All the information regarding transparency, property, sustainability, work team, codes, and protocols, as well as the Organization’s legal status is provided in the “Who We Are” tab, available on the “home” page:

https://www.agenciaocote.com/quienes-somos/#:~:text=Ocote%20es%20un%20medio%20de,encuentros%20entre%20la%20ciudadan%C3%ADa%20centroamericana.

https://www.agenciaocote.com/

Additionally, to ensure readers’ access to all the information, the Who We Are section of Fáctica provides an explanation of everything concerning the Organization’s legal situation and the connection of this project with the medium:

“What is Fáctica and Who Is Involved?”

https://www.agenciaocote.com/blog/2019/03/15/que-y-quien-es-factica/

Founded in March 2019, Agencia Ocote is an independent media organization in Guatemala, which has a unit called Factica, dedicated to verifying public discourse and fact-checking. As required, the applicant provides on its website (on the 'About us' page [Quiénes somos]) detailed information on its origin, ownership, business structure and sources of finance.

 1. When and why was your fact-checking operation started?

Fáctica was launched along with Ocote, a communications medium, on March 18, 2019. It was the first fact-checking project launched in Guatemala, with a methodology, regularity, and staff engaged in the verification of information. Fáctica is a permanent project at Ocote, and it is part of its programmatic line covering the media and citizenry. With Fáctica, we seek to improve the quality of public discourse and build a critical audience by verifying discourses, fact-checking, detecting fake news, promoting media literacy, and fighting disinformation. At the beginning, before it was launched, we received support and advice from Chequeado in conceptualizing and developing our rankings. In addition, Fáctica’s Editor (journalist at the time) was in Buenos Aires to acquire the skills.

Since then, Ocote continues to be the only continuous and consistent verification and fact-checking project in Guatemala that applies the methodology and collaborates with other media and information literacy efforts.

Ocote’s Fáctica is part of #LatamChequea and has an active participation in its projects and collaboration networks.

On the other hand, Ocote is a communications medium founded in Guatemala in March 2019 and is led mostly by women. It is devoted to a journalistic activity with a cultural and critical insight to encourage the reflection, discussion, and coming together of citizens in Central America. It develops multidisciplinary projects associated to journalism, academia, and art.

2. How many people work or volunteer in the organization and what are their roles?

The staff working at Ocote is comprised by 19 members (all of them are part of the team of paid employees): One Director and Editorial Coordinator; one Administrative and Financial Manager; one Creative Coordinator; one Institutional Coordinator; one Community and Audiences Coordinator; two Editors; six Journalists; one Designer; one Community Manager; one Developer/Technologist; one Sound Editor; one Administrative Assistant; and one Accountant.

A total of ten staff members are directly engaged in the Fáctica project: 1. The Director and Editorial Coordinator; the Financial Manager; the Creative Coordinator – who is constantly seeking for other ways, languages, and platforms to convey the information – the Institutional Coordinator – who is in charge of fundraising and relations with other media – the Community and Audiences Coordinator – who is in charge of strategic planning and follow up on the communication and development of audiences – one Editor – who is in charge of the journalistic editing of Fáctica notes; two Journalists – one permanent staff (this position was created in 2019 and is in charge of verification and research regarding disinformation) and one engaged in fact-checking (provisional position created for La Linterna project) – one Developer; one Community Manager; one Administrative Assistant; and one Accountant.

The discussions on fact-checking, planning, etc., are held during editorial team meetings. And the rest of the team takes part in the live fact-checking events we carry out at least twice a year.

3. What different activities does your organization carry out?

Ocote is based in Guatemala, but we strive for a regional perspective and coverage. We narrate reality from different standpoints: a dialog between journalism, art, and social sciences. We address issues related to women and diversity, the media, historical memory and justice, culture, and the environment. We also produce audio journalism pieces in Radio Ocote Podcast, we engage in the verification of public speech and fact-checking through Fáctica, and investigative journalism in partnership with other media. Our main themes are organized in Programmatic Lines. We address our themes through an intersectional approach, in which we conduct a cross-cutting analysis of events.

Women, gender, diversity, feminism, and masculinity. [La Cocina Lab]

Verification and fact-checking. [Fáctica]

Historical memory and transitional justice. [Sincrónica]

Culture. [La rocola]

Environment. [#OcoteVerde]

Investigations and collaborative journalism. [#JuntarFuego]

Audio journalism. [#RadioOcote]

At Fáctica, 1) we release weekly publications; 2) we conduct live verifications – during the annual presidential address or electoral debates; 3) we produce La Luciérnaga [The Firefly] – a project to conduct checks in Mayan languages (an audio broadcasting project we released for COVID-19, and for which we are trying to get funding, so we can continue broadcasting via community radios.); 4) we conduct media and information literacy trainings, in which we talk about disinformation and fighting it; we hold workshops on “The Method” (the Fáctica verification method) for other media and organizations – i.e., under contract – and we deliver open workshops for our audiences. In March 2023, we launched La Linterna [The Flashlight], the first collaborative fact-checking project in Guatemala. It is coordinated by Ocote and involves four additional media – which are engaging in fact-checking for the first time and joining the fight against disinformation.

4. What are the goals of your fact-checking operation over the coming year?

This is an electoral year in Guatemala, thus we will focus our efforts on providing electoral checks with La Linterna, but we will continue checking facts on other issues, such as those concerning health, women, and diversity.

