pour devenir "Les Vérificateurs" en septembre 2020.
La France, où est implanté ce média, est un pays démocratique qui permet aux "Vérificateurs" de travailler de manière indépendante.
C'est la première fois que "Les Vérificateurs" souhaitent devenir signataires du code de principes IFCN.
Si "Les Vérificateurs" respectent une majorité des 31 critères issus de la nouvelle version du code de principes, ils doivent néanmoins se mettre en conformité avec certains critères :
- 6.1 : L'équipe "Les Vérificateurs" précise sa politique de correction sur son site Internet. Mais TF1 & LCI sont avant tout des diffuseurs audiovisuels et l'équipe ne précise pas sa politique de correction dans les diffusions télévisées. L'équipe dit simplement qu'elle a un médiateur qui peut être contacté par email sur le site.
- 6.2 : L'équipe "Les Vérificateurs" n'établit pas de définitions claires de la manière dont les erreurs majeures, notamment celles nécessitant des conclusions révisées d'un fact-check, sont traitées.
- 6.5 : Il n'y a aucun lien avec la politique de correction honnête et ouverte des sociétés mères (appelées LCI et TF1) et aucune preuve qu'elles y adhèrent. Le travail du médiateur de TF1 est intéressant, mais n'est pas valorisé dans les programmes télévisés et ne peut donc remplacer un engagement fort de l'ensemble de la rédaction.
Et nous encourageons "Les vérificateurs" à porter un regard attentif sur l'évaluation des autres critères, car ils contiennent des recommandations pour mettre le site plus en conformité avec 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 Vérificateurs
23-Oct-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The website LCI.fr concentrates news produced by three different newsrooms (all members of the same press group). You can find contents produced by TF1 (TV Channel), LCI (TV Channel) & its digital branch : LCI.fr (digital media 100% linked to LCI). "Les Vérificateurs" is a structure which has been created in order to embody the factchecking contents across all platforms (both on TV and online).
Legal status & details about our organization can be found on a dedicated webpage : https://www.lci.fr/mentions-legales/. This link is accessible from the front page and provides all mandatory information.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
"Les Vérificateurs" is the distinct fact-checking section of LCI.fr, a legally registered French digital platform produced by three different newsrooms (TF1, LCI & LCI.fr).
All the evidences of LCI.fr legal registration are presented in the “Mentions légales” through its RCS number, here: https://www.lci.fr/mentions-legales/
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 Vérificateurs
23-Oct-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The factchecking activity within the TF1 Group (which includes TF1, LCI & LCI.fr) officially started on February 2019. The first content labelled as "fact-check" was published on LCI.fr on February 20st, 2019. The fact-checking service, at the time, was called "À la loupe", and progressively evolved to become "Les Vérificateurs" a couple of months ago, on September 2020.
There are approximately 350 journalists among the TF1 group, but "Les Vérificateurs" team is officially composed by 3 permanent journalists. This team can be reinforced occasionally : members of the same newsroom sometimes produce contents put under the "Les Vérificateurs" label (as it's done on TV on a regular basis).
Mainly present in the audiovisual sector, the group is made up several generalist and thematic television channels - including TF1, TMC, TFX, TF1 Séries Films and LCI -, film and television production and distribution companies, and an advertising network. It is also present on the Internet with information and service websites and a multi-channel online video network. The group has also diversified into publishing, music and show production, distance selling and event communication. "Les Vérificateurs" is a team which emerged through the information branch, and which now operates on three different channels (TF1 & LCI on TV, LCI.fr on the Internet).
As a leading information group in France & Europe, TF1 provides high standards contents to its wide audience. "Les Vérificateurs" has been developed to fight against fake news and misinformation, and to reinforce trust between content producers and citizens. Over the coming year, "Les Vérificateurs" aspires to grow & wants to be recognized as one of the main fact-checking actors in the French media landspace. Its goal will also be to bring trustful news to the audience in a context of the upcoming presidential election in France, a key moment where the importance of reliable news will be even higher than it usually is.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
LCI published fact-checking in 2012 (a few months), with the label "A l'épreuve des faits" and has returned to this exercise since 2019, with its first label "A la loupe". The teamprogressively evolved to become "Les Vérificateurs" a couple of months ago, on September 2020.
