Organization: Maldita.es .
Applicant: Clara Jiménez Cruz
Assessor: Ramón Salaverría
Conclusion and recommendations
Ramón Salaverría wrote:
Apart from a minor deficiency detected in the accomplishment of criterion 6b (contrary to what it is required, the website does not have a public page listing all the corrections made), Maldita.es fully complies with the rest of criteria. Waiting for that small detail to be corrected, my recommendation to the board of IFCN is to ACCEPT.
Ramón Salaverría recommended Accept
Section 1: Organization
Criterion 1a
Proof of registration
Evidence required: Please provide evidence that the signatory is a legally-registered organization set up exclusively for the purpose of fact-checking or the distinct fact-checking project of a recognized media house or research institution.
Maldita.es .
12-May-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
We are non-profit association dedicated to fact-checking. We're currently registered under the name ASOCIACION MALDITA CONTRA L A DESINFORMACIÓN: PERIODISMO, EDUCACIÓN, INVESTIGACIÓN Y DATOS EN NUEVOS FORMATOS. We're registered in the Registro Nacional de Asociaciones: Sección: 1• 1 under the number 616385. Our Tax registration number is G88206487. We're currently in the process of becoming a Foundation.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
13-Jun-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
done_all 1a marked as Fully compliant by Ramón Salaverría.
Criterion 1b
Archive
Evidence required: Insert a link to the archive of fact checks published in the previous three months. If you do not collect all fact checks in one place, please explain how the fact-checking is conducted by your organization.
Maldita.es .
12-May-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
We divide our fact-checking operation in two different branches:
- Maldito Bulo, our debunking section: https://maldita.es/malditobulo/
- Maldito Dato, our political fact-checking section: https://maldita.es/malditodato/
Furthermore, we have sections for specific topics that we feel need attention, although any fact-check listed in them will also be in the general section:
- Maldita Ciencia: https://maldita.es/malditaciencia/
- Maldita Migración: https://migracion.maldita.es/
- Maldito Feminismo: https://feminismo.maldita.es/
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
13-Jun-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Throughout its specific topic sections devoted to fact-checking (Maldito Bulo, Maldito Dato, Maldita Ciencia, Maldita Migración...), Maldita.es publishes fact-checks based exclusively on their accuracy, about a wide range of topics and people. It does so on a regular basis: according to the assessment made of the last three months (March-May 2019), Maldita.es publishes on average 8-10 fact-checks per day (around 60 per week).
done_all 1b marked as Fully compliant by Ramón Salaverría.
Section 2: Nonpartisanship and Fairness
Criterion 2a
Body of work sample
Evidence required: Please share links to ten fact checks that better represent the scope and consistency of your fact-checking. Provide a short explanation of how your organization strives to maintain coherent standards across fact checks.
Maldita.es .
12-May-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
MALDITO BULO
We verify claims using the same standard for every piece. We do not concentrate our fact-checking on any one side, since we have a process in which we rank the viralization of disinformation according to its spread on social media together with the reports of our community. We follow the same process on every issue and search for the necessary data to debunk a piece of misinformation no matter who it may benefit. We do not take policy positions on the issues we fact-check. Here are some examples:
No, el partido animalista Pacma no “pide suprimir la carne de los menús escolares”
https://maldita.es/bulo/no-el-partido-pacma-no-pide-suprimir-la-carne-de-los-menus-escolares/
No hay pruebas de que PP, Ciudadanos y Vox hayan llegado a un pacto secreto que incluye bajar un 20% las pensiones en 2020 y un 10% en 2021 si ganan las elecciones
Pablo Iglesias y su discurso paródico que se mueve como real: cócteles Molotov contra la Guardia Civil
No hay pruebas de que Pedro Sánchez y Quim Torra hayan firmado “un acuerdo secreto” por el que Sánchez aceptará la independencia de Cataluña e indultará a los políticos catalanes presos si vuelve a ser presidente de España
No hay pruebas de que la Unión Europea forzará un referéndum pactado y vinculante con España de independencia de Cataluña si los partidos independentistas superan el 50% de representación del 28A
MALDITO DATO: We verify political claims using the same standards for every piece. We do not concentrate our fact-checking on any one side but do not generate a false balance either: we listen approximately to the same amount of time from each political party and publish only fact-checks which are false or need further context. Here are some examples:
Es falso que en España “la construcción cae un 25%” como dice Pablo Casado
Es falso que la figura de “líder de la oposición” esté regulada en el Congreso como dice Pablo Casado
Es falso que Casado dijera a Sánchez que tenía “las manos manchadas de sangre” como asevera el líder del PSOE
