Raskrinkavanje is a fact-checking project developed by the Civic Association "Why not" (Udruženje građana “Zašto ne”), as specified in our “About” page: https://raskrinkavanje.ba/o-raskrinkavanju

CA “Why Not” is a legal entity registered in the register of civic associations within the Ministry of Justice of FBiH on January 9th 2001 under No. 56, Book 1 of the register, with registration number 03-054-992/97-2. Scanned copy of the Decision on the Registration, is in the attachment.

The applicant is legally registered and details of this are easily found on its website.

1. Raskrinkavanje was launched in December 2017. by the citizen association “Zašto ne”. Since 2010, our organization has been running another fact-checking platform, Istinomjer, which checks accuracy and consistency of statements by public officials and monitors the fulfillment of their parties’ pre-election promises. In that work, we noticed a growing need for a similar approach in the sphere of media accountability. We have often faced problematic claims that were not coming from politicians, but rather from the media which reported on their statements. Since Istinomjer is committed to strengthening the political accountability of public officials and does not deal with the verification of media information, such claims were never rated on that platform. Starting a separate platform for fact checking the media was, therefore, the next logical step for us.

2. Raskrinkavanje’s team includes editorial board (Editor-in-chief, Editor, Executive editor, Communications editor and one advisory member of editorial board), 5 in-house journalists, 4 external journalists/researchers and a creative director. The platform shares the organization's resources for financial and project administration and coordination, proofreading, design, web and social media management and other tasks as needed.

Information about Raskrinkavanje’s team can be found on our Impressum page: https://raskrinkavanje.ba/impressum

3. CA "Zašto ne" is an organization that works on the creation of a safe, secure, healthy, active, efficient and accountable society. We aim to achieve that through increasing civic participation, influencing government accountability and promoting the use of new technology tools in BiH in partnership with other stakeholders including formal and informal groups, organizations, institutions and individuals.

The organization’s goals are grouped in 7 main program areas:

Fact-checking and promotion of accountability

Civic participation

Monitoring of the government and political processes

Research and advocacy

Promoting the use of technology

Civic education for elections

“Why Not” Knowledge Factory

More information about our individual projects within these program areas is available on the organization's website: https://zastone.ba/organizacija/

In addition to our two fact-checking platforms, we carry out activities such as training of journalists and students in the field of fact-checking and media literacy.

We are one of the founding members of SeeCheck - https://seecheck.org/, a network of platforms engaged in fact-checking and fighting against disinformation in Southeast Europe.

4. In the next year we will continue to develop our platform and tackle disinformation in BiH and the region through various fact-checking content. While keeping our focus on fact-checking, we will also continue the work on publishing different in-depth analysis regarding the current events and issues of public importance and society's well-being. In the coming period we will as well continue to tackle disinformation before it happens when possible, through our new regular “prebunking” type of content, which we launched recently. We will continue to make our content available to a global audience, through regular content translation and publishing on the English version of our site: https://en.raskrinkavanje.ba/

In the coming period, we will also start implementing a new communication strategy, which we are currently finalizing and which will improve our reach and impact.

We also plan to work on the further development and re-designing of our website. This includes adding the new functionalities to our existing website, as well as change of overall design.

We intend to continue the efforts to build further and stronger cooperation with the fact-checking community, both individually and through our regional fact-checking network SeeCheck - a network of fact-checking platforms from SEE region whose close work and dedication to fact-checking resulted in number of collaborations and a creation of SEECheck website and regional virtual newsroom.

We will also continue our partnership with Facebook through Meta's Third Party Fact-Checker program and continue to look for similar partnerships in order to make our work more visible.

The unit is set up exclusively for the purpose of fact-checking, with a feasible strategic plan going forward.