There are approximately 350 journalists among the TF1 Group (which includes TF1, LCI & LCI.fr); but "Les Vérificateurs" team is officially composed by 3 permanent journalists.
"Les Vérificateurs" is a team which emerged through the information branch of TF1 Group.
The team explains its goals here:
"Les Vérificateurs" has been developed to fight against fake news and misinformation, and to reinforce trust between content producers and citizens. Over the coming year, "Les Vérificateurs" aspires to grow & wants to be recognized as one of the main fact-checking actors in the French media landspace. Its goal will also be to bring trustful news to the audience in a context of the upcoming presidential election in France, a key moment where the importance of reliable news will be even higher than it usually is."
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 Vérificateurs
23-Oct-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
"Les Vérificateurs" produces between 2 and 4 contents per day. All fact-checking articles are tagged and brought together, they are accessible at the following address : https://www.lci.fr/actualite/les-verificateurs-12325/
From its launch on February 2019, this fact-checking service already produced more than 900 original articles. Contents broadcasted on TV are not always linked to "Les Vérificateurs" topic on LCI.fr, and therefore, they are not all accessible online.
There are some periods of time when production rhythm may vary, due to holidays and journalists turnover (part of the team was renewed within the last 12 months).
Laurent Bigot Assessor
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The team "Les Vérificateurs" publishes between 2 and 4 fact-checks per day on their respective media (TF1, LCI & LCI.fr).
These fact-checks are gathered on the common section called "Les vérificateurs" and can be viewed here:
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.
Les Vérificateurs
23-Oct-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The assessor can find all factchecking contents produced by "Les Vérificateurs" at the following adress : https://www.lci.fr/actualite/les-verificateurs-12325/
Please note that the articles are classified by ante-chronological order. Publication day & time is precisely indicated at the beginning of each article.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
According to our assessment, the fact-checking stories presented by "Les Vérificateurs" 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 Vérificateurs
23-Oct-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
TF1 Group is a private company, listed on the French stock exchange. This means its financial information is transparent and regularly detailed to active or potential investors. To get the most recent information about company's revenues, please check the following link : https://groupe-tf1.fr/sites/default/files/pdf-financiers/rapport_financier_semestriel_2020_tf1_vdef.pdf
TF1 Group (and its information branches) is independent both from the state and from political parties. In France but also abroad. Most of its income comes from advertising, on TV & online. There is no paywall on LCI.fr (which hosts "Les Vérificateurs" and whom the fact-checking team is affiliated), but you can observe advertising on the website (banners and video pre-rolls).
Laurent Bigot Assessor
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
TF1 Group is a private company.
The team explains : “TF1 Group is listed on the French stock exchange. This means its financial information is transparent and regularly detailed here:
https://groupe-tf1.fr/sites/default/files/pdf-financiers/rapport_financier_semestriel_2020_tf1_vdef.pdf.”
Most of TF1 Group income comes from advertising, on TV & online.
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 Vérificateurs
23-Oct-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
As previously mentioned, TF1 Group does not receive funding from local or foreign state or political sources. All financial information about the company are accessible through the following link : https://groupe-tf1.fr/sites/default/files/pdf-financiers/rapport_financier_semestriel_2020_tf1_vdef.pdf
Laurent Bigot Assessor
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
"Les Vérificateurs" do not receive funding from from local or foreign state or political sources (except from advertising).
So, the team does not provide a statement on its site how it ensures its funders do not influence the findings of its reports.
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 Vérificateurs
23-Oct-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Before detailing the list of 10 work examples of "Les Vérificateurs", it might be useful to explain the process of work and verification set up.
