Organization: Libération - CheckNews
Applicant: Pauline Moullot
Assessor: Laurent Bigot
Background
"CheckNews" is the distinct fact-checking section of Liberation, a legally registered French media.
"CheckNews" was set up in 2017, exclusively to the purpose of fact-checking.
France, where this medium is based, is a democratic country which allows "CheckNews" to work independently.
Assessment Conclusion
According to my reassessment, "CheckNews" continues to be a reliable fact-checking partner.
After some changes, this media is compliant with most of the new principles enacted by the IFCN.
But Liberation should try to do its best in the coming year to include Checknews' correction policy in its general charter.
The evaluation of the site suggests that several other criteria (marked here, this time, as compliant) deserve to be better respected; it is necessary to anticipate from today a possible next candidacy in order to be in conformity.
Laurent Bigot assesses application as Compliant
A short summary in native publishing language
La rubrique "Checknews" du site "Liberation" a déjà respecté le code de principes de l'IFCN sous son ancienne version. Au cours de ce renouvellement de label IFCN, elle a dû procéder à quelques ajustements afin de respecter l'intégralité des 31 critères issus de la nouvelle version du code.
Il lui reste à faire en sorte, au cours de l'année à venir, que la charte d'éthique de Libération, présente sur le site, impose les mêmes règles de correction que les journalistes de CheckNews s'imposent à eux-mêmes.
Enfin, l'évaluation du site laisse entrevoir que plusieurs autres critères (marqués ici, cette fois-ci, comme conformes) mériteraient d'être mieux respectés ; il est nécessaire d'anticiper dès aujourd'hui une éventuelle prochaine candidature pour se mettre en conformité.
Le site reste un partenaire fiable de l'IFCN en matière de vérification des faits (fact-checking et debunking).
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.
Libération - CheckNews
03-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Libération is a legally registered French media outlet. The legal registration is mentioned here: http://www.liberation.fr/cgvu/
We publish fact-checks in the CheckNews section of Libération: https://www.liberation.fr/checknews,100893
Laurent Bigot Assessor
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
CheckNews (https://www.liberation.fr/checknews,100893 ) is the distinct fact-checking section of the legally registered French media outlet Libération (https://www.liberation.fr/).
All the evidence of the Libération’s legal registration are presented in the “Mentions légales” through its ISSN and CPPAP numbers, here: https://www.liberation.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?
Libération - CheckNews
03-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
1. We started fact-checking under the name "Désintox" in 2008 to "track the misinformation and lies in the public debate". In 2017 we changed our name and editorial line to "CheckNews" where we respond to our readers questions. This came from the observation during the 2017 presidential race that we only talked to people who were already convinced and that many of our readers didn't trust us because they assumed we had an editorial bias. By responding to questions we gave the opportunity to our readers to decide what we should check and explain.
2. 9 persons work in the team: 1 editor in chief, 2 deputy editors, 5 full time journalists (one of the is specialized in science, the other ones are generalists), 1 part time journalist.
3. We do fact-checking in the 3PFC program with Facebook, and fact-checking and explainers by responding to our readers questions. It is half fact-checking, and half explainers. Sometimes an article can be a bit of both, a fact-checking being also an explainer. We also publish a twice weekly newsletter and write the fact-checking episodes of the tv segment Désintox, broadcasted on the French-german public channel Arte four times a week.
4. Keep tracking the misinformation and informing correctly the public during the pandemic. Getting ready for the 2022 presidential race.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Liberation has been doing fact-checking since 2008, with the work of the team "Desintox. Checknews, the new fact-checking team of Liberation started in 2017, with a special goal: respond to readers questions. 9 journalists work on fact-checking claims and debunking rumors, on all subjects. The team plans to continue its verification work, specifically on the political field during the next presidential race (2022).
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.
Libération - CheckNews
03-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
We published at least a fact check a week for the past twelve years, and 4 Désintox episodes are broadcasted every week.
Here are links to examples published for the past year:
All our fact-checks are available here: https://www.liberation.fr/checknews,100893
All our Desintox tv program are here https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/RC-014077/28-minutes/
See attached for detailed list of written fact-checks.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
CheckNews journalists publish 1 to 4 fact-checks per day on its website. And 4 Désintox episodes ont TV every week.
The fact-checks are gathered on the Liberation website section called "CheckNews" here: liberation.fr/checknews/
And the TV fact-checks can be viewed here: arte.tv/fr/videos/RC-016371/28-minutes/
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.
Libération - CheckNews
03-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
You will see there is a majority of Covid themes for the past months, but this is due to the news of the moment...There is still a variety of subjects covered and non partisan themes.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
According to our assessment, the fact-checking stories presented by "CheckNews" 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.
Libération - CheckNews
03-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
We don't have any commercial, financial or insitutitional relationship with the state, politicians or political parties, and didn't for the past years.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Liberation and its "Checknews" section doesn't detail its sources of funding.
The team only explains : “We don't have any commercial, financial or insitutitional relationship with the state, politicians or political parties, and didn't for the past years.”