We expect to have funding to conduct fact-checking for our audio spots in Mayan languages to be disseminated via WhatsApp, Facebook, and community radios.

In addition, we are taking part in a project led by Chequeado on Disarming Disinformation.

Another one of our goals is obtaining ICFN validation, which will allow us to mobilize other type of funding and find new venues for collaboration. So far, we had not done this owing to the lack of time, but from the beginning we adopted their criteria for our operation.

As requested, Agencia Ocote has provided detailed information about:

1. The date (March 18, 2019) and the reasons why this fact-checking operation started. The fact-checking unit Fáctica was launched on the same day that Agencia Ocote. Before the fact-checking unit was launched, the applicant requested support and advice from the Argentinean Chequeado, the most experienced fact-checking organization in Latn America, in order to develop a reliable fact-cheking service. 

2. The size (19 professionals) and roles of the team of Agencia Ocote: 1 Director and Editorial Coordinator; 1 Administrative and Financial Manager; 1 Creative Coordinator; 1 Institutional Coordinator; 1 Community and Audiences Coordinator; 2 Editors; 6 Journalists; 1 Designer; 1 Community Manager; 1 Developer/Technologist; 1 Sound Editor; 1 Administrative Assistant; and 1 Accountant. Although the applicant does not indicate how many of them are directly involved in the fact-checking activities of Fáctica, the information provided is considered sufficient.

3. The specific activities carried out by Fáctica, the fact-checking unit of the applicant. These activities include: 1) a weekly release of publications; 2) live fact-checking during the annual presidential address or electoral debates; 3) a fact-checking project developed in indigenous languages; 4) media and information literacy trainings, and 5) the first collaborative fact-checking project in Guatemala, which, together with Ocote, involves four additional mediaorganizations.

4. The goals that this organization is pursuing in the forthcoming year, which are focused on performing electoral fact-checks, while covering other issues, such as health, gender, and diversity. The applicant also plans to conduct fact-checking in Mayan languages, as well as participating in a joint project led by Chequeado.

In the last 6 months we had an average of 2.6 posts per week. Since our launch four years ago, we have had an average of 89 notes per year. An approximate of 1.7 weekly publications.

The applicant has presented evidence of 66 of fact-checks performed and published over the period of six months considered for this assessment (Jan. 2023 - Jun. 2023). This means that, on average, it published more than two fact-checks a week. Althought in the six-month period assessed there were a couple of weeks when no fact-checks were published, the overall judgment is positive.

Note: The information is in spanish, if you require a translation let us know.

To assess this criterion the 26 fact-checks published by the applicant from April to June 2023 were considered. As needed, more than three quarters of the fact checks published over this three-month period focused on claims related to issues that related to or could had an impact on the welfare or well-being of individuals, the general public or society in Guatemala. Although most of the fact-checks were focused on political issues, something logical that 2023 is an electoral year in Guatemala, there were also articles covering topics such as education, economy, health, and public transportation.

Ocote (as the digital media, from Asociación Ocote -an NGO-) have a policy not to accept funding from the Government of Guatemala, nor from any political party. Agencia Ocote, S.A. (a private company that provides the medium with funding), does not provide services to the government, political parties, the extractive industry, security firms, nor to companies engaged in the sale of arms and weapons, nor to anyone that could have a conflict with the interests of the medium. As Asociación Ocote, we receive funding from international organizations, such as: Seattle International Foundation, Foundation for a Just Society, Central American Women's Fund (Oak Foundation), Planned Parenthood, Institute for War & Peace Reporting. There is no relationship as defined and explained in the Who We Are tab on our website.

An  Affidavit document an the list of the board are attached.

According to the information provided to this assessment, Agencia Ocote does not have any commercial, financial and/or institutional relationships with the Guatemalan state, politicians or political parties over the year assessed. This circumstance is also disclosed in its 'About us' page (Quiénes somos).

Not applicable.

Agencia Ocote declares that it does not receive funding from any foreign political organizations or states. Besides that, Agencia Ocote sets out a detailed Code of Ethics (Código Ético) where it requests all workers to work "with editorial independence from political, economic, religious or any other powers that seek to influence the free and responsible professional practice of journalism."

Examples of verification of the current government, religious affairs and the various parties of the current campaign are included.

As requested, Agencia Ocote has demonstrated sufficiently its non-partisanship by providing ten examples of fact-checks to political leaders and parties from all the political spectrum in Guatemala. The applicant has fact-checked under the same standards claims from political leaders from right to left-wing parties (VAMOS, UNE, CABAL, CAMBIO, FCN...).

At Fáctica and its derivative projects (such as La Linterna), we seek a balance in verifications, in a way that there will be no bias in the selection of checks or discourses to be fact-checked. Our method sets indicators a content or statement must meet to be verifiable. Additionally, we try to prevent any imbalance as follows:

1. All members of the team engaged in fact-checking must be acquainted with the verification method; the requirements for a material to be verifiable must be analyzed; the issue must be of public interest and with a high level of virality; etc.

2. Our Code of Ethics establishes that team members cannot actively take part in a political party or organization; if they do, they shall disclose it to the Organization, so they will not be assigned an issue on which they have a conflict of interest.

