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 a fact-checking website founded by a legally registered organization "Why not" (Udruženje građana “Zašto ne”), and details of this are easily found on its website.

1-Raskrinkavanje was launched in December 2017. by citizen association “Zašto ne”. Since 2020, our organization has been running another fact-checking platform, Istinomjer, which checks accuracy and consistency of statements by public officials and monitors the fulfilment 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- Across the organization, 15 full-time employees are currently working on all platforms and projects. Out of the total number, 6 of them work on Raskrinkavanje full time, as members of editorial board and/or journalists for the platform. We also have 2 part-time employees who only work on Raskrinkavanje. The platform uses other organization's resources for financial and project administration, design, web development, etc. as needed.

*Note for the assessor: During the COVID-19 pandemic, several members of our other fact checking project’s team (Istinomjer) were onboarded to help with increased workload on "Raskrinkavanje". They appear as "external collaborators" in our impressum, as they are not a part of the website's core team.

Information about Raskrinkavanje’s team can be found on our Impressum page.

3- CA Why not 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, promoting the use of new technology tools in the whole of 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:

1. Fact-checking and promotion of accountability
2. Civic participation
3. Monitoring of the government and political processes
4. Research and advocacy
5. Promoting the use of technology
6. Civic education for elections
7. “Why Not” Knowledge Factory

More detailed information about our individual projects within these program areas is available on our website.

When it comes to our fact-checking program, other than our two fact-checking platforms, we carry out activities like trainings for journalists and students in the field of fact-checking and media literacy, develop educative online content about media literacy and we continue to develop interactive learning tools such as media-literacy themed quizzes and games. We are also one of the founders of SeeCheck, a network of platforms engaged in fact-checking and fight against disinformation in Southeast Europe.

4- In the next year we will continue to grow and develop, both in terms of staffing and scope of our work. We intend to work on the video content production, specifically to grow our YouTube presence; continue to build on our pioneer research of disinformation in BiH and the region (see here) with new studies of similar nature; build our partnerships with other fact-checkers in the region, including joint projects and research; build stronger partnerships with IFCN and develop pivotal partnerships for fighting disinformation with tech companies like Facebook and Google. Additionally, in the near future we plan to launch an English version of our website, where we will translate and publish fact-checks with relevance outside of BCS speaking area.

We will also continue to work on the development of new technologies and functionalities on our existing platform, including the largest searchable database of media outlets in the region.

The applicant was founded because of a growing need to verify media information in BiH. Today it is still dedicated to fact-checking such information. As an increasing disinformation expansion is ongoing in the Balkans, and media outlets have big role in it, fact-checking websites such as Raskrinkavanje are very much needed. During the COVID-19 crisis, this need was even more evident.

The organization that founded the applicant has one more fact-checking platform (Istinomjer.ba), and they, as stated in the application, also "carry out activities like trainings for journalists and students in the field of fact-checking and media literacy, develop educative online content about media literacy".

On the applicant's website it is stated clear that their team consists of 6 people, and 7 more people contribute. For 4 persons (out of 7) it is clearly pointed out they had/have a role in covering COVID-19 crisis, as during the time Raskrinkavanje needs increased. However, (at the Impressum page) there are 3 more persons stated as external collaborators, and the applicant stated for IFCN that there are "2 part-time employees who only work on Raskrinkavanje". If there were changes in contributors to the website, the applicant should update the website with fresh information.

During months of April, May and June, we have published 161 fact checks. Due to extraordinary circumstances in that time period, most of them were related to some form of disinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic.

A spreadsheet with all 161 fact checks published in the previous 3 months can be found here - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cstuJ8z-DQMZELo5liBrGjm2oxY498Kmdh2LjUvOaNo/edit?usp=sharing 

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the applicant has increased its number of fact-checks: just in April, May and June it has published 160 fact-checks, that is 12.3 per week.

Since the beginning of 2020 till April, the applicant published more than one fact-check a week. (Fact-checks were conducted from twice a week to once a day, it is hard to tell the exact number as some fact-checks are published in more than just one category.)

