Organization: Open.online
Applicant: Andrea Garantola
Assessor: Paolo Attivissimo
Background
This is the second assessment of this applicant. Only minor formal changes, updates and additions to the information already published on the applicant's website were required in order to achieve full compliance.
Assessment Conclusion
Only relatively minor and purely formal non-compliances were found. These were discussed with the applicant through appropriate channels and were promptly remedied by the applicant by introducing the recommended changes and additions to the website. After reviewing these changes, the applicant is now assessed to be fully compliant.
Paolo Attivissimo assesses application as Compliant
A short summary in native publishing language
La richiedente è al suo secondo Assessment e ha dimostrato ottima conformità di principio come metodo di lavoro, richiedendo soltanto alcune modifiche informative di modesta entità per raggiungere la piena conformità anche a livello formale. Durante la presente valutazione sono emerse solo non-conformità di ridotta importanza, che sono state corrette, raggiungendo così la piena conformità.
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.
Open.online
19-Apr-2022 (2 years ago)
Open is a digital newspaper legally registered in Italy at the Court of Milan (registration number 273 of 31.10.2018). The chamber of commerce company registration is as follows: (https://www.open.online/contatti/) - G.O.L. Impresa Sociale S.r.l. (VAT NUMBER 10475040969)
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago)
The applicant publishes the required information at the link provided and this link is clearly indicated and easily found on its site. The information provided matches the official records at Registroimprese.it.
done_all 1.1 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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?
Open.online
19-Apr-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
1. Our fact-checking project (https://www.open.online/c/fact-checking/) commenced the same day of Open’s official launch on the 18th of December 2018. Since then it has always been central to the newspaper’s goal of providing accurate information free of all political, commercial or economic bias. Moreover, since its inception, Open has aimed to provide a service to readers by helping them navigate the world of fake news, as it pertains to a number of subjects, from immigration to Coronavirus. As such, we ask readers to help us by reporting possible false claims that have not been received by the editorial staff.
2. Open currently employs 20 journalists, but the team members in charge of fact-checking are as follows:
- David Puente. Graduated in Multimedia Sciences and Technologies, he worked as a fact-checker first for Bufale.net and then as an independent through his personal blog. He is responsible for the Open.online fact-checking project.
- Juanne Pili. Journalist, since 2015 he has been dealing with fact-checking. After a first collaboration with Bufale.net he edited the column of scientific hoaxes on Fanpage.it
- Ludovica Di Ridolfi, since 2019 he has been dealing with fact-checking.
3. Open is an all-news website for the young, by the young (its main target is 18-34 years-old). It was founded with the ambition of giving back to a younger generation of journalists by providing employment opportunities but also with the goal of reaching an untapped readership who consume news irregularly and who don’t follow traditional media. Its ambition was also that of being Italy's first mobile news start-up. In addition to our fact-checking articles, we also focus on a number of subjects that are of particular interest to our key readership, from climate change to gender issues. We also provide coverage of all major national and international news.
4. Over the next year we aim to increase the number of fact-checkers (we want a team of at least 4 journalists, with 2 young people to be trained as future professionals with high skills in fact-checking ) and consultants in order to be able to follow, catalog and answer all verification requests send by users through various communication channels (Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram, Telegram, Twitter, Email).
We consider it very important to foster our relationship with users in order to answer their doubts and fears. Generally we answer between 20 and 50 messages per day by reporting items with the required fact check or by responding personally when the questions raised don’t require a specific article. In the future, we would like to be able increase our response rate in order to answer everyone better and faster through direct messages, videos and live streaming.
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The information provided is correct to this assessor's knowledge. The first fact-checks were published the day before the official launch date mentioned in item 1 (https://www.open.online/2018/12/17/le-piu-grandi-bufale-e-falsita-del-2018/). The information includes forward-looking statements, such as intent to increase the number of fact-checkers, which by definition cannot be verified presently.
