Organization: NUnl
Applicant: NUcheckt
Assessor: Margot Susca
Edits made by the organization after this assessment
IFCN Staff wrote:
The organization has listed its ownership in the about section: https://www.nu.nl/colofon.html
It has also added short biographies of the staff working on the project: https://www.nu.nl/blog/4930679/redacteuren-dagelijks-factchecken-nunl.html available from the main page of the project https://www.nu.nl/nucheckt
Compliance for criteria (4a) and (4b) is now considered “complete”.
Conclusion and recommendations
Margot Susca wrote:
Nu.nl clearly follows the Bordeaux Code, which was first adopted in 1954 by the International Federation of Journalists, and sets guidelines on journalistic independence and fairness and accuracy in reporting. It further explains: “NU.nl brings objective and independent news, without political or philosophical coloring or commercial interference, coupled with financially sound operation, to ensure continuity and expansion.”
However, the information provided for the section on Transparency of Funding & Organization needs further explanation. In its application, nu.nl links to its masthead/departments and its owner (Sanoma Digital) posted online but that section does not provide explicit details addressing the core directive which sets to provide readers with an understanding of its ownership/funding structure. One may link on the Sanoma name at the bottom of the page and then is taken to its website so perhaps that is enough to give compliance here.
Further, although nu.nl provides a lengthy list of contacts by area and department, bios are not listed for its staff there.
Margot Susca recommended Accept with edits
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.
NUnl
20-Sep-2017 (7 years ago)
Sanoma Media Netherlands (for further info: http://www.sanoma.nl)
Margot Susca Assessor
20-Sep-2017 (7 years ago)
The signatory is an established fact-checking organization or section. It has produced an average of one fact-check per week or more over the past three weeks.
done_all 1a marked as Fully compliant by Margot Susca.
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.
NUnl
20-Sep-2017 (7 years ago)
Margot Susca Assessor
20-Sep-2017 (7 years ago)
The signatory has published an average of at least one fact-check per week over the past three months.
done_all 1b marked as Fully compliant by Margot Susca.
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.
NUnl
20-Sep-2017 (7 years ago)
2. http://www.nu.nl/nucheckt/4838309/nucheckt-kan-cannabisolie-kanker-genezen.html
4. http://www.nu.nl/nucheckt/4818174/nucheckt-eieren-autos-van-vakantiegangers-gooien-als-rooftruc.html
5. http://www.nu.nl/nucheckt/4814706/nucheckt-bleekt-tandenpoetsen-met-kurkuma-gebit.html
6. http://www.nu.nl/nucheckt/4812849/nucheckt-redde-australische-vrouw-spin-grootte-van-hond-.html
7. http://www.nu.nl/nucheckt/4812849/nucheckt-redde-australische-vrouw-spin-grootte-van-hond-.html
8. http://www.nu.nl/nucheckt/4806744/nucheckt-twee-mannen-in-marokko-gedood-omdat-ze-seks-hadden.html
9. http://www.nu.nl/nucheckt/4796310/nucheckt-kan-speciaal-dieet-kanker-binnen-weken-genezen.html
10. http://www.nu.nl/nucheckt/4798653/nucheckt-kokosolie-ongezond-en-slecht-cholesterol.html
Short explanation: Each article always begins with allegation and judgment. Followed by origin, description of our research and comprehensive conclusion. Evidence dictates conclusions, we do not take a position on the topic, sources are transparent and a second editor is always double checking.
Margot Susca Assessor
20-Sep-2017 (7 years ago)
The signatory fact-checks claims made by all relevant sides in its chosen topic or field, the assessment of “relevance” taking account of both (a) the significance of the claim for society if it is unchecked, and (b) the reach or potential reach of the claim. It assesses all claims using the same standards.
done_all 2a marked as Fully compliant by Margot Susca.
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.