In the time of COVID-19 (app. last four months) it was hard to work on anything else but coronavirus pandemic. However, it is not all bad news for fact-checking organizations such as Raskrinkavanje, as these are the times they show their true nature, help people to orient and increase their influence. By going through a relevant sample of the 160 fact-checks Raskrinkavanje did in the last three months (April-June), it is clear majority of them were in the interest of people of BiH and region, and some were not, but all of them (based on a sample of work assessed) are relevant: some in terms of regional and global politics, some concern non-political global issues, and some are just for fun, but showing how far desinformation goes when it comes to coronavirus.

Our organization has no commercial, financial and/or institutional relationship to the state, politicians or political parties in the country. Our work is funded exclusively by international organizations and embassies which share our beliefs of objectivity and impartiality.

The only donor currently supporting the work of the platform that can be considered a foreign political actor is the Embassy of the USA in Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Donors have no influence on our work. The work we do is performed strictly in line with our methodology and non-partisanship policy, which ensure objectivity and impartial approach to topics, research and ratings, regardless of who the “actors” of disinformation are.

According to the information provided by the applicant (and its website), in 2019 and 2020, the applicant did not receive any help from the state, politicians or political parties. It received/receives funds from National Endowment for Democracy (NED), US embassy in BiH, Center for Civil Society Promotion (CCSP - civilnodrustvo.ba), European Endowment for Democracy (EED), Open Society foundation (OSF), Balkan Trust for Democracy (BTD) and IFCN.

There are no proofs Raskrinkavanje is under any kind but financial influence from the mentioned donors. The editorial decisions seems legit, independent and trustworthy.

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

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

UPDATE: We have removed the part of the quoted sentence that was described as showing affection towards the financial sources. 

There is a link on the applicant's website stating "Activities within the Raskrinkavanje project, and all other projects of the Zašto ne organization, are independent of any political influence, including financial".

In addition,

"Our work is funded exclusively by international organizations and embassies, which share our beliefs of objectivity and impartiality."

Although the applicant has already stated the editorial independence and showed the methodology of its work, it is suggested to remove any kind of affection toward the financial sources, as it may be wrongly understood by the readers in area such as the Balkans. This is not obligatory, but a suggestion.

There is a link on the applicant's website stating "Activities within the Raskrinkavanje project, and all other projects of the Zašto ne organization, are independent of any political influence, including financial".

The applicant has stated the editorial independence and showed the methodology of its work.

The topics we research and information we verify come from a wide range of sources, from public broadcasters and commercial media outlets, to anonymous “click-farm” portals and Facebook pages. On top of that, Raskrinkavanje uses about a dozen different ratings, so it would be hard to provide examples of consistency and coherent approach for each individually.

In the context of political discourse in BiH and the region, the disinformation that we debunk targets members of different political parties and ethnic groups in BiH. We're providing examples of fact checks for claims which pertain to ethnic and/or political issues, as an area where non-partisan approach is most relevant in BiH. These fact checks demonstrate that we debunk, with the same approach and level of detail, disinformation that targets different political actors and/or is rooted in different parts of the political spectrum:

https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/mup-republike-srpske-nije-stavio-tri-prsta-u-video-za-kampanju-protiv-vrbovanja-djece-na-internetu (targets the Ministry of the Interior of the BiH entity Republika Srpska)

https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/na-granici-kaznjavani-gradani-bez-propisanih-putnih-isprava-a-ne-hrvati (targets state border control institutions; accusing them of bias against Croats)

https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/ne-ovo-nije-fotografija-clanske-knjizice-dragana-covica-u-savezu-komunista-jugoslavije (targets Dragan Čović, a leader of the biggest Croat party in BiH)

https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/nebuloze-o-naseljavanju-terorista-na-zemljistu-oduzetom-od-republike-srpske (targets Bakir Izetbegović, leader of the biggest Bosniak party in BiH)

https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/alen-seranic-nije-rekao-da-ce-svi-gradani-fbih-sa-teritorije-rs-a-biti-sprovedeni-na-teritorij-federacije (targets Alen Šeranić, minister of health of Republika Srpska)

https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/mostarom-nije-odjekivalo-za-dom-spremni (targets Croat citizens of Mostar)

https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/istrazivacko-novinarstvo-portala-deblokada-govor-mrznje-i-facebook-voajerizam (targets a journalist on the basis of her Serb ethnicity)

https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/hina-i-index-razlicito-predstavljanje-istih-poruka (targets Islamic Community in BiH)

https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/ratno-huskanje-od-alo-do-slobodne-bosne (targets Kosovo politician Ramush Haradinaj)

https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/put-laznog-tweeta-o-jasenovcu-od-anonimnog-komentara-do-ministarstva-odbrane (targets Emir Suljagić, director of the Srebrenica-Potočari Memorial Center)