MEDIA/POLITICAL CONTEXT: Italy, the country in which the applicant operates and where the vast majority of its readership resides, has two main TV broadcasters which dominate the market: RAI and Mediaset. RAI is a public broadcaster, traditionally subject to political influence, and billionaire Silvio Berlusconi's Mediaset owns the country's top private TV stations. Both broadcasters are considered potentially powerful political tools, especially considering that 80% of the population reportedly relies on TV for daily news. The Italian press is mostly privately owned, often with links to political parties or large media groups. Readership is low compared to other EU countries. There are over 54 million Internet users and Facebook is by far the most popular social network.
Five major parties hold just under 90% of the Chamber of Deputies after the 2018 general election. Populist, anti-establishment parties represent over 50% of the vote. No single party has enough votes to govern alone, so the country is governed by a series of coalitions. All parties are very active on social media.
Some of the main topics of public debate over the previous year have been the economy, the Covid crisis and the war in Ukraine.
done_all 1.2 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Open.online
19-Apr-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Our fact-checking team produces on average 12-15 articles per week, which amounts to roughly 50 per month. Our fact-checking articles can be found at this link: https://www.open.online/c/fact-checking/
15/04/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/04/15/ucraina-roberto-saviano-foto-bambino-mariupol-2015
03/04/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/04/03/teoria-complotto-russa-strage-bucha-braccio-cadavere-seduto
31/03/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/03/31/zelensky-polonia-teoria-complotto-presa-corrente
25/03/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/03/25/tv-russa-piani-invasione-europa-putin
15/03/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/03/15/giovanna-botteri-ospedale-mariupol-iraq-fake
11/03/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/03/11/video-soldati-ucraini-ospedale-pediatrico-mariupol
06/03/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/03/06/video-putin-microfono
26/02/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/02/26/foto-esplosione-kiev-2015
18/02/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/02/18/bolsonaro-non-ha-snobbato-trudeau
06/02/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/02/06/foto-rayan-bambino-deceduto-caduto-pozzo-marocco
02/02/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/02/02/docente-fuoco-rende-sospeso-mancata-vaccinazione-covid
28/01/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/01/28/storie-false-macachi-morti-vaccini-grafene-norinberga2
21/01/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/01/21/bufala-novax-sangue-donatori-maionese-coaguli
13/01/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/01/13/bufala-20-mila-macachi-morti-sperimentazione-vaccini-covid
06/01/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/01/06/vaccini-mrna-cancro-tumori-disinformazione
31/12/2021 https://www.open.online/2021/12/31/foto-bare-bergamo-lampedusa-2013-bufala
23/12/2021 https://www.open.online/2021/12/23/disinformazione-ema-vaccini-prodotti-non-destinati-uso-umano
11/12/2021 https://www.open.online/2021/12/11/vaccini-mrna-contesto-mancante-francesco-amodeo-ilsole24ore
04/12/2021 https://www.open.online/2021/12/04/false-locandine-film-omicron-variant
30/11/2021 https://www.open.online/2021/11/30/oms-ammette-variante-omicron-scoperta-2020-bufala
27/11/2021 https://www.open.online/2021/11/27/covid-19-variante-omicron-nota-luglio-2021-fake-news
17/11/2021 https://www.open.online/2021/11/17/falso-video-vladimir-putin-piani-diabolici-mondo
02/11/2021 https://www.open.online/2021/11/02/foto-bambina-palestinese-bombardamenti-bufala
31/10/2021 https://www.open.online/2021/10/31/giappone-ivermectina-vaccini-covid-bufala
15/10/2021 https://www.open.online/2021/10/15/meme-costo-carburante-austria
01/10/2021 https://www.open.online/2021/10/01/covid-19-vaccini-virus-mutato
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The applicant regularly publishes far more than the required average number of fact-checking articles per week.