3. We have systematized social media monitoring, where we analyze disinformations circulating the web; they are entered into a database and are assessed in an editorial team meeting. When there are disinformations circulating the web that have gone viral and could affect the population or some groups of people, immediate checks are carried out.

4. We keep track of our verifications through a database, where we enter each fact checked. Should the check be conducted on a politician or political party, we record it to ensure an equitable verification of contents.

5. We keep our communication channels, social networks, messaging Apps (WhatsApp and Telegram), and email open for our audiences to send us questions or share with us disinformations that have reached them.

https://www.agenciaocote.com/codigo-etico/

https://www.agenciaocote.com/blog/2019/03/15/que-y-quien-es-factica/

Agencia Ocote’s Code of Ethics

It is based on the Framework Code of Ethics of the Guatemalan Media Ethics Network.

Agencia Ocote subscribed to the Framework Code of Ethics for Guatemalan Media of the Ethics Network in March 2020. It has adopted the 19 Articles as the basis to develop its own code, which is continuously being evaluated and reviewed. Agencia Ocote undertakes to use the code as a guide in its operations. All staff working for the organization – including freelancers and consultants – shall be informed about it and will commit to observe the parameters set in the code in the performance of their activities. By signing the Framework Code, Agencia Ocote undertakes to provide information to the “Guatemalan Media Ethics Network” regarding the follow-up procedures it deems relevant.

Our purpose is pursuing rigorous journalism, complying with our duty to inform, and facing the challenge of overcoming all kinds of obstacles, without neglecting ethical standards, to satisfy the citizens’ right to know.

We defend and promote freedom of expression and opinion, as well as the right to access information, which are core elements of all the freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Constitution of the Republic, and the Expression of Thought Act.

We work maintaining editorial independence from political, economic, religious, or any other powers intending to influence the free and responsible exercise of professional journalism.

These standards shall guide our work and will be applied in all spaces where we publish, including social media and any platform:

1. We respect the privacy and intimacy of any individual, which we do not regard as newsworthy, unless public interest prevails. At Agencia Ocote, by public interest we mean all the information that may have an impact on the economic, social, and political system (both in the public and private sector), and about which society has a right to know to make decisions.

2. We exercise and respect the right to keep a source confidential (to protect confidentiality and identity) and to professional secrecy, without compromising the truthfulness and accuracy of facts. No note shall be reviewed or approved by the source.

3. We always make a clear distinction between spaces containing opinions and information to avoid misunderstandings or misconceptions.

3.1. Additionally, we identify the genre and type of information published, which includes informative journalism, opinions, academic research, and artistic creations, to avoid any confusion among the audiences.

4. If a journalistic piece includes erroneous or inaccurate data, we correct them as soon as possible.

4.1. Agencia Ocote follows its Corrections Policy.

5. Information is verified prior to publication and sources are cross-checked in the case of journalistic pieces.

6. Information on suicides is released in the case of publicly relevant people or social facts of general interest or in relation to public health.

7. We do not publish rumors as if they were information. The information we publish is verified and supported by reliable and relevant personal, institutional, or documentary sources.

8. When we consult sources with limited involvement with journalists, we inform and warn them of the possible implications their statements or inputs may have.

9. We pay special attention to children and other people who may or may not be aware of the impact of their statements. In the case of the former, when publishing an interview or something similar, we must obtain consent from parents or responsible adults.

9.1. We, the journalists at Agencia Ocote, follow our specific protocol for the protection of children.

10. To gather information, we do not resort to journalistic practices such as pretending to be someone else, hiding our professional activity, or blackmailing. Also, we do not record audios without authorization, nor use hidden cameras, unless it is impossible to gather the information otherwise and we are dealing with a matter of public interest.

11. We do not pay to obtain information.

11.1. In exceptional cases, in which certain documentation, for instance, has an exceptional informative value and it is impossible to gain access to it otherwise, we will ponder the appropriateness of paying for it. We will not pay sources for their statements or information.

11.2. In certain cases, where the source requires to travel or join journalists on a field trip, we will consider paying them travel expenses for meals, fuel, and other costs they might incur.

12. We always try to use inclusive language. We try to avoid mentioning concepts that could contribute to spread hate speeches regarding religious, social, ethnic, nationality, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or other issues, unless necessary to reveal an intolerant or criminal conduct.

13. We publish the names of local or foreign, public or private entities or individuals contributing to the support of our media. When we receive grants to cover specific issues, the information shall be disclosed in a visible spot of the journalistic piece to ensure transparency to our audience.

14. We do not use our status as journalists – or as Agencia Ocote staff – to seek personal gain and it is advisable not to maintain close relations with sources interested in influencing our media or professional practice. We do not accept gifts of significant value, payments, or perks of any kind.

15. We are against plagiarism, and we do not replicate external quotes, images, documents, audios, and videos as our own. We always credit the author and authorization of whomever has produced them.

16. We respect the dignity of victims, and we avoid further victimization.

17. We undertake to specify whether an article published in our medium is an advertisement for which we are receiving a payment.

18. We commit to regularly monitor the fulfillment of these standards and to secure the channels to provide attention to our audiences, which shall aim to address any flaws in our journalistic work.