In the last six months, Raskrinkavanje published more than 300 fact-checks, which is on average more than 12 fact-checks per week. All fact-checks published in the above mentioned period can be found here: https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analize

The applicant has published 300 debunking fact-cheks over the course of the six months, the average 11.5 per week. Besides that, the applicant regularly publishes weekly analyses, as well as analyses on important topic such as femicide, mass school shootings etc.

On average, over 90% 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.

Our organization has no commercial, financial and/or institutional relationship to the state, politicians or political parties in the country. Our work is funded through projects of donors like international organizations and embassies, as well as through Meta's Third Party Fact-Checker program.

Donors have no influence on our work. The work we do is performed strictly in line with our methodology and non-partisanship policy, which ensures objectivity and impartial approach to topics, research and ratings, regardless of source of disinformation.

All information on Raskrinkavanje’s funding for this and previous years can be found on this link: https://raskrinkavanje.ba/o-raskrinkavanju

The applicant’s editorial output is not, in the view of the IFCN, controlled by the state, a political party or politician.

We don't have any commercial, financial and/or institutional relationship to the state, politicians or political parties in the country.

In our work, we fully adhere to the principles of impartiality and prevention of conflicts of interest, which are defined by the principles of our parent organization and can be found at this link: https://zastone.ba/organizacija/

All information about our non-partisanship policy can be found at this link: https://raskrinkavanje.ba/o-raskrinkavanju

As the majority of independent media and non-government organizations in the Balkans, the applicant receives funding from foreign state sources.

The applicant 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.

Raskrinkavanje fact-checks and debunks disinformation and media manipulations from a wide source of media, from public broadcasters and commercial media outlets to anonymous "click-farm" outlets and social media pages. In accordance with our methodology, we use a dozen different ratings, so it would be hard to provide examples of consistency and coherent approach for each separate rating.

When it comes to political discourse in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region, the disinformation that we debunk targets members of different political parties and ethnic groups in BiH. This includes representatives of both parties in power and opposition parties in various levels of government.

Although our work in the last year was significantly focused on the false and misleading claims regarding the war in Ukraine, we also published a number of fact-checks related to local political processes and politicians. Besides that, we had general elections in 2022, which greatly contributed to that as well. The following examples demonstrate that we follow our methodology consistently, irregardless of which political actors or which parts of the political spectrum are targeted by disinformation or manipulation:

https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/opozicija-od-ambasada-nije-dobila-zadatak-za-unistavanje-institucija-srpske (targets opposition parties in Republika Srpska)

https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/stanivukovic-nije-tweetom-zahvalio-malagurskom-na-vodenju-kampanje (targets Major of Banjaluka Draško Stanivuković, member of PDP party)

https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/od-satire-do-lazne-vijesti-milorad-dodik-nije-poslao-pismo-upozorenja-cik-u (targets Milorad Dodik, President of Republika Srpska)

https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/zeljko-komsic-nije-nazvao-srbe-nacistima-i-fasistima (targets Željko Komšić, BiH Presidency Member)

https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/fotosopirani-plakat-semsudina-dedica-shvacen-kao-pravi-na-drustvenim-mrezama (targets politician Šemsudin Mehmedović, member of SDA party)

https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/niksic-i-mijatovic-nisu-izjavili-ono-sto-im-se-pripisuje-na-drustvenim-mrezama (targets politicians Nermin Nikšić, FBiH Prime Minister and SDP president, and Vojin Mijatović, Minister and vice-president of SDP party)

https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/izmisljena-izjava-ministra-nesica-o-izrucenju-sakiba-mahmuljina (targets politician Nenad Nešić, Minister and President of DNS party)

https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/izmisljena-izjava-i-montirana-fotografija-elmedina-konakovica (targets politician Elmedin Konaković, Minister and president of Narod i Pravda party)

https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/lazni-intervju-marinka-cavare-kao-reklama-za-bitcoin-platformu (targets politician Marinko Čavara, member of HDZ party and former FBiH President)

https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/manipulativni-izborni-narativi-izmisljeni-dokazi-da-je-jelena-trivic-strana-placenica (targets politician Jelena Trivić, President of Narodni Front party)

The applicant fact-checks using the same high standards of evidence and judgement for equivalent claims regardless of who/which media made the claim.