Es falso que el PSOE se opusiera a la comparecencia de Villarejo porque “está ahora mismo testificando en la Audiencia Nacional y está preso” como asegura Sánchez
Es falso que Albert Rivera sea «el único candidato que está diciendo claramente quién está en su preferencia de gobierno” como dice él mismo
Es falso que Ciudadanos “siempre que se abren las urnas” tenga más votos y “siempre” tenga “más votos de los que decían las encuestas” como asegura Inés Arrimadas
Es falso que Ábalos haya dicho que el PSOE prefiere llegar a un acuerdo “siempre con Ciudadanos” antes que con Podemos como afirma Pablo Iglesias
Es falso que España esté “a 8 puntos porcentuales de distancia en términos de justicia fiscal de la media europea” como dice Pablo Iglesias
Es falso que en Álava “no se puede escolarizar a los niños en español” como dice Santiago Abascal
Es falso que a partir de 2050 en Francia “el 50% de la población va a ser musulmana” como dice Santiago Abascal
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
13-Jun-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Since the beginning of its fact-checking service, in 2016, Maldito Bulo verifies messages of a wide variety of topics. That variety has increased since it transformation into Maldita.es. In 2019 it fact-checks public messages of all kind: from statements of politicians to social media hoaxes. It also verifies public statements in a number of topics, such as social issues, economics and environment. In front of all these issues, Maldita.es does not unduly concentrate on one side of the issu analyzed; on the contrary, it strives to provide unbiased and accountable information, in order to allow their users to get a clear and contextualized understanding of the issues.
done_all 2a marked as Fully compliant by Ramón Salaverría.
Criterion 2b
Nonpartisanship policy
Evidence required: Please share evidence of your policy preventing staff from direct involvement in political parties and advocacy organizations. Please also indicate the policy your organization has as a whole regarding advocacy and supporting political candidates.
Maldita.es .
12-May-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
We have a public neutrality policy that can be checked here: https://maldita.es/politica-de-neutralidad/
"At Maldita.es we believe that the neutrality and non-partisanship of the journalistic contents that we carry out is essential to maintain our credibility and the trust of our community.
Therefore, although members of our team can participate in social and political events individually, they will never do so in the name of Maldita.es.
We understand that, as members of civil society, team members can take sides on political issues as long as they do so on their behalf and not on behalf of the the organization. In addition, if a member of the team accepts some type of position within a political party that would mean their immediate disengagement from the project.
In the same way, if there is a conflict of interest between a member of the team and a journalistic issue, that member would be separated from the management of that specific topic to protect the honesty and credibility of the contents of Maldita.es."
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
13-Jun-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Maldita.es does not, in any way, advocate in favor or against any political party or candidate. It has a sound Neutrality Policy that enforces team members to leave the project in case they accept some type of position within a political party. Also, if there is a conflict of interest between a member of the team and a news story to be fact-checked, that member will be removed from the management of that specific issue. That information is publicly disclosed and available for all visitors of Maldita.es.
done_all 2b marked as Fully compliant by Ramón Salaverría.
Section 3: Transparency of Sources
Criterion 3a
Sources Policy
Please share a brief and public explanation (500 words max) of how sources are provided in enough detail that readers could replicate the fact check. If you have a public policy on how you find and use sources for your fact-checking, it should be shared here.
Maldita.es .
12-May-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Maldita.es publishes and links the sources of the data used to fact-check political statements or disinformation. We do so in a way that allows the audience to see how the fact-check has been categorized and on what it is based. All our sources have to be public and on the record and we can only use off the record information for our personal context but not to back up a fact-check. If we have proof of communications with a press office or an institution we will publish it (for example, an e-mail with a press office).
The transparency of sources gives credibility, not only to the fact-check itself, but also to the process followed to carry it out. Also, it allows that if a mistake has been made our community can spot it our and ask for a correction.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
13-Jun-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Maldita.es consistently backs its fact-checks with numerous and diverse links to reliable sources of data, so that the readers can check by themselves the truthfulness of the analyses. Off-the-record or non-attributed content is never used to back fact-checks.
done_all 3a marked as Fully compliant by Ramón Salaverría.