19. Our directory is public as a transparency measure to our audience.

20. All members of the Agencia Ocote staff have the right and are free to join a political party, organization, or association if desired – after reflecting upon the responsibility it entails – but their active involvement or participation as a candidate for election to public office, or posting propaganda (on social media, public events, etc.) is forbidden. Should a person decide to participate as a candidate for election to public office, he/she shall withdraw from the Organization. If a journalist is affiliated with a political party, organization, or association, he/she shall disclose it to the Editorial Director, who shall assess the appropriateness of having this individual covering issues related to his/her affiliation.

21. Opinion columns (Subjetividades [Subjectivities]), except in special cases – with the authors’ agreement – shall not undergo Ocote’s journalistic editing process; however, their authors commit to verify all the information published and to make no statement that undermines the rights of others or that incites to hatred or violence. We shall apply the same correction parameters used in other journalistic articles.

*All the items marked with an asterisk and in italics were added by Agencia Ocote. The background document of the Guatemalan Media Ethics Network will not be modified and Ocote shall add the articles it deems appropriate (entering the date in which they were added).

**This code can add articles or make amendments to those added by the Organization and they shall be included in the document.

*The Framework Code (March 2020) was the result of the initiative taken by a group of journalists and communicators who were involved in the Media Self-regulation Program organized by Swedish cooperation and different journalist organizations. The Director of Agencia Ocote, in consultation with Ocote’s editorial office, took part in its discussion and creation processes.

*All staff members shall sign a copy of this code when joining Ocote and shall commit to comply with it.https://www.agenciaocote.com/blog/2019/03/15/metodo-factica/

In a first round of assessment of this criterion, the applicant was invited to make the changes detailed below:

Although the applicant has a sound Code of Ethics and Corrections Policy, which establish principles of professional performance of high standards for its journalists, it does not provide on its website a detailed explanation of its fact-checking methodology. It does not explain, for example, how claims to check are selected and how the fact-checking is performed. As a matter of fact, in its ‘About us' page (Quiénes somos) the applicant has a link to the 'Fáctica method' (Método Fáctica), but this points to the Code of Ethics instead of a permanent page explaining the fact-checking methodology.

In order for this criterion to be assessed as compliant, the applicant is kindly invited to provide such information on their website, disclosing clearly its fact-checking methodology.

The applicant has made necessary edits to its website in response to our request, ensuring clear accessibility to its fact-checking methodology. Website users can now locate this explanation conveniently in the top menu under "Fáctica > Método Fáctica." These edits have resulted in a favorable evaluation of this criterion.

No comments, yet.

After a random review of a number of fact-checks published over the previous year (Jul. 2022 - Jun. 2023), no evidences have been found of any commercial interest that might influence the fact-checking activity of Agencia Ocote.

No comments, yet

After a random review of a number of fact-checks published over the previous year (Jul. 2022 - Jun. 2023), no evidences have been found of any political interest that might influence the fact-checking activity of Agencia Ocote.

https://www.agenciaocote.com/blog/2019/03/15/que-y-quien-es-factica/https://www.agenciaocote.com/quienes-somos/#:~:text=Ocote%20es%20un%20medio%20de,encuentros%20entre%20la%20ciudadan%C3%ADa%20centroamericana.

Fáctica and Agencia Ocote share the same vision on sustainability and transparency. To attain higher levels of journalistic independence and team stability, it has a mixed and diversified income model.

Ocote has been legally created as a non-for-profit association (Asociación Ocote) and as a limited liability company (Agencia Ocote, S.A.). Both entities allow it the flexibility to mobilize funding in two specific ways: Firstly, the development and management of its projects through donations and funding from organizations, foundations, associations, and readers sharing Ocote’s goals and values. Secondly, as a company providing communication and advisory services, workshops, and marketing some products generated by Ocote (books and audiovisual and promotional material.)

At its launch (March 2019), Ocote entered into a partnership with the Guatemalan digital medium Nómada, which covered its launch phase and the first six fact-checking months, which coincided with the 2019 elections in Guatemala. Both organizations signed an agreement that entailed a financial contribution by Nómada, as well as journalistic advisory and a publishing and dissemination partnership, while Ocote designed, conceptualized, coordinated, conducted, and was in charge of the journalistic management of Fáctica. The funding provided by Nómada over the first six months of the project came from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). Nómada’s (and NED’s) funding ended in September 2019, and the partnership with Nómada ended on November 25, 2019.

As of September 2019, Agencia Ocote (through Asociación Ocote) has received funding from Planned Parenthood.

Additionally, Fáctica benefits from the funds for institutional strengthening and journalistic capacity building, as well as operational funds granted to Asociación Ocote by the Oak Foundation (through the Central American Women's Fund), from Foundation for a Just Society.

Ocote is continuously searching for funders or partners who seek the production of contents to promote the improvement of public speech and the generation of critical audiences.

Fáctica is part of LatamChequea, the Latin American fact-checking network.

In March 2023, Ocote launched La Linterna [The Flashlight], a collaborative project, unprecedented in Guatemala, for electoral fact-checking, which brings together five communications media: ConCriterio, elPeriódico, No-Ficción , and Ojoconmipisto, coordinated by Ocote. This media partnership aims at conducting useful and rigorous journalism to encourage a critical citizenry that can make better informed decisions. La Linterna is funded, driven, and advised by the Consortium to Support Independent Journalism in the Region (CAPIR, its Spanish initials) of the Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR).

