Please see section Kako delamo Razkrinkavanje.si (How we work at Razkrinkavanje.si): https://www.ostro.si/si/o-projektu-razkrinkavanje 

Razkrinkavanje.si is a project of Oštro, a centre for investigative journalism in the Adriatic region, a legally registered organization founded in 2018. Information about Razkrinkavanje is accessible on Oštro's website.

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Razkrinkavanje.si, a daily fact-checking project, was developed by Oštro, a non-profit center for investigative journalism in the Adriatic region. We launched the project on 6 May 2019 in order to raise the quality of media content and warn the public about misinformation, fake news and just bad journalism that is distributed by the media, elected officials, political parties and interest groups.

Razkrinkavanje.si also functions as an incubator for future investigative journalists because we believe that fact-checking is the best training ground for investigative minds and the cultivation of high professional standards. We work with the Faculty of Social Sciences (University of Ljubljana) to bring students to Oštro’s fact-checking project for learning-by-doing opportunities.

Oštro is one of the founding members of the regional fact-checking network See Check that verifies information published by media in countries of the former Yugoslavia.

In September 2021, Oštro joined the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO).

In October 2021, Oštro established its sister investigative center in Croatia. The small team publishes under www.portal-ostro.hr and investigates topics that are in the public interest of Croatians and people living in the Adriatic region.

In May 2022, Oštro became part of the Meta’s »third-party fact-checking« program.

In January 2023, Oštro became a part of the Adria Digital Media Observatory (ADMO).

In October 2023, Oštro became a member of the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN).

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Oštro currently has a core team of 5 editors/journalists, including the editor-in-chief, two senior student reporters and 5 students reporters. Oštro’s editorial structure is flexible to allow room for continuous learning.

The newsroom consists of a team of:

Core editors:

Anuška Delić is the founder and editor in chief at Oštro. She is also a regional editor with the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and a member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

Klara Škrinjar is an editor and journalist.

Maja Čakarić is a journalist.

Matej Zwitter is an editor and journalist.

Katarina Bulatović is currently the editor of Razkrinkavanje.si, and journalist.

Žana Erznožnik is currently deputy editor of Razkrinkavanje.si, and journalist, and soon to become editor of Razkrinkavanje.si.

Samo Demšar is a journalist, and soon to become deputy editor of Rakrinkavanje.si.

Oštro currently works with five students: Petra Jerič, Nina Rozman, Martin Justin, Eva Gračanin, Katja Turšič.

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Oštro is a unique center for investigative journalism in the Adriatic region. It nurtures investigative and data journalism, champions the “right to know” as one of the fundamental human rights, and contributes to the cultivation of future generations of journalists.

We investigate topics in the public interest of people in the Adriatic region and its neighbourhood. Aside from investigating crime, corruption and environmental topics, Oštro runs the only regular media fact-checking project in Slovenia, Razkrinkavanje.si.

Razkrinkavanje.si provides regular analysis of Slovenian media content with zero tolerance for the phenomenon of fake news and disinformation. We also fact-check statements by those who enjoy power and influence in our society. We couple the most important fact-checking stories with visual commentary by illustrators in order to critically evaluate current misinformation campaigns through illustration.

Currently, we are the only media publisher in Slovenia, for profit or non-profit, that offers a membership program through which we aim to develop a community with our readers by including them in some of Oštro’s activities and by inviting them to public editorial meetings.

Oštro’s stories are widely and independently sourced according to the highest professional and ethical standards. Our workflow also includes an internal fact-checking process.

Oštro is a member of the Organized Crime and Reporting Project (OCCRP), and of the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN), therefore we regularly reach beyond Slovenia as we conduct cross-border investigations.

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We will continue to provide verified information about important current events and topics that are in the public interest, such as politics, environment and the Ukraine crisis. In the following year, we will cover European elections by fact-checking statements of MEP candidates and other holders of political power in Razkrinkavanje.si’s sub-section EUformatorka.

In a month, current deputy of editor Žana Erznožnik will become the editor of Razkrinkavanje.si in line with the principles of Oštro’s incubator for future investigative reporters. Current senior student reporter Samo Demšar will become her deputy. The incubator for future journalists will continue to function and offer newcomers learning-by-doing opportunities to acquire the knowledge and skills they cannot acquire in college or in Slovenian mainstream media.

We will share our knowledge about investigative and data journalism via tailored workshops for various media Slovene outlets, including local media.