Section 4: Transparency of Funding & Organization
Criterion 4a
Funding Sources
Evidence required: Please link to the section where you publicly list your sources of funding (including, if they exist, any rules around which types of funding you do or don't accept), or a statement on ownership if you are the branch of an established media organization or research institution.
Maldita.es .
12-May-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
13-Jun-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Maldita.es is a not-for-profit association that in 2019 is in process of becoming a Foundation. On its website it discloses updated and easy-to-access information about its funding and spending schemes.
done_all 4a marked as Fully compliant by Ramón Salaverría.
Criterion 4b
Staff
Evidence required: Please link to the section detailing all authors and key actors behind your fact-checking project with their biographies. You can also list the name and bios of the members of the editorial board, pool of experts, advisory board, etc. if your organization has those.
Maldita.es .
12-May-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
13-Jun-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Maldita.es provides detailed, clear and easy-to-reach information about its board and staff members, including their short bios.
done_all 4b marked as Fully compliant by Ramón Salaverría.
Criterion 4c
Contact
Evidence required: Please link to the section where readers can get in touch with the organization.
Maldita.es .
12-May-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
All our strategy as an organization is related with talking back and forth with our audience. They can reach our to us on social media (where all our messages are open and accesible); they can write to us through WhatsApp; they can send us direct e-mails (which are listed within the methodology but also at the bottom of the webpage); they can write to us on our App and they can also reach out through our plug-in.
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
13-Jun-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Commited to interact with their users, Maldita.es prioritizes communication with the audience through different means, such as a contact forms, different social media platforms, WhatsApp, and staff members' emails, which are openly disclosed. In addition, users are invited to send their fact-checking proposals, through a specific section called La Buloteca.
done_all 4c marked as Fully compliant by Ramón Salaverría.
Section 5: Transparency of Methodology
Criterion 5a
Detailed Methodology
Evidence required: Please link to a section or article detailing the steps you follow for your fact-checking work.
Maldita.es .
12-May-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Maldito Bulo's methodology: https://maldita.es/metodologia-de-maldito-bulo/
Maldito Dato's methodology: https://maldita.es/metodologia-de-maldito-dato/
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
13-Jun-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Maldita.es's fact-checking methodology is sound and reliable, consistently applied and clearly disclosed on its website. Furthermore, it uses specific methodologies depending on the content to be fact-checked: a methodology to debunk hoaxes and another methodology to check data.
done_all 5a marked as Fully compliant by Ramón Salaverría.
Criterion 5b
Claim submissions
Evidence required: Please link to the page or process through which readers can submit claims to fact-check. If you do not allow this, please briefly explain why.
Maldita.es .
12-May-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
They can reach our to us on social media (where all our messages are open and accesible); they can write to us through WhatsApp; they can send us direct e-mails (which are listed within the methodology but also at the bottom of the webpage); they can write to us on our App and they can also reach out through our plug-in. We actively encourage our audience to submit disinformation and political claims for fact-checking as you can see here:
- https://twitter.com/MalditoDato/status/1090530822153781248
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
13-Jun-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Maldita.es allows users to send claims and corrections through different means of contact, including an app and a plug-in. As indicated in the assessment of criterion 4c, it even has a section, called La Buloteca, where it actively invites users to contribute with their ideas, supposed hoaxes and suggested topics to be fact-checked.
done_all 5b marked as Fully compliant by Ramón Salaverría.
Section 6: Open & Honest Corrections Policy
Criterion 6a
Corrections policy
Evidence required: Please link to the page with your policy to address corrections. If it is not public, please share your organization's handbook.
Maldita.es .
12-May-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
13-Jun-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Maldita.es publicly discloses a brief Correction policy, which is sound and allows users to detect easily the corrected fact-checks. Nonetheless, this policy could be somewhat expanded and improved; for instance, by adding a compromise to responding to the claims in a relatively short period of time.
done_all 6a marked as Fully compliant by Ramón Salaverría.
Criterion 6b
Examples of corrections
Evidence required: Please provide two examples of a correction made, or correction requests handled, in the past year.
Maldita.es .
12-May-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Ramón Salaverría Assessor
13-Jun-2019 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Maldita.es alerts readers about their corrections by adding an asterisc (*) to the headlines, which leads to an update or correction note in the bottom of the text. However, it does not fully comply with the requirements of this criterion, as it lacks a public page listing all the corrections made. We kindly invite Maldita.es to amend this minor deficiency.