Dissemination Platforms: With a transmedia undertaking, Ocote strives for its contents to be disseminated on diverse platforms and different languages. On the web, we publish our articles in agenciaocote.com and on Fáctica’s social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), as well as our messaging services (WhatsApp, Telegram +502 5562-5547). We seek collaboration and re-posting partnerships with other communications media.

Methodology: The Ocote team studied and analyzed some of the world’s leading benchmarks for fact-checking, it designed its own method, and created its own ranking. They are based on international best practice parameters. Our method shall be under continuous evaluation and review to ensure as much stringency and effectiveness as possible.

Audiences: Fáctica is a scalable project launched in Guatemala in 2019. It has generated its own audience development strategies. It reaches the same audience as the medium (mostly urban population with access to internet, from Guatemala, and a secondary audience in the United States). With La Luciérnaga [The Firefly] (2021), an audio format project for fact-checking in Mayan languages, it has expanded its audience to rural and indigenous populations in Guatemala. La Luciérnaga received support from Chequeado and the Google Initiative. Ocote remains committed to work on the continuity of this project. In 2023, Ocote became the coordinator of the first collaborative verification project in Guatemala to fact-check the 2023 elections, and it expands its audiences along with those of the partner media producing and disseminating contents.

Agencia Ocote’s Fáctica team

• General and Editorial Coordinator: Alejandra Gutiérrez Valdizán

• Editor: Carmen Quintela Babío

• Senior Journalist, Editor, and Special Projects Coordinator: Alex Maldonado

• Fáctica / La Linterna Journalist: Christian Gutiérrez

• Designer, Illustrator, and Infographist: Óscar Donado

• Community and Audiences Coordinator: Ixmucané Us Ixtabalán

• Community and Audiences Manager: Ana Lucía García Cabrera

• Creative Coordinator: Julio Serrano Echeverría

• Administrative and Financial Manager: Judith Tophttps://www.agenciaocote.com/codigo-etico/

The applicant sets out a Code of Ethics (Código de Ética), compulsory for all staff members. The article 20 of this Code says that "all the personnel that work in Agencia Ocote have the freedom and the right to join a political party, organization or association, if they so wish -having reflected on the responsibility that this entails-; but, their active militancy or their participation in an elected position, or propaganda (on social networks, at public events, etc.) is not allowed. If the person decided to participate in a position of popular election; he will have to retire from the organization. The journalist who is affiliated with a party, organization or association must inform the editorial management, which will evaluate the convenience of this person covering issues related to their affiliation". These provisions are deemed to meet the nonpartisan criterion.

No comments, yetc.

After a random review of a number of fact-checks published over the previous months, the use of links to back fact-checks found in Agencia Ocote's Fáctica is deemed sufficient and adequate. These resources allow users to easily verify by themselves the relevant information published.

No comments yet.

According to the assessor's knowledge, the sources used by Agencia Ocote to back fact-checks are sufficiently diversified, relevant and sound. They are often media sources (both national and foreign), as well as publications on social networks, but when the news requires it, they also include academic, corporate and public sources.

After a random review of a number of fact-checks published over the six months prior to this assessment (Jan. - Jun. 2023), no unduly concentration in any specific sources has been detected in Agencia Ocote.

No comments yet. See the compilation of publications, please.

No examples have been found of cases where Agencia Ocote's Fáctica has contextualized the sources used to back its fact-checks, explaining why some sources have been used instead of others. The sources used by the applicant are free-access and reliable, so that readers can conclude the interests that could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided.

https://www.agenciaocote.com/blog/2019/03/15/que-y-quien-es-factica/

Agencia Ocote has a mixed model of sustainability: the organization has a legal status of non-profit association (Asociación Ocote), but is operated by a private, for-profit media organization (Agencia Ocote, S.A.). Agencia Ocote is the parent organization of Fáctica, with which it shares resources and professional principles.

https://www.agenciaocote.com/quienes-somos/#:~:text=Ocote%20es%20un%20medio%20de,encuentros%20entre%20la%20ciudadan%C3%ADa%20centroamericana.

Fáctica and Agencia Ocote share the same vision on sustainability and transparency. To attain higher levels of journalistic independence and team stability, it has a mixed and diversified income model.

Ocote has been legally created as a non-for-profit association (Asociación Ocote) and as a limited liability company (Agencia Ocote, S.A.). Both entities allow it the flexibility to mobilize funding in two specific ways: Firstly, the development and management of its projects through donations and funding from organizations, foundations, associations, and readers sharing Ocote’s goals and values. Secondly, as a company providing communication and advisory services, workshops, and marketing some products generated by Ocote (books and audiovisual and promotional material.)

At its launch (March 2019), Ocote entered into a partnership with the Guatemalan digital medium Nómada, which covered its launch phase and the first six fact-checking months, which coincided with the 2019 elections in Guatemala. Both organizations signed an agreement that entailed a financial contribution by Nómada, as well as journalistic advisory and a publishing and dissemination partnership, while Ocote designed, conceptualized, coordinated, conducted, and was in charge of the journalistic management of Fáctica. The funding provided by Nómada over the first six months of the project came from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). Nómada’s (and NED’s) funding ended in September 2019, and the partnership with Nómada ended on November 25, 2019.