An efficient information monitoring capacity enables our team to focus on assertions, data, images or videos shared and relayed by a large amount of sources. The misleading information we analyze are selected upon a series of various criteria :
- Status of the source (Political leaders during interviews ? Citizens on social networks ? Union representatives at public meetings ?)
- Impact of the potential misleading information (Audience of an online publication, notoriety of the source that relayed the information, importance of the issues related to this information)
- Capacity to answer the question and to bring trustful information to the audience
- Link with the topics currently making the news
If a claim catches our attention, we cannot always conclude of its reliability in an instant. Therefore, if after a large scale of investigations, a journalist concludes that the statement is true, we won't consider this topic as irrelevant and will cover it anyways. If the tools used to verify an information can change from one to another (depending on the topic or on its source), the final result published on our website will be similar. The result (true, false, incomplete...) of a fact-check is always accompanied by the process which led to conclude to that result, in order to provide to the audience (when possible) all the keys to reproduce by itself our demonstrations.
You will find down below a list of 10 articles written during the last months. They represent the large scale of topics covered by our team, focusing on quotes from various political representatives and exploring multiples thematic axis.
- https://www.lci.fr/sante/covid-19-60-des-contaminations-ont-elles-lieu-au-travail-ou-en-milieu-scolaire-comme-l-affirme-jean-luc-melenchon-2167387.html
- https://www.lci.fr/planete/une-seule-centrale-a-charbon-allemande-emet-elle-vraiment-plus-de-co2-que-tous-l-aerien-francais-interieur-et-international-reunis-2166543.html
- https://www.lci.fr/sante/les-masques-sont-ils-vraiment-des-nids-a-bacteries-et-a-microbes-2164736.html
- https://www.lci.fr/sante/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-deuxieme-vague-la-situation-a-marseille-est-elle-egale-a-celle-de-paris-comme-l-assurent-les-elus-locaux-2165434.html
- https://www.lci.fr/population/la-france-un-village-gaulois-en-retard-sur-la-5g-cette-carte-qu-il-faut-lire-avec-prudence-2164857.html
- https://www.lci.fr/societe/video-la-france-compte-t-elle-reellement-300-000-sdf-comme-le-dit-la-fondation-abbe-pierre-2171451.html
- https://www.lci.fr/population/faut-il-craindre-que-la-5g-soit-extremement-consommatrice-d-energie-2158263.html
- https://www.lci.fr/politique/est-il-vrai-qu-en-france-le-temps-de-travail-a-l-echelle-d-une-carriere-est-l-un-des-plus-faible-d-europe-2158365.html
- https://www.lci.fr/politique/une-statue-du-marechal-petain-retiree-en-2014-a-vichy-le-patron-du-ps-olivier-faure-se-fait-pieger-par-un-site-parodique-2157386.html
- https://www.lci.fr/population/roule-t-on-seulement-a-14-km-h-de-moyenne-en-voiture-dans-paris-intra-muros-2156756.html
Laurent Bigot Assessor
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The team "Les Vérificateurs" works on every issues at an national and international levels.
Their fact-checks seem to 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 obvious unfair treatment...
The team explains how the fact checks they selected show that they use the same high standards of evidence for equivalent claims.
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 Vérificateurs
23-Oct-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Considering the criteria detailed above, our team will choose to cover a topic or another, trying not to focus on the same protagonists in a row. If a far-right political leader spread tons of fake news, we won't for example write an article for each. We daily try to keep as close to hot news topics as possible (the COVID-19 was a major preoccupation during the last 6 months...), in a non-partisan approach. Companies CEOs may also be considered as fact-checking targets, as their influence can be strong and their speech very commented.
To ensure the claim is relevant enough to deserve a fact-check, we are going to have a look on the way it spreads. A confidential lie, only commented by a few people will not be considered as important to cover. We also try to stay as close to our audience as possible, providing a dedicated email address (lesverificateurs@tf1.fr) which is daily checked by the members of our team. It allows whosoever to contact us in order to submit a potential fake information or a doubtful claim. When an article is written in response to a reader mail, a specific mention is always apposed by our journalists.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
"Les Vérificateurs" do 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.