Raskrinkavanje bases its work on an impartial, independent and thorough verification of media information. Our methodology outlines the basic principles of how the platform operates, including:

The principles of selection of the content and media outlets which are monitored and rated on the platform;

Rating of specific items of media content and media themselves;

Use of sources for research, structure of fact-checking analyses, and methodology for creating lists of media with questionable credibility.

The “Selection of media” and “Selection of Claims and articles” parts of the methodology describe how our approach guarantees objectivity and impartiality in the selection of claims that are rated on Raskrinkavanje.

Our methodology can be found on this link: https://raskrinkavanje.ba/metodologija

The applicant does not unduly concentrate its fact-checking on any one side, seems to consider the reach and importance of claims it selects to check and publishes a short statement on its website to set out how it selects which media and what claims to check.

In the assessed sample of the applicant’s work, there was no visible need for the applicant to disclose any interests of the sources it quotes so the reader might reasonably conclude those interests could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided. The same applies for the commercial or other such relationships.

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.

Our non-partisanship policy, including its application on staffing, can be found on this link: https://raskrinkavanje.ba/o-raskrinkavanju

The application of the non-partisanship policy on the staff can also be found on the website of our parent organization on this link: https://zastone.ba/organizacija/

The applicant sets out its policy on non-partisanship for staff on its site.

On its site, 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.

The applicant identifies the source of all significant evidence used in its fact-checks, providing relevant links where the source is available online, in such a way that users can replicate their work if they wish.

The applicant uses the best available primary, not secondary sources of evidence wherever suitable primary sources are available.

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.

In the assessed sample of the aplicant’s work, there was no need for the applicant to identify any relevant interests of the sources it used, so the reader might reasonably conclude those interests could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided.

Raskrinkavanje is one of two fact-checking sections of parent organization CA ”Why not”, as noted in our “About” page: https://raskrinkavanje.ba/o-raskrinkavanju, and in our Impressum: https://raskrinkavanje.ba/impressum

Information about legal status and scope of work of CA “Zasto ne” as the parent organization can be found on this link - https://zastone.ba/organizacija

The statute of the organization is available on this link: https://zastone.ba/app/uploads/2023/02/STATUT-Zasto-ne.pdf

The applicant is a unit of an independent organization. It has a page on its website detailing each source of funding for the last 6 year. The applicant also makes clear who is its publisher, a non-government organization.

Raskrinkavanje is one of two fact-checking sections of parent organization CA ”Why not”, as noted in our “About” page: https://raskrinkavanje.ba/o-raskrinkavanju and in our Impressum: https://raskrinkavanje.ba/impressum

Information about legal status and scope of work of CA “Zasto ne” as the parent organization can be found on this link: https://zastone.ba/organizacija

The statute of the organization is available on this link: https://zastone.ba/app/uploads/2023/02/STATUT-Zasto-ne.pdf

Information about the parent organization's income is available on this link: https://zastone.ba/organizacija/

More detailed information on Raskrinkavanje’s funding for this and previous years can be found on this link: https://raskrinkavanje.ba/o-raskrinkavanju

The applicant is the fact-checking unit of another parent organization. It makes clear statement on ownership on its website.

Information about Raskrinkavanje’s team is published in our Impressum: https://raskrinkavanje.ba/impressum

A page on the applicant’s website sets out the applicant’s organizational structure and makes clear by whom editorial control is exercised.

Names and biographies of all members of the Raskrinkavanje team are published in our Impressum: https://raskrinkavanje.ba/impressum

A page on the applicant’s website details the professional biography of all those who, according to the organizational structure, play a significant part in its editorial output.