As of September 2019, Agencia Ocote (through Asociación Ocote) has received funding from Planned Parenthood.

Additionally, Fáctica benefits from the funds for institutional strengthening and journalistic capacity building, as well as operational funds granted to Asociación Ocote by the Oak Foundation (through the Central American Women's Fund), from Foundation for a Just Society.

Ocote is continuously searching for funders or partners who seek the production of contents to promote the improvement of public speech and the generation of critical audiences.

Fáctica is part of LatamChequea, the Latin American fact-checking network.

In March 2023, Ocote launched La Linterna [The Flashlight], a collaborative project, unprecedented in Guatemala, for electoral fact-checking, which brings together five communications media: ConCriterio, elPeriódico, No-Ficción , and Ojoconmipisto, coordinated by Ocote. This media partnership aims at conducting useful and rigorous journalism to encourage a critical citizenry that can make better informed decisions. La Linterna is funded, driven, and advised by the Consortium to Support Independent Journalism in the Region (CAPIR, its Spanish initials) of the Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR).

Dissemination Platforms: With a transmedia undertaking, Ocote strives for its contents to be disseminated on diverse platforms and different languages. On the web, we publish our articles in agenciaocote.com and on Fáctica’s social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), as well as our messaging services (WhatsApp, Telegram +502 5562-5547). We seek collaboration and re-posting partnerships with other communications media.

Methodology: The Ocote team studied and analyzed some of the world’s leading benchmarks for fact-checking, it designed its own method, and created its own ranking. They are based on international best practice parameters. Our method shall be under continuous evaluation and review to ensure as much stringency and effectiveness as possible.

Audiences: Fáctica is a scalable project launched in Guatemala in 2019. It has generated its own audience development strategies. It reaches the same audience as the medium (mostly urban population with access to internet, from Guatemala, and a secondary audience in the United States). With La Luciérnaga [The Firefly] (2021), an audio format project for fact-checking in Mayan languages, it has expanded its audience to rural and indigenous populations in Guatemala. La Luciérnaga received support from Chequeado and the Google Initiative. Ocote remains committed to work on the continuity of this project. In 2023, Ocote became the coordinator of the first collaborative verification project in Guatemala to fact-check the 2023 elections, and it expands its audiences along with those of the partner media producing and disseminating contents.

Agencia Ocote’s Fáctica team

• General and Editorial Coordinator: Alejandra Gutiérrez Valdizán

• Editor: Carmen Quintela Babío

• Senior Journalist, Editor, and Special Projects Coordinator: Alex Maldonado

• Fáctica / La Linterna Journalist: Christian Gutiérrez

• Designer, Illustrator, and Infographist: Óscar Donado

• Community and Audiences Coordinator: Ixmucané Us Ixtabalán

• Community and Audiences Manager: Ana Lucía García Cabrera

• Creative Coordinator: Julio Serrano Echeverría

• Administrative and Financial Manager: Judith Top

In the 'About us' page (Quiénes somos), Agencia Ocote provides detailed and transparent information about its ownership and funding scheme. It also discloses its parent relation with the fact-checking unit Fáctica.

https://www.agenciaocote.com/quienes-somos/#:~:text=Ocote%20es%20un%20medio%20de,encuentros%20entre%20la%20ciudadan%C3%ADa%20centroamericana.

On the 'About Us' (Quiénes somos) page, Agencia Ocote transparently presents information about its organizational structure, detailing the founding members and employees.

https://www.agenciaocote.com/quienes-somos/#:~:text=Ocote%20es%20un%20medio%20de,encuentros%20entre%20la%20ciudadan%C3%ADa%20centroamericana.https://www.agenciaocote.com/blog/2019/03/15/que-y-quien-es-factica/

Short biographies of Agencia Ocote's team members are published on its website, including their email addresses so that they can be reached by anyone. The applicant is invited to check the links of some staff-members' photos, as they seem to be broken.

https://www.agenciaocote.com/blog/2019/03/15/que-y-quien-es-factica/

Several means of contact and social media handles are available at Agencia Ocote, all of them clearly accessible for users on the top-right corner of the frontpage, as well as in a dedicated Contact page. The main ones are a corporate email account and a telephone number. In addition, Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Telegram and Instagram handles are also provided. 

https://www.agenciaocote.com/blog/2019/03/15/metodo-factica/

The entire verification process shall be carried out following an accurate method developed by the Ocote team.

________________________________________

Spread the love.

Fáctica is Ocote’s public discourse verification, fact-checking, and fake news detection project. Its goal is to generate critical audiences through the verification of public speech and the fight against disinformation.

Fáctica is part of Intermedios, Ocote’s Media and Freedom of Expression programmatic line that seeks to improve the quality of information, to close communication gaps, and to advocate for the right to information and freedom of expression, by auditing the media and public speech.

To develop Fáctica’s verification method, we drew from those used by Chequeado in Argentina, Verificado in Mexico, and PolitiFact in the United States. In addition, we work according to the Code of Principles of the Poynter International Fact-checking Network.

The Fáctica method is continuously being evaluated and reviewed to be refined and improved, building upon our experience and learning.

Method for the Verification of Public Speech

The verification of public speech aims to monitor, review, and select public statement to assess their truthfulness and determine if what they say has verifiable data. Fáctica’s main goal is to improve the quality of public speech and hold accountable those who express an opinion, and for the citizens to demand real data and facts, and thus fight disinformation.