The team publishes an explaination on its website to set out how it selects claims to check, here:
We can read :
"Our team looks at the words, images and numbers that make the news, looking for sources of misinformation. It focuses as much on the statements of public figures as on the publications that flourish online, on social networks in particular. Having become essential in the information landscape, these are part of the media that we scrutinize with attention, their use in fact giving rise to multiple drifts. Spreading rumors, misappropriation of images, truncated figures or statements… So many potentially biased and misleading elements, likely to influence the general public and to plunge them into confusion."
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
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In view of what we have observed, the team "Les Vérificateurs" discloses in its fact checks relevant interests of the sources it quotes and any commercial or other such relationships it has.
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
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In view of what we have observed, the team "Les Vérificateurs" doesn't show support for any party, any politician or political candidate.
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 Vérificateurs
23-Oct-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The following link leads to the public statement which describes in detail our work : https://www.lci.fr/espace-presse/les-verificateurs-une-equipe-de-fact-checking-commune-aux-redactions-de-tf1-lci-et-lci-fr-2174786.html
Laurent Bigot Assessor
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The team "Les Vérificateurs" explains its policies to preserve its non-partisan way of fact-checking claims, here:
It evokes :
"To achieve these objectives, our team follows a series of commitments in its work:
1. Propose a non-partisan treatment of the facts, without limiting his research to one political camp or another, without defending ideology or private interest;
2. Not to post any link of interest likely to interfere with objectivity in the treatment of subjects.."
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.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In view of what we have observed, the team "Les Vérificateurs" identifies the source of significant evidence used in its fact checks.
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
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In view of what we have observed, the team "Les Vérificateurs" uses (most of the time) the best available primary sources of evidence.
But the team should use them more often to better respect this IFCN criterion and should cite other media less often in particular.
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
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In view of what we have observed, the team "Les Vérificateurs" checks all key elements of claims with more than one source of evidence.
But the team should use more to consolidate their checks
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
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In view of what we have observed, the team "Les Vérificateurs" 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.
But the team should do it more regularly.
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 Vérificateurs
23-Oct-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
"Les Vérificateurs" is the unit of two media houses : TF1 & LCI. Our journalists belong to one of those two newsrooms, both part of the same media holding company. All contents labelled as "Les Vérificateurs" are listed on the website of LCI, under a dedicated section. Most of the contents which were initially broadcasted on TV are also added to the website, especially when they are related to an article already written.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
"Les Vérificateurs" is the fact-checking section of TF1, LCI & LCI.fr.
The explaination is here:
https://www.lci.fr/espace-presse/les-verificateurs-une-equipe-de-fact-checking-commune-aux-redactions-de-tf1-lci-et-lci-fr-2174786.html
"The members of "Les Vérificateurs" work in three separate editorial offices, brought together within the TF1 group. The journalists who make up this service come from the TF1 teams, as well as those of LCI and LCI.fr. While the formats produced vary from one medium to another, they share objectives and a common methodology. The entire editorial production is supervised by the editors-in-chief of the various branches. Teams that work together under the responsibility of the TF1 group's information director, Thierry Thuillier."