We will also organize public editorial meetings to promote the principles of non-profit journalism and build our readers’ community. There we will discuss our previous investigations, local misinformation campaigns and especially topics that are important to our members and the general public.

 Razkrinkavanje.si is a daily fact-checking project which is developed by Oštro, a non-profit center for investigative journalism. Razkrinkavanje as a separate project is set up exclusively for the purpose of fact-checking. Oštro currently has a core team of 5 editors/journalists, including the editor-in-chief, two senior student reporters and 5 students reporters. 

Between April 2023 and September 2023, we published 66 fact-checking stories. Some stories contained several fact-checks. On average we published three fact-checking analyses per week.

They publish an average of three fact-checking analyses a week, achieving more than a story a week.

Topics that Oštro covered in the past three months through Razkrinkavanje definitely relate to or could have an impact on the welfare or well-being of individuals, the general public or society. This figure is well over 75% of their stories, meaning they are complaint with this criteria.

Oštro is a non-profit and independent media organization. We have no relationship to the state, politicians or political parties in Slovenia or any other country. Involvement in political parties and advocacy organizations is in conflict with professional media ethics and standards. Oštro is committed to the highest professional standards.

In 2022 Oštro’s fact-checking project Razkrinkavanje.si was co-financed by the U.S. Embassy in Slovenia (3.000$) and the European Commission (€2.590).

Oštro publishes its financing data at Ostro.si in Slovenian and English.

Please see the following link about Oštro’s funding: https://www.ostro.si/en/finances

Oštro publishes its financing data at Ostro.si in Slovenian and English.

Razkrinkavanje recieved a co-financing grant by the U.S. Embassy in Slovenia (3.000$) and the European Commission (€2.590). These grants represent less than 5% of total expenses in 2022.

Please see the following link about sources of funds: https://www.ostro.si/en/finances

We ensure editorial independence of our work by following Oštro’sr Code of conduct: https://www.ostro.si/en/code-of-conduct, and the IFCN Code of Principles and The European Code of Standards.

There is an overall statement on Oštro's website declaring it will remain independent as well as a code of conduct that ensures it's editorial independence. In order, to comply fully with the IFCN rules, it would be good to separate funding between Oštro and Razkrinkavanje.

Our selection below shows that the team at Razkrinkavanje.si tackles problematic media content regardless of which media published it, and that we reach beyond political affiliations of media and public speakers in Slovenia. No publication or statement is excluded from consideration, however, generally preference is given to media with greater reach and consequently greater social responsibility.

The fact-checking stories linked below also demonstrate that we select statements by politicians and officials and other people who enjoy influence and power in society regardless of their personal or political beliefs. What drives our selection is primarily the question of whether fact-checking of a news story or statement is in the public interest, and, secondly, if we can provide a thorough, verifiable and exact analysis of what was stated.

We give priority to primary sources whenever feasible and possible to ensure that our fact-checking analysis is based only on credible and verifiable sources of information, such as regulations, official documents, reports or data. When needed we get the opinions of experts or industry professionals with verifiable professional references.

We always provide evidence in the form of documents, images or links in the fact-checking stories we publish, and without fault respect the right of reply before publication for all subjects of our information verifying efforts.

Finally, the editorial process at Razkrinkavanje.si is multi-level and quite complex in order to ensure that the fact-checking analysis we publish respects the highest professional and ethical standards, that it is written in an approachable manner in order to allow as many readers as possible to quickly identify with a topic and understand the inner workings of misinformation campaigns.

These are examples of non-partisan work of Razkrinkavanje.si:

https://www.ostro.si/si/razkrinkavanje/objave/gibanje-svoboda-pristransko-o-zaslugah-za-obnovo-srajbarskega-turna

https://www.ostro.si/si/razkrinkavanje/objave/izredna-socialna-pomoc-ni-vezana-na-tip-unicene-nepremicnine

https://www.ostro.si/si/razkrinkavanje/objave/nekdanja-vlada-zagotovila-evropska-sredstva-za-dolgotrajno-oskrbo

https://www.ostro.si/si/razkrinkavanje/objave/slovenija-nima-ene-najnizjih-rodnosti-v-evropi

https://www.ostro.si/si/razkrinkavanje/objave/v-sloveniji-ne-merimo-osipa-iz-srednjih-sol-glede-na-socialno-ekonomski-status

https://www.ostro.si/si/razkrinkavanje/objave/grims-pristransko-o-stevilu-migrantov