Liberation receives direct or indirect public press subsidies from the French State. In the future, the team will have to detail this, even if the amounts in question do not necessarily create a link at arm's length with the state.
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.
Libération - CheckNews
23-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Like any other news organizations, Libération is eligible to press subsidies. CheckNews has explained several times how much we earn and how it works. https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/2018/03/22/quel-est-le-montant-des-subventions-publiques-recues-par-liberation-en-2017_1653414/
we updated our "about" section to explain it. See "'Quelles sont les sources de revenus de CheckNews?"
Laurent Bigot Assessor
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Liberation receives some funding from the French state (press subsidies).
So the Checknews team should explain to its readers that its funders that it do not influence the findings of its reports.
cancel 1.6 marked as Request change by Laurent Bigot.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
18-Apr-2021 (3 years ago)
Liberation receives some funding from the French state (press subsidies).
And the Checknews team explains to its readers that its funders that it 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.
Libération - CheckNews
03-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In these ten fact-checks, you can see we fact-check as much the government and the opposition, and agree with them too. We reach out to people we fact-check, give evidences of what we say with hyperlinks and documents, explain where the fact-check come from, contact a wide variety of experts.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The "Check News" team 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.
Libération - CheckNews
03-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/about/ see section "how do we choose the questions we answer".
Laurent Bigot Assessor
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The "CheckNews" team 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.
The team publishes an explaination on its website to set out how it selects claims to check, here:
https://www.liberation.fr/checknews-about/?variant=1
We can read :
"How do you choose the questions to answer?
There is necessarily a selection of questions. We have thousands of questions pending. The sorting takes place first according to the time we have. Some questions require very long inquiries. Other questions take less time to answer. We also take into account, for the obvious interest of our readers, questions related to current events. But we do not rule out non-topical questions, because the interest of a platform like CheckNews is to stick to the questions of Internet users. Likewise, we deal with serious questions, without leaving aside the lighter or funny questions. Our answers must mirror your questions and reflect the wide variety of questions you address to us."
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
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In view of what we have observed, the "CheckNews" team 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
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In view of what we have observed, the "CheckNews" team 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.
Libération - CheckNews
03-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
CheckNews is part of Libération, which asks its staff to not have partisanship as you can read in the "Charte éthique". https://www.liberation.fr/cgvu/#charte-ethique
La société des journalistes et personnels de Libération (SJPL) ensures this chart is respected
Laurent Bigot Assessor
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The "CheckNews" team explains its policies to preserve its non-partisan way of fact-checking claims in different statements.
Here, in the Liberation website:
https://www.liberation.fr/charte-ethique/
It evokes :
"The sustainability of these principles detailed in this charter is essential to guarantee editorial independence and the quality of credible and rigorous information which make the publications of the title Liberation so valuable. These principles and the provisions of the charter apply to all information media, printed, digital, audio and video, and to any activity (social network, subsidiaries, etc.) that uses the title or logo Liberation."
And in the "CheckNews" section, her:
https://www.liberation.fr/checknews-about/
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
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In view of what we have observed, the "CheckNews" team 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
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In view of what we have observed, the "CheckNews" team uses (most of the time) 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
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In view of what we have observed, the "CheckNews" team checks all key elements of claims with more than one source of evidence.
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
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In view of what we have observed, the "CheckNews" team dentifies 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.
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.
Libération - CheckNews
03-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
We are the fact-checking unit of a media house. As you can see in our url, we are published directly on Libération's website.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
"CheckNews" is the fact-checking section of the Liberation website. The explaination is here:
https://www.liberation.fr/checknews-about/
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.
Libération - CheckNews
03-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
You can read in in the "mentions légales" on the website: https://www.liberation.fr/cgvu/#mentions-legales
Libération - CheckNews
23-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
You can read in in the "mentions légales" on the website: https://www.liberation.fr/cgvu/#mentions-legales
You can read our main shareholder is Presse Indépendante SAS and the "co-gérants" are Denis Olivennes and Dov Alfon.
We also updated the "about" section of CheckNews to mention it.
mentions légales.PNG (54 KB)
Laurent Bigot Assessor
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
As a fact-checking section of Liberation, "CheckNews" shares a link to the statement on its website about its ownership :
https://www.liberation.fr/cgvu/#mentions-legales
But this link does not allow us to get an idea of the person or the company to which Liberation belongs. This information lacks precision.
cancel 4.2 marked as Request change by Laurent Bigot.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
18-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
As a fact-checking section of Liberation, "CheckNews" shares a link to the statement on its website about its ownership :
https://www.liberation.fr/mentions-legales/
This link allows us to get an idea of the person or the company to which Liberation belongs. This information is OK.
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.
Libération - CheckNews
03-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Laurent Bigot Assessor
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Liberation presents its organizational structure and makes clear how and by whom editorial control is exercised (Chief editor, deputy-chief editor, etc.) here:
https://www.liberation.fr/mentions-legales/
In the future, this indication should be easier to find for readers.
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.