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 Vérificateurs
23-Oct-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The following link leads to the public statement which explains that Les Vérificateurs is the fact-checking section of TF1 Group : https://www.lci.fr/espace-presse/les-verificateurs-une-equipe-de-fact-checking-commune-aux-redactions-de-tf1-lci-et-lci-fr-2174786.html
Laurent Bigot Assessor
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
As the fact-checking section of TF1 Group, "Les Vérificateurs" shares a link to the statement on its website about its ownership :
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 Vérificateurs
23-Oct-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The following link describes the functioning of our team and the rules governing its journalistic activity : https://www.lci.fr/espace-presse/les-verificateurs-une-equipe-de-fact-checking-commune-aux-redactions-de-tf1-lci-et-lci-fr-2174786.html
Laurent Bigot Assessor
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The team "Les Vérificateurs" presents its organizational structure and makes clear how and by whom editorial control is exercised (information director, coordinator, membres, etc.) here:
The team should better detail who are the editorial directors, Chief editor, deputy-chief editor and editors of the media TFI, LCI and LCI.fr
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 Vérificateurs
23-Oct-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The professional biographies of our main members are all set out through the following link : https://www.lci.fr/espace-presse/les-verificateurs-une-equipe-de-fact-checking-commune-aux-redactions-de-tf1-lci-et-lci-fr-2174786.html
Laurent Bigot Assessor
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The team "Les Vérificateurs" presents a page detailing the name and surname of the team members here:
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 Vérificateurs
23-Oct-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The procedure to contact our team is publicly accessible : https://www.lci.fr/espace-presse/les-verificateurs-une-equipe-de-fact-checking-commune-aux-redactions-de-tf1-lci-et-lci-fr-2174786.html
Laurent Bigot Assessor
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
It’s quite easy for readers to contact the team "Les Vérificateurs".
They can use a generic e-mail adress, here:
https://www.lci.fr/espace-presse/les-verificateurs-une-equipe-de-fact-checking-commune-aux-redactions-de-tf1-lci-et-lci-fr-2174786.html
"Whether it is to suggest a verification, react to an article or report a typo in an article, it is possible to reach our team through a dedicated email address: lesverificateurs@tf1.fr"
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 Vérificateurs
23-Oct-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The functioning of our structure is fully presented on our website, on a dedicated page : https://www.lci.fr/espace-presse/les-verificateurs-une-equipe-de-fact-checking-commune-aux-redactions-de-tf1-lci-et-lci-fr-2174786.html
Laurent Bigot Assessor
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The team "Les Vérificateurs" gives precisions about its fact-checking methodology, here:
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
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In view of what we have observed (20 fact checks selection), the team "Les Vérificateurs" selects claims to check based primarily on the reach and importance of the claims, and sometimes explains 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
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In view of what we have observed (20 fact checks selection), the team "Les Vérificateurs" sets out in their 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
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In view of what we have observed (20 fact checks selection), the team "Les Vérificateurs" assesses 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.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In view of what we have observed (20 fact checks selection), the team "Les Vérificateurs" seeks where possible to contact those who made the claim.
But the team should do it more regularly,
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 Vérificateurs
23-Oct-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
As soon as our fact-check unit was set up, an email address was created. This address is always put at the end of every article, and shared by our broadcasters. Online readers and TV viewers are encouraged to contact our team : they can react to the contents published on our website, ask for additional information, point out a factual mistake or a typing error. They are also encouraged to submit topics, potentially misleading images and videos. Our journalists try to answer every received message, as long as it is a legitimate request.
We also plan to launch a Twitter account, only dedicated to "Les Vérificateurs". It might become another useful support to contact us (both by mentions or direct messages in our inbox).
If an article is produced as a result of a reader's message, the author will always mention it. The final publication is of course sent to the person who submitted the subject.
Les Vérificateurs
12-May-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
As soon as our fact-check unit was set up, an email address was created. This address is always put at the end of every article, and shared by our broadcasters. Online readers and TV viewers are encouraged to contact our team : they can react to the contents published on our website, ask for additional information, point out a factual mistake or a typing error. They are also encouraged to submit topics, potentially misleading images and videos. Our journalists try to answer every received message, as long as it is a legitimate request. People can also contact us via our Twitter account. Private messages are open to all and are checked on a daily basis.
In order to encourage readers to contact our editorial staff, a specific mention has been made in our editorial charter (https://www.lci.fr/espace-presse/les-verificateurs-une-equipe-de-fact-checking-commune-aux-redactions-de-tf1-lci-et-lci-fr-2174786.html). This includes specifying the type of claims that can be submitted to us, as well as the way in which we select them.
If an article is produced as a result of a reader's message, the author will always mention it. The final publication is of course sent to the person who submitted the subject.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
There’s no dedicated page to invite readers to submit claims to fact-check on LCI website.