https://www.ostro.si/si/razkrinkavanje/objave/nova24tvsi-manipulativno-o-samomorilnosti-transspolnih-mladoletnikov

https://www.ostro.si/si/razkrinkavanje/objave/v-belgiji-evtanazije-ne-izvajajo-brez-pacientove-privolitve

https://www.ostro.si/si/razkrinkavanje/objave/lokalni-portal-zavajal-o-podrazitvi-vodarine-v-ilirski-bistrici

https://www.ostro.si/si/razkrinkavanje/objave/studija-ni-dokazala-da-4000-korakov-na-dan-prepreci-predcasno-smrt

Fact-checks are written in accordance with the highest journalistic standards and the methodology explained on their website.

It appears that the selection of topics, as well as their potential impact are all non-partisan and without obvious biases. 

Please see section Kako delamo (How we work) and for the selection of claim click Izbor vsebine (Content selection): https://www.ostro.si/si/o-projektu-razkrinkavanje.

There is a statement on the website claiming that 'Publications, claims or other statements that the razkrinkanje.si team scrutinizes are selected at random - no publication, claim, statement or media is excluded from consideration. Of course, priority is given to the media, which have a greater reach and thus a greater share of public attention and social responsibility, but we also review other, more niche content.'

There is no evidence found on the website to prove otherwise.

There is no evidence to suggest that the organization is affiliated with or declares or shows support for any party, any politician or political candidate, nor does it advocate for or against any policy positions. 

Razkrinkavanje.si is committed to the professional principles which are set out in the Code of Ethics for Journalists of Slovenia and Munich Declaration of the Duties and Rights of Journalists. We are committed to an internal code of ethics which we published in September 2020.

Please see bottom of the page: https://www.ostro.si/si/razkrinkavanje and https://www.ostro.si/en/code-of-conduct.

The organization seems to be committed to the professional principles as well as its own internal code of conduct. 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 that could lead a reasonable member of the public to see the organization’s work as biased.

Through a randomized sample, it was concluded that Razkrinkavanje's fact-checks regularly include statements that are subject to evaluation, links to the original publication or publications containing the analyzed claims where applicable, and external links are provided so the readers could evaluate statements themselves. This is all in compliance with the standard and transparency of sources.

Razkrinkavanje uses primary sources of evidence whenever it's possible, noting its sources and does so in a manner compliant with the standards.

After looking at a randomized sample it seems that Razkrinkavanje cross-checks its sources and relies on more than one source whenever it's possible.

There is nothing to point otherwise from the randomized sample.

Razkrinkavanje.si is a fact-checking section of Oštro, non-profit media. Oštro.si is registered with Slovenian Ministry of Culture as an online media outlet.

Please see the link for details regarding finances: https://www.ostro.si/en/finances.

Razkrinkavanje is a fact-checking project founded by Oštro, Slovenian investigative centre.

Finance reports are public, easy to find and detail the funding sources in an easily interpretable manner. 

Please see the link for details regarding finances: https://www.ostro.si/en/finances.

Statement on ownership is clear and easy to find on the website of the organization.

Please see https://www.ostro.si/en/people.

Editorial control is transparent, public and clear, easy to find on the website.

Please see https://www.ostro.si/en/people.

Biographies of those playing significant parts in the organization's output are available on the website, accessible and provide a solid picture of key people in the organization.

https://www.ostro.si/en/contact

The organization is easy to find and reach out to, both through the website and associated social media accounts.

Please scroll to section Kako delamo (How we work): https://www.ostro.si/si/o-projektu-razkrinkavanje 

The statement on the methodology it uses to select, research, write and publish its fact checks is readily available on the website.

The methodology of selecting topics and statements seems fair as it covers a variety of topics and parties in the Slovenian political spectrum. As explained within their methodology statement, they give preference to stories and topics that gained more reach and are of greater importance. This seems to be true after reviewing a randomized sample of their stories.

Fact-checks present evidence that appears to support the claim as well as relevant evidence that appears to undermine it.

Same rules apply to all fact-checks evaluated, regardless of the topic and the party involved. There are no obvious biases noted.

Razkrinkavanje tries to contact those who made the claim to seek supporting evidence, send additional questions and sometimes even update with the answers that were received after the fact-check was already published.

Our readers send us inquiries and suggestions for fact-checking via email, on Social Media (Twitter: https://twitter.com/razkrinkavanje, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/razkrinkavanje and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/razkrinkavanje.si/).