done_all 1.3 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Open.online
19-Apr-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
15/04/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/04/15/ucraina-roberto-saviano-foto-bambino-mariupol-2015
03/04/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/04/03/teoria-complotto-russa-strage-bucha-braccio-cadavere-seduto
31/03/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/03/31/zelensky-polonia-teoria-complotto-presa-corrente
25/03/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/03/25/tv-russa-piani-invasione-europa-putin
15/03/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/03/15/giovanna-botteri-ospedale-mariupol-iraq-fake
11/03/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/03/11/video-soldati-ucraini-ospedale-pediatrico-mariupol
06/03/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/03/06/video-putin-microfono
26/02/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/02/26/foto-esplosione-kiev-2015
18/02/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/02/18/bolsonaro-non-ha-snobbato-trudeau
06/02/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/02/06/foto-rayan-bambino-deceduto-caduto-pozzo-marocco
02/02/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/02/02/docente-fuoco-rende-sospeso-mancata-vaccinazione-covid
28/01/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/01/28/storie-false-macachi-morti-vaccini-grafene-norinberga2
21/01/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/01/21/bufala-novax-sangue-donatori-maionese-coaguli
13/01/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/01/13/bufala-20-mila-macachi-morti-sperimentazione-vaccini-covid
06/01/2022 https://www.open.online/2022/01/06/vaccini-mrna-cancro-tumori-disinformazione
31/12/2021 https://www.open.online/2021/12/31/foto-bare-bergamo-lampedusa-2013-bufala
23/12/2021 https://www.open.online/2021/12/23/disinformazione-ema-vaccini-prodotti-non-destinati-uso-umano
11/12/2021 https://www.open.online/2021/12/11/vaccini-mrna-contesto-mancante-francesco-amodeo-ilsole24ore
04/12/2021 https://www.open.online/2021/12/04/false-locandine-film-omicron-variant
30/11/2021 https://www.open.online/2021/11/30/oms-ammette-variante-omicron-scoperta-2020-bufala
27/11/2021 https://www.open.online/2021/11/27/covid-19-variante-omicron-nota-luglio-2021-fake-news
17/11/2021 https://www.open.online/2021/11/17/falso-video-vladimir-putin-piani-diabolici-mondo
02/11/2021 https://www.open.online/2021/11/02/foto-bambina-palestinese-bombardamenti-bufala
31/10/2021 https://www.open.online/2021/10/31/giappone-ivermectina-vaccini-covid-bufala
15/10/2021 https://www.open.online/2021/10/15/meme-costo-carburante-austria
01/10/2021 https://www.open.online/2021/10/01/covid-19-vaccini-virus-mutato
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The percentage of fact-checks regarding topics that are impactful for the general public is well above 75%.
done_all 1.4 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Open.online
19-Apr-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
We are an independent journalistic project founded by Enrico Mentana, one of the most famous TV-journalists in Italy. GOL was established in the form of a social enterprise and as such it is a not-for-profit with a clear civic mission; GOL's corporate purpose is professional training, cultural activities of social interest for educational purposes, the organization and management of cultural, artistic or recreational activities of social interest, including publishing, and the promotion of journalistic information especially among young people through free access to our online platform.
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The statement provided is consistent with the information obtained by this assessor. The applicant states that the only sources of funding are an initial investment by journalist Enrico Mentana, advertising, donations and a contribution from Facebook's Third-Party Fact-Checking Program, as stated at https://www.open.online/chi-siamo/.
No evidence of undeclared relationships, funding or support has been found.
done_all 1.5 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Open.online
19-Apr-2022 (2 years ago)
As mentioned above (1.1) information about our funding and our editorial line can be found at the following link: Open - who we are https://www.open.online/chi-siamo/. Open is free of all affiliation to political parties and we receive no funding from local or foreign states. Open’s founder, Enrico Mentana, guarantees its impartiality. All revenues are from advertising and all profits are reinvested in the company.
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
No funding from local or foreign state or political sources has been found and the public statement regarding funding at https://www.open.online/chi-siamo/ contains detailed information regarding funding and support and guarantors of the editorial independence of the applicant.
https://www.open.online/fact-checking-metodologia/ includes an explicit statement that the applicant has no relationships with political parties or the like.
done_all 1.6 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Open.online
19-Apr-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The fact-checks below are a combination of pro-left and pro-right content, pro and against the government. They range from fake photographs or posts that have been circulated online to discredit the leaders of the Lega party (right) or Fratelli d'Italia party (right) to those that discredit politicians from other parties (eg Elsa Fornero).