It is impossible to verify every single thing each individual says, thus, to select the sentences to be verified, we look for statements or declarations that have some kind of impact in public opinion or may cause confusion or disinform the population. Based on the level of impact, we monitor the speech of individuals holding a public office or a position with public outreach – either in the public or private sector. We also fact-check public statements of individuals – even if they have no public relevance – whose claims become part of public debate and it is deemed important to verify the truthfulness of their specific claim. We seek to strike a balance and diversify the topics and those of us who conduct the checks.

Over specific periods, we will focus our energy and resources on certain issues or personalities, as in the case of election times, where we shall focus our attention on the candidates or issues related to their campaign.

These are the steps followed at Fáctica to fact-check speeches:

1. We select a claim from the public sphere, based on the relevance of the sentence and its author.

The claim we select must be relevant. Either because of the individual who delivered it, the context in which it was made, or the topic it covered. The Fáctica team is responsible for assessing the relevance of the claim and deciding whether it will be fact-checked or disregarded.

2. We verify if the claim was correctly reproduced.

Many of the statements we check have been heard or reproduced by some radio, television, or web broadcaster. Other ones are reproduced by written media and we do not have public access to an audio where we can hear the statement. We do not know if what was published is exactly what the individual said. Therefore, we turn to the medium or journalist who wrote the text to ask for the tape or recording of such claim and be able to confirm whether the statement made public was the same that the person delivered.

3. We consult with the individual who delivered the claim.

We contact the person who delivered the claim to become acquainted with the source from which he/she obtained the data used in his/her statement and on what grounds.

4. We check with the source to verify the data.

We verify the data from the original and primary source (study, statistics, public information, research, etc.) and we compare them with those used by the individual who delivered the claim to check if they match.

5. We consult with the official source.

We cross-check the data from the primary source with those in the official sources that systematically generate information on the topic.

6. We consult with alternative sources.

We cross-check the data with studies, reports, and national and international statistics from institutions, organizations, universities, experts on the topic...

We try to find experts with different perspectives to broaden the view and find new sources of information to help us conduct a more accurate verification.

7. We confirm, counterbalance, or refute the claim and we rank it.

Based on the data collected, we analyze the information to confirm, refute, or counterbalance the claim. We may also determine that there is not enough evidence to reach a clear conclusion. With all the elements on the table, the Fáctica team ranks the claim into one of the four categories established.

Categories

After cross-checking the claim with official and alternative data, it is either sustained or reinforced.

The data found in the sources consulted are not enough to verify the information.

After cross-checking the claim with official and alternative data, it is refuted.

The claim may match data available on the topic, but they were manipulated to generate a message that could mislead the audience.

The data in the claim are close to the actual data, but are not accurate, which may give rise to misunderstandings and mislead the audience or distort the meaning of the sentence.

Method to refute fake news.

There is information circulating social networks, the media, and telephone messaging platforms that has not been delivered by a public figure and is shared – at times – massively.

Such information focuses on facts that never happened; false data; or news, photographs, images, or sentences taken out of context or manipulated, which disinform those they reach.

At Fáctica, we identify and refute such fake news, usually shared on social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, and our WhatsApp number +502 5562-5547. We also fact-check contents that reach our email: factica@agenciaocote.com. In the text we publish, we indicate how the information was conveyed, identified, or received.

This is the method we use to refute fake news.

1. We select a piece of information being shared.

The piece of information we select must be relevant. Based on the context in which it is being shared, the topic covered, or the source from where it allegedly comes from, the Fáctica team is responsible for assessing the relevance of the information and deciding whether it will be fact-checked or disregarded.

2. We assess whether we should refute the information.

When the information we find or reaches us at Fáctica has not been massively shared yet, we analyze whether we should refute it to stop disinformation from the beginning, or if we should wait and analyze its trend, to avoid the spread of data that would otherwise go unnoticed.

3. We consult with the in the information source.

We check the source of the publication. If the site sharing the information – Facebook page, Twitter profile, telephone number – identifies itself as responsible for the contents, we inquire the origin and grounds on which the claim has arisen.

If the site sharing the information does not identify itself as responsible, we turn to the source – provided it can be identified – from which the information arose, and we check with it.

4. We analyze the piece of information being shared.

If a claim delivered publicly by an individual is being shared, we look for the primary source and check if the information has been manipulated.

If it is a photograph or video, we technically ascertain if it has been manipulated.

5. We consult with those affected by the information.

We determine who are the individuals or institutions that might be affected by the piece of disinformation. We ask them about the content being shared.

6. We consult with the official source.

We cross-check the data from the primary source with those in the official sources that generate information on the issue being verified.

7. We consult with alternative sources.

We cross-check the data with studies, reports, and national and international statistics from institutions, organizations, universities, and experts on the topic.

If the information being shared has been delivered in an event or place to which the media had no access, we turn to people who might have witnessed, hosted, or attended it.

8. We confirm or refute the information.

Based on the data collected, we determine whether the information analyzed is true or false. In the case of false information, it is clearly stated from the beginning to prevent it from being shared as true. We do not share the links to original publications to avoid their further dissemination.

In the case of photographs or videos, they are reproduced clearly marked as false, both on Fáctica’s website and social media.