NUnl
20-Sep-2017 (7 years ago)
All our editors work according to the journalistic principles of editorial independence, objectivity and reliability, as laid down in the Bordeaux Code --> http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_van_Bordeaux. In the attachment by e-mail our statute (in Dutch).
Margot Susca Assessor
20-Sep-2017 (7 years ago)
The organizataion follows the Bordeaux Code which articulates rules for editorial independence.
done_all 2b marked as Fully compliant by Margot Susca.
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.
NUnl
20-Sep-2017 (7 years ago)
Our readers must be able to check our sources themselves. In the published articles we give enough details to do so. We share links from websites of our sources, we explain why we consulted a particular expert on the topic. We do not have a published public policy, but again we work according to the Bordeaux Code.
Margot Susca Assessor
20-Sep-2017 (7 years ago)
In the signatory’s reports, key sources are always clearly referenced and/or linked to in a manner that readers, viewers or listeners can easily understand and replicate the fact check if they wish.
done_all 3a marked as Fully compliant by Margot Susca.
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.
NUnl
20-Sep-2017 (7 years ago)
Sanoma Media Netherlands B.V. is part of the listed Sanoma Group, a media and education company that provides information and entertainment for millions of people in many European countries.
Margot Susca Assessor
20-Sep-2017 (7 years ago) Updated: 6 years ago
The organization has listed its ownership in the about section: https://www.nu.nl/colofon.html
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In the case of the fact-checking section of a media house or research organisation, the signatory lists its owner but offers no further details on funding.
In the case of a standalone fact-checking organization there is a section on it website giving general information on funding but there is not a breakdown of sources of funding accounting for 5% or more of total funding, and no overview of spending or indication of the form in which the organization is registered.
done_all 4a marked as Fully compliant by Margot Susca.
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.
NUnl
20-Sep-2017 (7 years ago)
Margot Susca Assessor
20-Sep-2017 (7 years ago) Updated: 6 years ago
The organization has also added short biographies of the staff working on the project: https://www.nu.nl/blog/4930679/redacteuren-dagelijks-factchecken-nunl.html available from the main page of the project https://www.nu.nl/nucheckt
--
The names of the signatory’s authors and key actors are listed on its site but not their biographies.
done_all 4b marked as Fully compliant by Margot Susca.
Criterion 4c
Contact
Evidence required: Please link to the section where readers can get in touch with the organization.
NUnl
20-Sep-2017 (7 years ago)
Margot Susca Assessor
20-Sep-2017 (7 years ago)
The signatory actively invites readers to reach out. The medium for doing so is obvious.
done_all 4c marked as Fully compliant by Margot Susca.
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.
NUnl
20-Sep-2017 (7 years ago)
Margot Susca Assessor
20-Sep-2017 (7 years ago)
The signatory’s website provides a step-by-step explanation of its methodology.
done_all 5a marked as Fully compliant by Margot Susca.
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.
NUnl
20-Sep-2017 (7 years ago)
Margot Susca Assessor
20-Sep-2017 (7 years ago)
The signatory’s website provides a dedicated section/call for action that explains to readers how to send claims and which claims can be fact-checked.
done_all 5b marked as Fully compliant by Margot Susca.
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.
NUnl
20-Sep-2017 (7 years ago)
Margot Susca Assessor
20-Sep-2017 (7 years ago)
The signatory’s website has a clear, transparent corrections policy.
done_all 6a marked as Fully compliant by Margot Susca.
Criterion 6b
Examples of corrections
Evidence required: Please provide two examples of a correction made, or correction requests handled, in the past year.
NUnl
20-Sep-2017 (7 years ago)
In our work as fact checkers we have not yet come across a correction request. However, at NU.nl we have a close relationship with our readers. They can respond directly to each article, and then be in direct contact with our so called NUjij editors. When a fix is necessary, we'll fix the error.
Margot Susca Assessor
20-Sep-2017 (7 years ago)
Examples of its implementation are provided in the application.