Despite being very different examples, they illustrate the method that we employ in all our articles:
i) The same high standards are used: in our fact-checking we report official sources, which can be consulted and re-verified by users or other fact-checkers. We do not rely on the opinions or only statements reported by another media, we always seek the original source and proof to confirm them.
ii) The method is the same: our fact-checking articles are carried out with the same criteria. We report the disputed source, we search for the origin (a "patient zero"), we analyze the content and verify it with authoritative sources. The draft articles are read by a second fact-checker and an external colleague who check the content and correctness.
iii) Our fact-checking is based on evidence. Our ethical standards require us not to “contaminate” our fact-checking with prejudices and beliefs (religious or political). In our fact-checking we also report on any mistakes made by Open.
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The fact-checks listed in the attachment, as well as a sampling of other published fact-checks, appear to be balanced and non-partisan, follow a common structure and process, and present conclusions based fairly on the provided evidence.
done_all 2.1 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Open.online
19-Apr-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The methodology of our fact-checking project is explained in the following link: https://www.open.online/fact-checking-metodologia/
It can be accessed through our fact-checking page: https://www.open.online/c/fact-checking/
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The selection method is explained clearly at the link provided and this information is indeed easily accessible from the fact-checking page via a clearly indicated clickable keyword.
This information also provides a formal description of how undue concentration is avoided and of how reach and importance are considered.
done_all 2.2 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
A significant random sample of fact-checks was assessed and no significant disclosures were found to be required. As a minor note, five fact-checks in the period from October 2020 to December 2021 covered statements or work by journalist and Open founder Enrico Mentana, and Mr Mentana's role in Open's founding and funding was pointed out directly only in one of these fact-checks. However, Mr. Mentana's role is clearly indicated at the bottom of each and every page.
done_all 2.3 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
A significant random sample of fact-checks published over the last 12 months was assessed and no declarations of support for any party, politician or political candidate were found; no advocacy for/against policy positions were found.
done_all 2.4 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Open.online
19-Apr-2022 (2 years ago)
The information requested can be found at the following link:
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The link provided offers the required policy statement, specifying that staff members state that they are not members of, or supporters of, local or national political movements and that they do not support with their activity any candidate during elections, any elected politician and/or any local or national political post.
done_all 2.5 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
A significant randomised sample of fact-checks was reviewed and the use of sources was found to be compliant.
done_all 3.1 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
A significant randomised number of sources used was reviewed in multiple fact-checks and their use was found to be compliant.
done_all 3.2 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
A significant randomised number of fact-checks was reviewed; the vast majority of sources of evidence were single, but this was due to the nature of the fact-checks and sources, and therefore this use is nevertheless compliant.
done_all 3.3 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
A significant randomised number of fact-checks was reviewed and no instances of potentially influencing sources were found.
done_all 3.4 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Open.online
19-Apr-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
We are an independent organization.
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
All funding sources for the past year are detailed at https://www.open.online/fact-checking-metodologia/ and https://www.open.online/chi-siamo/ : founder Enrico Mentana, revenues from ad sales, and payments from Facebook for fact-checks.
The legal form is stated at https://www.open.online/chi-siamo/ .
done_all 4.1 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Open.online
19-Apr-2022 (2 years ago)
More information can be found at:
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The link provided offers the information described.
done_all 4.2 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Open.online
19-Apr-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Enrico Mentana (Founder and Editor) exercise editorial control.
More information can be found at https://www.open.online/contatti/
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The link provided offers the information required. Additional information is published at https://www.open.online/fact-checking-membri-del-team/ .
done_all 4.3 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Open.online
19-Apr-2022 (2 years ago)
The link is as follows: https://www.open.online/chi-siamo/
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The link provided offers the information required. Additional information is published at https://www.open.online/fact-checking-membri-del-team/ .
done_all 4.4 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Open.online
19-Apr-2022 (2 years ago)
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The link provided is clearly evident to the reader and allows communication with the editorial team by telephone, WhatsApp, email, Facebook and Twitter.
done_all 4.5 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Open.online
19-Apr-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The methodology of our fact-checking project is explained in the following link: https://www.open.online/fact-checking-metodologia/
It can be accessed through our fact-checking page: https://www.open.online/c/fact-checking/
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The description provided is correct and the link provides concise methodology information.