Libération - CheckNews
03-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/about/
See part "quelle équipe"
Libération - CheckNews
23-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
We updated the "about" section. https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/about/
See part "quelle équipe"
Laurent Bigot Assessor
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The "Checknews" team presents a page detailing the name and surname of the team members here:
https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/about/
But with no professional biography of all those who play a significant part in its articles.
cancel 4.4 marked as Request change by Laurent Bigot.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
18-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The "Checknews" team presents a page detailing the name and surname of the team members here:
https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/about/
The page presents the professional biography of all those who play a significant part in its articles.
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.
Libération - CheckNews
03-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
It is the whole principle of CheckNews: https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/demander/
Readers can also find other way to reach out to us by reading the part "Comment nous contacter" on this page: https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/about/
Laurent Bigot Assessor
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
It’s really easy for readers to contact the "Checknews" team.
As they say: "It is the whole principle of CheckNews" to ask questions to the journalists.
The link to do that is here:
https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/demander/
Another link is here:
https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/about/
"You can ask us questions directly via the CheckNews form and contact us on our Twitter and Facebook accounts and by email at checknews@libe.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.
Libération - CheckNews
03-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/about/ see parts "Comment choisit-on les questions auxquelles on répond" et "comment vérifie-t-on nos informations".
Nb: this page "mode d'emploi" is currently under change to implement the part "comment vérifie-t-on nos informations" and other updates. It should be live by the time the assessor looks over our application. If it isn"t the case, I can send you the doc with the changes that are under way.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The "Checknews" team gives precisions about its fact-checking methodology, in its "Mode d'emploi" section, here:
https://www.liberation.fr/checknews-about/?variant=1
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
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In view of what we have observed (20 fact checks selection), the "CheckNews" journalists select 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
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In view of what we have observed (20 fact checks selection), the "Checknews" journalists set 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
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In view of what we have observed (20 fact checks selection), the "CheckNews" journalists 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.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
In view of what we have observed (20 fact checks selection), the "CheckNews" journalists seek 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.
Libération - CheckNews
03-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/demander/
We explain in this page https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/about/ in the part "Comment choisit-on les questions auxquelles on répond ?" which claims are fact-checkable or not.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
There’s a dedicated page to invite readers to submit claims to fact-check on Checknews website:
https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/demander/
And there's a page where readers can find an explaination about which claims are fact-checkable or not:
https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/about/
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.
Libération - CheckNews
03-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Laurent Bigot Assessor
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The "CheckNews" section gives precisions about its corrections policy, here:
https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/about/
"We are accountable for our responses. And we have already amended some after comments from readers indicating errors or inaccuracies. Each time an article is modified or corrected, the update is systematically indicated at the foot of the article, in a visible manner, with the date and time of the modification."
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.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
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.
It sets clearly that some complaints may justify no response.
The "CheckNews" journalists seems to follow this corrections policy quite scrupulously.
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.
Libération - CheckNews
03-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Whether the correction is just an update or the correction of a factual error we always mention at the end of the article that it has been modified, giving the time and date and what was precisely the correction about.
See examples here: https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/2020/11/10/francesoir-ceci-n-est-plus-un-journal_1803644
https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/2020/12/09/vaccins-pfizer-et-astrazeneca-que-nous-apprennent-les-premieres-etudes_1808154
Laurent Bigot Assessor
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The "CheckNews" journalists provide credible evidence that it makes corrections openly and transparently.
The team gives 2 examples from 2 different articles :
https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/2020/11/10/francesoir-ceci-n-est-plus-un-journal_1803644
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.
Libération - CheckNews
03-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/about/ See section "le réseau IFCN"
Laurent Bigot Assessor
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The "CheckNews" website has a page where it declares itself an IFCN signatory here;
https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/about/
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.
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.
Libération - CheckNews
03-Dec-2020 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Libération - CheckNews
23-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
Libération's chart of ethic doesn't explicitly mention it adheres to a correction policy, yet it mentions Libération must respect all deontologic rules of journalism. Hence, the policy correction is a deontological rules. Besides, CheckNews own chart does mention that the correction policy applies not only to CheckNews but to Libération in general. As you can see in the examples below, the policy is respected as all corrections are mentioned with a date and a precise explanation of the changes made to the articles, either at the beginning of the article or at the end, depending on the change.
Examples of corrections on a variety of topics:
https://www.liberation.fr/france/2020/09/28/les-elevages-de-visons-dans-le-viseur_1800738/
Laurent Bigot Assessor
12-Feb-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The parent media company of "CheckNews", called Liberation, has its own code of ethics.
https://www.liberation.fr/charte-ethique/
But it doesn't contains references to an honest and open corrections policy.
cancel 6.5 marked as Request change by Laurent Bigot.
Laurent Bigot Assessor
18-Apr-2021 (3 years ago) Updated: 3 years ago
The parent media company of "CheckNews", called Liberation, has its own code of ethics.
https://www.liberation.fr/charte-ethique/
It doesn't contains references to an honest and open corrections policy.
But CheckNews own chart does mention that the correction policy applies not only to CheckNews but to Libération in general. And Liberation gives examples of corrections on a variety of topics, all over its website.
Liberation should try to do its best in the coming year to include Checknews' correction policy in its general charter.