We can find only find a specific paragraph in the middle of the page, here:
"Whether it is to suggest a verification, react to an article or report a typo in an article, it is possible to reach our team through a dedicated email address: lesverificateurs@tf1.fr."
So we can say that, in a way, "Les Vérificateurs" encourage users to send claims to check but don't make it clear what isn’t fact-checkable.
cancel 5.6 marked as Request change by Laurent Bigot.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
26-Jun-2021 (3 years ago)
There’s no dedicated page to invite readers to submit claims to fact-check on LCI website.
We can find only find a specific paragraph in the middle of the page, here:
"Whether it is to suggest a verification, react to an article or report a typo in an article, it is possible to reach our team through a dedicated email address: lesverificateurs@tf1.fr."
"Les Vérificateurs" encourage users to send claims to check and give some details about what isn’t fact-checkable.
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 Vérificateurs
23-Oct-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The functioning of our structure is fully presented on our website, on a dedicated page. It includes our rections or complaints policy : https://www.lci.fr/espace-presse/les-verificateurs-une-equipe-de-fact-checking-commune-aux-redactions-de-tf1-lci-et-lci-fr-2174786.html
Les Vérificateurs
12-May-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The functioning of our structure is fully presented on our website, on a dedicated page. It includes our corrections or complaints policy : https://www.lci.fr/espace-presse/les-verificateurs-une-equipe-de-fact-checking-commune-aux-redactions-de-tf1-lci-et-lci-fr-2174786.html
As far as our audiovisual production is concerned, the necessary corrections are made through a specific page on the LCI website, dedicated to mediation with the public.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The team "Les Vérificateurs" give precisions about its corrections policy on its website here:
"To achieve these objectives, our team follows a series of commitments in its work:
(...)
4. Explicitly mention the various changes in an article, when these are likely to significantly modify the meaning and understanding of a subject;
5. Allow readers to challenge the reaction to submit proposals for verifications, or to allow it to make corrections to an article already published. When substantive changes are made, these are explicitly specified. This is a rule that applies just as much to articles written by Les Verifiers as to those published in other sections of LCI.fr.
But the team doesn't give precisions about its corrections policy in broadcasts.
cancel 6.1 marked as Request change by Laurent Bigot.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
26-Jun-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The team "Les Vérificateurs" give precisions about its corrections policy on its website here:
"To achieve these objectives, our team follows a series of commitments in its work:
(...)
4. Explicitly mention the various changes in an article, when these are likely to significantly modify the meaning and understanding of a subject;
5. Allow readers to challenge the reaction to submit proposals for verifications, or to allow it to make corrections to an article already published. When substantive changes are made, these are explicitly specified. This is a rule that applies just as much to articles written by Les Verifiers as to those published in other sections of LCI.fr.
But TF1 & LCI are primarily broadcasters and the team doesn't give precisions about its corrections policy in broadcasts. The team simply says that she has a mediator who can be contacted by email on the website.
cancel 6.1 marked as Non-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 Vérificateurs
12-May-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
A long paragraph presents the "Choice of subjects and treatment methods". It has been expanded to be more specific.
Please note that an additional paragraph has also been added to describe our revision policy in more detail.
Here is an example of article which has been modified a few weeks after its first publication, due to the evolution of governmental policies : https://www.lci.fr/sante/coronavirus-pandemie-non-les-militaires-ne-seront-pas-obliges-de-se-faire-vacciner-contre-le-covid-19-2180581.html
Laurent Bigot Assessor
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The team "Les Vérificateurs" doesn't set 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.
Impossible to determine if journalists seems to follow this corrections policy quite scrupulously.
cancel 6.2 marked as Request change by Laurent Bigot.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
26-Jun-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The team "Les Vérificateurs" doesn't set out clear definitions of how major mistakes, especially those requiring revised conclusions of a fact-check, are handled.