The applicant covers variaty of media related content, some of which are connected to different political subjects. Same standards seem to be applying for all claims.

Raskrinkavanje bases its work on an impartial, independent and thorough verification of media information.

In the methodology of our work (https://raskrinkavanje.ba/metodologija) we presented the basic principles of how the platform operates, including:

1. The principles of selection of the content and media outlets which are monitored and rated on the platform;
2. Rating of specific items of media content and media themselves;
3. 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. 

The applicant has published clearly on its website the methodology of its work - how they select claims to check, the manner of evaluation of those checks and media that published them, what sources the applicant uses to check claims, etc.

Since the applicant's funding is not supported by commercials, it has no need to point out such relationship in its fact-checks. The applicant covers various topics in its work, and on the way it does not seem to concentrate on any sides.

The applicant does not seem to be affiliated with any political subject, nor does it advocate any political party's interests.

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

On its website, the applicant clearly states that "no one who works in "Raskrinkavanje" is and must not be an active member of any political party, nor actively participate in the election campaigns of political entities".

It is a clear rule, although with no explanation (if needed) how the applicant will make sure such rule is respected.

From a random sample of the applicant's work, it is evident the applicant links both sources of claims being fact-checked and sources where the claims are checked upon (where available). The methodology of what sources the applicant use, is explained at its website.

Based on a random sample of Raskrinkavanje's work, the applicant tends to use the best available primary sources, or adequate replacement (such as archive.org). The use of archive.org and similar sources is not explained in stories, but it is easy for readers to make sure it is relevant, without burdening the story.

The applicant tends to check key elements of claims against more than one source (based on analysis of random sample of its work).

I have not found evidence of the applicant identifying 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, nor the need for such thing.

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 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  

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 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  

UPDATE: We have added the percentages mentioned. 

The applicant is a fact-checking website founded by a legally registered organization "Why not" (Udruženje građana “Zašto ne”), and details of this are easily found on its website.

The applicant states in "about" section how it is funded - it provides names of sources of funding, and costs per year. However, as it is not clear with how many % each source participate in the applicant's funding, I cannot confirm all of the names are up there. The applicant should make a change here.

The applicant is a fact-checking website founded by a legally registered organization "Why not" (Udruženje građana “Zašto ne”), and details of this are easily found on its website.

The applicant states in "about" section how it is funded - it provides names of sources of funding, and costs per year and also how many % each source participate in the applicant's funding.

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 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 applicant is a fact-checking website founded by a legally registered organization "Why not" (Udruženje građana “Zašto ne”), and details of this are easily found on its website.

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

It is clear on the applicant’s website by whom editorial control is exercised. The applicant is also pointing to its owner - organization "Why not" (Udruženje građana “Zašto ne”), where information about director and other management staff can be found.

One of three editors of Raskrinkavanje is Darko Brkan - president of organization "Why not”.

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

There is a page on the applicant’s website detailing the professional biographies of all those who play a significant part in its editorial output, including Darko Brkan - president of organization "Why not" and one of three editors of Raskrinkavanje.

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

Address, phone number and Raskrikavanje's email addresses are clearly stated at the applicant's website. Twitter and FB accounts are available from the home page as well.

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

The applicant has a very thorough methodology explained at its website.

By analyzing random checks, I can confirm the applicant has selected claims based on the methodology it provided.

By analyzing random checks, it is clear the applicant provides relevant evidence to support the claim (sources of claims) as well as relevant evidence that undermines it.

The applicant always tends to use relevant sources.