Readers can also send submit their suggestions or questions from the sections Piši nam (Write to us) (https://www.ostro.si/si/razkrinkavanje) and Contact (https://www.ostro.si/en/contact) on our webpage.

We also encourage them to send us inquiries on the page about Razkrinkavanje project (https://www.ostro.si/si/o-projektu-razkrinkavanje), where we also explain what readers can expect after sending an inquiry in the section Kako lahko pomagate? (How can you help?).

Readers could send their suggestions and proposals through the form on Razkrinkavanje's website. Email address is also available and people are also encouraged to use social media to reach the editorial team.

We publish corrections or complaints under articles which concern correction or complaint. Please see section Popravki in dopolnitve informacij (Corrections and additions to information): https://www.ostro.si/si/o-projektu-razkrinkavanje

Corrections and additions to information policy are published on the website and provide clear guidelines to suggest a correction or an addition to the fact-check.

At this link https://www.ostro.si/si/o-projektu-razkrinkavanje, under the section “Smernice”, we wrote: “Kako lahko pomagate? Če naletite na vsebino, o kateri menite ali slutite, da je neresnična, zavajajoča ali namerno lažniva, nas o tem obvestite. V skladu z uredniško presojo bomo vsebino natančno pregledali, analizirali in objavili svoje ugotovitve.”

This means: “How can you help us? If you come across content that you think or suspect to be untrue, misleading, or intentionally false, inform us. In accordance with the editorial assessment, we will carefully review, analyze and publish our findings.”

We have now changed that text into: “Kako lahko pomagate? Če naletite na vsebino, o kateri menite ali slutite, da je neresnična, zavajajoča ali namerno lažniva, nas o tem obvestite. Vsebino bomo natančno pregledali in se skladno z uredniško presojo odločili, ali jo bomo preverili in svoje ugotovitve objavili, po objavi pa vas o tem obvestili.”

This means: “How can you help us? If you come across content that you believe or suspect to be untrue, misleading or intentionally false, please let us know. We will carefully review it and make an editorial decision whether to review it and publish our findings. You will be notified after the publication.”

Adding more information on the evaluation process, i.e how the correction requests will be processed, within which time frame and what is the criteria for taking correction requests into account would help in setting up clearer definitions and expectations.

At Razkrinkavanje.si we have not yet received a request to publish a correction, only two requests to publish a “presentation of opposing facts” (Slovenian: prikaz nasprotnih dejstev).

According to the Slovene Mass Media Act anyone has the right to request a correction of the published information, which they believe affected their rights or interests. Additionally, the current law stipulates a person is also entitled to publish a “presentation of opposing facts’’ which is not considered a correction but an explanation.

As a rule, we add any internal corrections or new information to the already published stories in a manner that makes it very clear for our readers that something was changed. We date and outline any changes clearly below the story, and emphasize the change in the story with an asterisk to alert the reader to it.

For example, in May 2023 we wrote that Roman Protasevič is the former editor of the Nexta portal, not Next, as we wrote incorrectly in the article.

In such cases, we add a note to the bottom of the story.

https://www.ostro.si/si/razkrinkavanje/objave/letalo-v-minsku-ni-pristalo-zaradi-novinarja

Sometimes we have to publish an update because we have received new and relevant information. For example, in January 2023 we received and published a response to a fact-check we published three days after publication:

https://www.ostro.si/si/razkrinkavanje/objave/za-segrevanje-zemlje-sta-kriva-clovek-in-ogljikov-dioksid

According to the applicant, they haven't received a request to publish a correction by the time of writing, only two requests to publish a “presentation of opposing facts”. In cases where changes have been made, corrections have been made in a way that makes it clear to the readers that the changes have happened.

Oštro is an existing signatory.

Please, see bellow: https://www.ostro.si/si/o-projektu-razkrinkavanje

A statement saying "Oštro is a signatory to the IFCN International Fact-Checking Network's Code of Conduct. If you believe that the editors are violating the IFCN Code, you can report it to them" is available on the website.

Razkrinkavanje.si is committed to the professional principles which are set out in the Slovene Code of Ethics for Journalists and Munich Declaration of the Duties and Rights of Journalists. We published an internal code of ethics in September 2020.

The statement on adherence to open and honest corrections policy is available on the website https://www.ostro.si/si/o-projektu-razkrinkavanje