Impossible to determine if journalists seems to follow this corrections policy quite scrupulously.
cancel 6.2 marked as Non-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 Vérificateurs
23-Oct-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Our correction policy recently evolved in order to match the standards defined by Poynter and the IFCN. In the past, corrections were not publicly mentioned, even though our journalists were always open to modify certain portions of their articles or to put additional information which may have been missing at first.
From now on, a substantive change always leads to an explicit mention at the beginning of the article. Both explaining when and why it was done, and what evolved. In the past month, here are two examples of corrections brought on articles published by "Les Vérificateurs" :
Laurent Bigot Assessor
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The team "Les Vérificateurs" provides credible evidence that it makes corrections openly and transparently.
The team gives 2 examples from 2 different articles :
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 Vérificateurs
23-Oct-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
This is the first application to the IFCN for "Les Vérificateurs". Our team is committed to adding these required information as soon as it will join the network.
Les Vérificateurs
12-May-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Les Vérificateurs declares itself an IFCN signatory. A link is added to our editorial policy to allow reporting to the IFCN of a potential code of principles violation. https://www.lci.fr/espace-presse/les-verificateurs-une-equipe-de-fact-checking-commune-aux-redactions-de-tf1-lci-et-lci-fr-2174786.html
Laurent Bigot Assessor
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The team "Les Vérificateurs" has no page on its website where it declares itself an IFCN signatory:
Nowhere the website informs users that if they believe its journalists are violating the IFCN Code, people may inform the IFCN, with a link to the IFCN site.
cancel 6.4 marked as Request change by Laurent Bigot.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
26-Jun-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The team "Les Vérificateurs" declares itself an IFCN signatory here:
They inform users that if they believe its journalists are violating the IFCN Code, people may inform the IFCN, with a link to the IFCN site.
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 Vérificateurs
23-Oct-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In the absence of adequate space on our site to clarify the open correction policy, the page presenting our team has been updated to specify that this rule is in effect for the whole editorial production : https://www.lci.fr/espace-presse/les-verificateurs-une-equipe-de-fact-checking-commune-aux-redactions-de-tf1-lci-et-lci-fr-2174786.html
Les Vérificateurs
12-May-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
This criterion is certainly the most difficult to meet for Les Vérificateurs. Our team is made up of a core group of only a few journalists: their editorial production therefore represents only a tiny fraction of all the articles and reports on the TF1 group's channels. Let's remember that only 3 to 5 people are assigned full time to fact-checking activities, in a company that counts about 400 journalists.
For the moment, it seems hard to impose major changes in production habits and in the daily operations of the full group. In addition, Les Vérificateurs are active in three different media, each with its own specific operating methods. This would require significant coordination work, as well as the introduction of new protocols that would impact the activities of many employees.
It is important to emphasize that the principles set by the IFCN will be followed for all content labeled "Les Vérificateurs" (online & on TV), as well as all online production. It is the generalization to all news-related services on TV that appears more complicated.
We hope that joining the IFCN will allow us to initiate a reflection among the TF1 group, which may lead to create common operating charters for all entities. Adapting the entire company to the requirements defined by the IFCN would require a rethink of part of our organization, and consequently cannot be fully implemented in the space of a few weeks.
We ask for the IFCN's indulgence on this issue, and take this opportunity to underline that the TF1 group, a European leader in the audiovisual sector, is already committed to providing the public reliable and trustful information on a daily basis. Even before the creation of Les Vérificateurs, the company designated a person to interact with the public. Called "la médiatrice", this person is available to answer viewers' questions and can pass on comments on editorial treatment to the managers.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
29-Mar-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
There's no link to the parent media companies' honest and open corrections policy (called LCI and TF1) and no evidence that they adhere to this.
cancel 6.5 marked as Request change by Laurent Bigot.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
26-Jun-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
There's no link to the parent media companies' honest and open corrections policy (called LCI and TF1) and no evidence that they adhere to this.
The work of the TF1 mediator is interesting, but is not highlighted in television programs and therefore cannot replace a strong commitment from the entire editorial staff.