At its website, the applicant states that before publishing any analysis, they contact all media outlets that have published the claims (that are the subject of the analysis etc), with inquiries in which they explain the results of their research and then they wait at least 24 hours for a response or reaction in the form of a correction. I cannot see what kind of response the applicant is looking for, that is whether it asked for an evidence or a comment.

Due to emergency situation related to coronavirus and the need for timely reporting, the applicant stated on its website, they have decided to "deviate slightly from the methodology". They continued to send inquiries to the media but will, in this period, restrain from the usual practice of waiting for a response before publishing the analysis.

We have a clearly visible (in the main menu) section titled “Report an article”, where readers can send any questionable information it to our team for a review. A page with the blank form and instructions on how to fill in the form and report any news piece can be found at this link- https://raskrinkavanje.ba/sugestija

The form also contains explanation to the readers on what they can and can’t expect to be fact-checked (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 news pieces via social networks Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, via messages and tags

We have a clearly visible (in the main menu) section titled “Report an article”, where readers can send any questionable information it to our team for a review. A page with the blank form and instructions on how to fill in the form and report any news piece can be found at this link- https://raskrinkavanje.ba/sugestija

The form also contains explanation to the readers on what they can and can’t expect to be fact-checked (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 news pieces via social networks Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, via messages and tags.

UPDATE: We have added the link to the Methodology page. 

The applicant does encourage users to send in claims to check, by having a clearly visible section "Report an article". In the same place, it explains to readers that their claims will be fact-checked if they comply with the applicant's methodology. I suggest the applicant add a link to the methodology page there, as it can advance the readers' understanding of what will (not) be checked, and improve the communication.

The applicant does encourage users to send in claims to check, by having a clearly visible section "Report an article". In the same place, it explains to readers that their claims will be fact-checked if they comply with the applicant's methodology, with the link leading to the methodology page.

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

The applicant has a clear corrections policy that is easily visible on the applicant's website.

Update: We have added an explanation about the time to handle the complaints, specifically that it is usually done within one working day, unless an additional fact check is required that can take longer than that.

The applicant has a clear corrections policy that is easily visible on the applicant's website. However, the applicant should also state how much time it needs to correct or at least consider the complaint, so those who complain should know what to expect.

The applicant has a clear corrections policy that is easily visible on the applicant's website.

We continue to adhere to our policy in the same way as we used to from the beginning.

That entails a clear marking 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:

Analysis of false claims about COVID-19 cure: we wrote that the Agency for medicinal products and medical devices of Bosnia and Herzegovina didn’t respond to our inquiry, sent on April 17, by the time when our fact-check was published (April 21). The Agency contacted us after the text was published, stressing that the original inquiry was sent during religious holidays/non-working days (April 17 and 20) and that we received answers on the first working day. We added their note to the text. https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/prikrivena-reklama-lijeka-za-covid-19-koji-to-nije

Analysis of false claims about EU ban on flights carrying Russian humanitarian aid to epidemic-stricken Italy: we incorrectly attributed one of the false claims to a portal called “BH index”, when it was in fact published by a similarly titled portal “Index.ba”. The error was made due to the similarity of their names. BH Index contacted us and pointed out that we made an error, which we corrected immediately. https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/clanice-eu-nisu-zabranile-let-ruskog-humanitarnog-aviona

Analysis of false claims about the European Commission announcing the date when borders will reopen (in the context of ongoing pandemic): we initially made a mistake about the source of the disinformation, as we always try to track both the source and all the subsequent reposts of the disinformation we debunk. In this case, we discovered that a different Facebook page than the one we pinpointed as a source, had posted the same content earlier. We immediately updated that information and included a note about the correction. https://raskrinkavanje.ba/analiza/nije-tacno-da-se-od-3-maja-otvaraju-drzavne-granice-za-sve-putnike-na-podrucju-europe 

In all 3 examples, Raskrinkavanje made a correction openly and transparently, trying to ensure that users of the original see the correction and the corrected version.

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 

On the page where it declares itself an IFCN signatory, and where it stated its own corrections policy, the applicant informs users that if they believe it has violated the IFCN Code, they may inform the IFCN, with a link to the IFCN site.

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

The applicant is not a media company, not it belongs to one.