Contact information (mail and telephone) that are indicated as one of the possibilities of contacting the team is published in our Impressum: https://raskrinkavanje.ba/impressum, while links to our social media pages are listed in our About section: https://raskrinkavanje.ba/o-raskrinkavanju with a note that they can also be used to contact us.

We also regularly communicate with our readers via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The applicant provides easy means on its website for users to communicate with the editorial team, through a phone number, 2 emails and links to social networks.

Our methodology can be found at this link: https://raskrinkavanje.ba/metodologija

The applicant publishes on its website a thorough statement about the methodology it uses to select, research, write and publish its fact-checks.

The applicant selects claims to check based primarily on the importance of the claims, with evident public interest.

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, when possible.

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.

The applicant seeks where needed to contact those who made the claim to seek supporting evidence, noting that this is often not possible or needed with online claims, and if the person/media that makes the claim fails to reply in a timely way this does not impede the fact-check.

A section titled “Sugestije” is clearly visible in the main menu of our website. It leads to a drop-down menu which includes an option “Prijavi članak” that leads to a form that our readers can use to send any questionable information to our team for a review. The form also contains instructions on how to file a “report” and explanations to the readers on what they can and can’t expect to be fact-checked. It communicates that if the reported article contains some form of manipulation as defined by our methodology, the article will be fact-checked and the reader’s report will be linked to the published debunk. We also explain that they can expect to see a debunk of the reported claim (if published) on this link: https://raskrinkavanje.ba/sugestije

In addition to this form on the page, we encourage our readers to contact us and report any questionable piece of information via social networks Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The applicant encourages users to send in claims to check, while making it clear what readers can legitimately expect will be fact-checked and - if a claim isn’t fact-checkable - the applicant will inform the user of the reason.

The applicant also links fact-checks to reports of claims, which is a good approach to crowdsourcing.

Our corrections policy is published in our “About” section: https://raskrinkavanje.ba/o-raskrinkavanju

The applicant has a corrections / complaints policy that is easily accessible on the organization’s website. The applicant also publishes a separate document that contains corrections of analyzes from 2022 to this day.

The policy sets out clear definition of what it covers, how mistakes, especially those requiring revised conclusions of a fact-check, are handled. Based on the analysed sample, policy is adhered to scrupulously.

We continue to adhere to our policy in the same way as we used to from the beginning of our work. We provide a clear note of any additional changes made in published fact-checks (other than corrections of typos, formatting and similar) where new, or information different from what’s published, is obtained.

Examples:

1. Following the reactions and complaints of the media outlets, we changed some of the ratings, the headline and the lead of the fact-check published in June 2022. Some of the initial ratings were changed due to the lack of material evidence which could determine if the false claim was published by intention or by mistake. More elaborate explanation of the issue, including the statement on the correction can be found on this link:

https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/mural-posvecen-divjaku-nije-predstavljen-28-maja

2. In the fact-check published in August 2022, it was wrongly stated that, among others, the website Večernje novosti did not publish the publicly available statement which refutes the false claims published in their article. After the website contacted us and pointed out that the aforementioned statement was published on their website, the error was immediately corrected. More elaborate explanation of the issue, including the statement on the correction can be found on this link:

https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/cijena-parkinga-u-nultoj-zoni-u-banjoj-luci-nije-udvostrucena

Analyse of the examples the applicant provided, as well as the document that contains corrections of analyzes from 2022 to this day, the applicant made corrections openly and transparently.

Information about complaints regarding the IFCN Code can be found in the section "Correction of incorrect statements" on our About page: https://raskrinkavanje.ba/o-raskrinkavanju

The applicant informs users that if they believe the signatory is violating the IFCN Code, they may inform the IFCN, with a link to the IFCN site.

It does so on its corrections/complaints page which is also the page where it declares itself an IFCN signatory.

Not applicable (we are a project of a CSO, not a media company).

N/A - the applicant is not a fact-checking unit of a media company.