As noted in the assessment of Criterion 2.2, the applicant does not have a permanent, easy-to-access page explaining its fact-checking methodology. Instead, that methodology is just explained on an old page, posted on March 2019, which is hardly reachable for current users. This relevant is information should be more accessible for users, so the applicant is kindly invited to disclose its methodology more clearly.

Apart from this problem of lack of accessibility to the information, the fact-checking methodology is considered correct and solid.

In a first round of assessment of this criterion, the applicant was invited to make the improvements detailed below:

• As noted in the assessment of Criterion 2.2, the applicant does not have a permanent, easy-to-access page explaining its fact-checking methodology. Instead, that methodology is just explained on an old page, posted on March 2019, which is hardly reachable for current users. This relevant is information should be more accessible for users, so the applicant is kindly invited to disclose its methodology more clearly.
  
  Apart from this problem of lack of accessibility to the information, the fact-checking methodology is considered correct and solid.

The applicant edited its website to provide, as requested, clear access to the explanation of its fact-checking methodology. That explanation now can be found in the top menu (Fáctica > Método Fáctica).  Thanks to these improvements, the assessment of this criterion is positive.

No comments.

Based on a random review of a number of fact-checks published over several months prior to this assessment, enough examples have been found that Agencia Ocote selects claims to check based primarily on the reach and importance of the claims

No comment

Drawing upon a number of randomly selected fact-checks, the assessor has come to the conclusion that Agencia Ocote commits to transparency and fairness when processing claims. 

No comment

No evidence has been found of the eventual usage of different standards for fact-checking, depending on who made the claim, or the subject checked.

No comment

In the random sample of the applicant's fact-checks examined, no examples were found of the objectionable situations indicated for this criterion. In absence of any evidence of misbehavior or infringement of this part of the code of principles, the assessment is positive.

We are regularly and systematically encouraging our audience to share with us disinformations or information to fact-check through social media, messaging services, and our newsletter.

Moreover, we add a message to the verification notes inviting the public to write to us.

Also, all our communication channels have a “Contact us” section. Our biography section on the “Who We Are” tab includes the contact information of our journalists as well.

We regularly launch campaigns in which we include banners with our contact information.

Example: https://twitter.com/facticagt/status/1667230522341203970?s=20

Agencia Ocote's Fáctica allows users to send claims and corrections through different means of contact.

Agencia Ocote’s Corrections Policy

Ocote’s contents undergo an editing, proofreading, and information check process to ensure the highest degree of accuracy and stringency. However, we know we can make mistakes and we believe that, in case this happens, it is important to rectify and correct them. We commit ourselves to review our texts and stay alert for corrections the audience brings to our attention.

If we confirm we made a mistake and published wrong data, we will replace them and include an explanation at the end of the text with the changes made and the date in which the correction was issued.

If we confirm we have published erroneous content or that it might be counterproductive if further reproduced, we will delete it, but we will include a broad explanation of what it was and why it was deleted.

When we detect we have made a mistake in a post on social media or any other dissemination platform, and that the information could be harmful if it continues to be shared, we will delete such post, but we will include a note explaining it was removed to avoid disinforming.

In the case of Fáctica, should we need to change the ranking of a check, we will also include the original rank and the reason we changed it.

Should you find a possible error in any content by Ocote or if you think we have left out any important data, you can contact us on our social media (@facticagt in Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram – @agenciaocote Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram ), by email (info@agenciaocote.com or factica@agenciaocote.com), via WhatsApp and Telegram: +502 4701 1822, or you can call us at: +502 2232 2005

https://www.agenciaocote.com/blog/2019/03/15/metodo-factica/

Agencia Ocote has a sound, well-explained Corrections policy. This policy rules also at the fact-checking unit Fáctica. The organization has also an appropriate policy for social media use by journalists.

No comments

The corrections policy is adequate and it is explained with detail, so that readers can know in advance how their claims will be handled.

1) An aclaration of the source it is published: https://www.agenciaocote.com/blog/2022/11/02/naturaceites-derecho-aclaracion/ 

2) A public correction in social media: https://twitter.com/AgenciaOcote/status/1242479746903990283?s=20

3) We correct the note, but at the end of the note we make the corresponding clarification:   https://www.agenciaocote.com/blog/2022/06/13/contaminar-y-pagar-para-no-ser-juzgado/

https://www.agenciaocote.com/blog/2022/02/07/asamblea-de-presidentes-de-colegios-profesionales-confirma-sancion-contra-catedratico-de-veterinaria/

Ps. Not all the content is from Fáctica, but it shows the correction policy.

Agencia Ocote has presented evidence of three corrections (1, 2, 3) of fact-checks over the period of time assessed, upon reception of claims from the users. The corrections are clearly labeled as such and can be seen not only in the fact-check articles, but also on social media. In absence of any additional evidence of misbehavior in this respect, the assessment for this criterion is deemed as compliant.

Not signatory yet.

Agencia Ocote is not an existing signatory.

https://www.agenciaocote.com/politica-de-correcciones-agencia-ocote/

In here is the correction policy of Ocote in general, but it is clarified some specific information of Fáctica. 

Fáctica is the fact-checking unit of Agencia Ocote, a stand alone digital native outlet. This media organization has a Corrections policy that rules at Fáctica.