done_all 5.1 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The page https://www.open.online/fact-checking-metodologia/ explains the criteria for choosing the claims to check: the main criterion is the potential social harm that such claims, particularly on social media, could cause if they spread unchecked; a secondary criterion is whether a check is requested by one or more readers; a third criterion is whether a topic is a matter of wide public debate. A randomized sample of fact checks was reviewed and found to be compliant with these criteria.
done_all 5.2 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
A significant randomised sample of fact-checks was examined and evidence was found to be provided in each instance, both in support of a claim and against it.
done_all 5.3 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
A significant randomised sample of fact-checks was examined and merit assessment of the evidence was found to be independent of who made the claim and based on high standards.
done_all 5.4 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Only one instance of an attempt to contact those who made the claim was observed ( https://www.open.online/2022/02/02/docente-fuoco-rende-sospeso-mancata-vaccinazione-covid/ ). In the other fact-checks that were examined, such contact was either not needed or not possible.
done_all 5.5 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Open.online
19-Apr-2022 (2 years ago)
Readers are encouraged to send in claims to check via our contact page (https://www.open.online/fact-checking-contattaci/) in the Fact-checking section of our website. In that section we state clearly that we will take into account any doubts or queries readers may have about news, photographs or statements made by politicians.
In the page where we outline our methodology (https://www.open.online/fact-checking-metodologia/) we explain that in deciding what to fact-check we consider - based on the recommendations made by our readers - “what is currently the subject of public debate”.
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The first link provided by the applicant includes the required encouragement.
The second link includes a clear explanation of which claims are fact-checkable.
done_all 5.6 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Open.online
19-Apr-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Our corrections policy is outlined on our page on methodology: https://www.open.online/fact-checking-metodologia/
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The link provided by the applicant is valid, includes both the corrections policy and the corrections themselves, contains information that fully meets the compliance criteria as well as information on how to submit complaints, and is clearly linked on the main page ( https://www.open.online/c/fact-checking/ ) of the fact-checking section of the website.
done_all 6.1 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
Criteria 6.2
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the corrections policy to verify it meets critera. No additional information needed.
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The policy ( https://www.open.online/fact-checking-metodologia/ ) clearly defines its coverage and error management criteria, and a random sampling of the corrections indicates that the policy is adhered to scrupulously.
done_all 6.2 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Open.online
19-Apr-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Our process for evaluating complaints or corrections is as follows:
Any journalist who receives a complaint or a correction request from a user, by email or through any other channel, is obliged to discuss it with our Editor. Equally, all requests made via the general email address present on our contact page are automatically referred to the journalist in question, to our Editor and our General Counsel and sole administrator.
After carrying out the necessary checks with the author of the article, the Editor and the General Counsel evaluate and authorize the modification of the published content. Except for cases that are particularly grave, no article can be removed from the website without receiving the relevant authorization from both. Journalists cannot respond and / or take a position on behalf of the newspaper both on social media and on Open’s website.
All corrections are published in the first paragraph of the article in question as follows: [Update of [insert date]: In the first version of this article, we had written [insert incorrect information]. After carrying out the necessary checks, we modified [insert the correct information]] (this is an example).
The corrected article must be shared again on Open's social networks, with specific indication in the copy of the update. If appropriate, a link of the updated article is sent, with thanks, to the user who first made a correction request.
Three examples are as follows:
- https://www.open.online/2020/06/30/secondo-medico-covid-19-grande-farsa-storia-curabile-vitamine/
- https://www.open.online/2022/01/21/roberto-burioni-tweet-2018-vaccini-pandemia-epidemia/
- https://www.open.online/2022/02/02/covid-19-sanremo-2022-obbligo-vaccino
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Corrections are prominently pointed out, both on the website and in social media, and are presented transparently.The applicant is an existing signatory and declares its IFCN signatory status at the link provided by the applicant. The same link includes a link to the IFCN site.
done_all 6.3 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Open.online
19-Apr-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
The applicant is an existing signatory and declares its IFCN signatory status at the link provided by the applicant. The same link includes a link to the IFCN site.
done_all 6.4 marked as Compliant by Paolo Attivissimo.
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.
Open.online
19-Apr-2022 (2 years ago)
We don't have a parent media company.
Paolo Attivissimo Assessor
13-May-2022 (2 years ago) Updated: 2 years ago
This criterion is not applicable to this applicant.