Organization: StopFake.org
Applicant: Alla Radnyuk
Assessor: Andriy Kulykov
Background
Stopfake.org was callled to life in Ukraine in 2014, when the country became the target of massive propaganda from abroad against the background of foreign aggression resulting in the annexation of Crimea and the ongoing war in the East of the country. Since then, Stopfake.org has been the most well-known and, arguably the most authoritative fact checking operation in Ukraine. As Ukraine is a country with laws and practices providing for free expression, this is being used by some media to promote their own, their owners', and indeed their owners' sponsors' interests by manipulative news and other types of content. Given an insufficient level of media literacy in the country, timely and skilled reaction of fact checkers is needed on a regular basis to try to keep general public safe from the destrctive impact of distorted and misrepresented information. Stopfake.org is among those factchecking organizations in Ukraine that actively oppose fake news and propaganda, both from foreign and Ukrainian sources.
Assessment Conclusion
This assessor's conclusion is that the application from Stopfake.org should be granted as their work is based on principles that match the IFCN's requirements. Stopfake.org meet every criteria defined by the IFCN where those criteria are applicable to their work. Indeed, they base their fact-checking policy on the international professional principles which aim at ensuring the right of the public to receiving verified information. In their everyday work, Stopfake.org lean on methods of monitoring, archiving, and debunking disinformation and misinformation, with the strategic aim of raising the public's level of resilience to destructive media impact. Their correction policy is transparent, as their general scope of activities is, and they duly inform the public of the public's right and opportunity to file complaints against their actions directly to the IFCN. Stopfake.org are also aware of the need to be even-handed in their treatment of various media outlets, both Ukrainian and foreign, as well as of what those outlets produce. The information about Stopfake.org provided on their web site gives an opportunity for any visitor to gain all-round knowledge of their sources of financing, editorial policies, structure, and of how to interact with the team, including filing complaints against presumed disinformation or against mistakes that Stopfake.org themselves might be making.
Andriy Kulykov assesses application as Compliant
A short summary in native publishing language
StopFake.org був покликаний до життя. коли країна перетворилась на мішень масованої пропаганди з-поза кордону на тлі іноземної агресії, що спричинила анексію Криму і розв'язання війни на Сході країни. Як найвідоміший і, можна твердити, найавторитетніший викривальний проект в Україні, StopFake.org виконує велику роботу з викриття дезінформації, що походить як з закордонних, так і з українських джерел. Робота Stopfake.org спирається на міжнародно визнані професійні принципи, що передбачають право публіки на отримання достовірної інформації. Діяльність Stopfake.org сприяє підвищенню ступеня опірності українського суспільства деструктивним медіавпливам. Структура, джерела фінансування, редакційна політика Stopfake.org прозорі, як і заявлені методи взаємодії з аудиторією. Stopfake.org відповідає критеріям IFCN, шо мають бути застосовані до оцінювання цієї організації.
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.
StopFake.org
03-Aug-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Stopfake.org is the flagship project of non-governmental organization Media Reforms Center. You can find the information about this in our website - on “About us” menu:
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
StopFake.org is a distinct unit within a legally registered organization, with details a out it easily found on the organization's website.
done_all 1.1 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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?
StopFake.org
03-Aug-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
1. On March 2, 2014 Kyiv Mohyla Journalism School lecturers, graduates and students along with the KMA Digital Future of Journalism project launched the Stopfake.org fact checking site. Stopfake is a flagship project of the non-governmental organization “Media Reforms Center” located in Ukraine. Journalists, editors, IT specialists, translators, all those who cared about the future of Ukraine during this dangerous time of the annexation of Crimea and the war in eastern Ukraine joined the project. Initially the goal of the project was to verify and refute disinformation and propaganda about events in Ukraine being circulated in the media. Eventually the project grew into an information hub where we examine and analyze all aspects of Kremlin propaganda. We not only look at how propaganda influences Ukraine, we also try to investigate how propaganda impacts on other countries and regions, from the European Union to countries which once made up the Soviet Union.
In our website on "About us" menu we explain who we are in details: https://www.stopfake.org/ru/o-nas/
2. 12- part-time employees work for our fact-checking operation (Editor-in-chief;
Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Executive Director, 9 fact-checkers)
3- sm manager, technical director and website support team
2 - trainings and project team
11 - editors of the foreign versions of the website
3. StopFake is a network of websites in 13 languages for analyzing disinformation and explaining to the audience the principles of media manipulation, propaganda technologies and fake news.
Stopfake project activities:
Fact checking. Identifying and refuting fake information about events in Ukraine.
Key area of work for StopFake is verifying facts about events in Ukraine and debunking disinformation that appears in Russian media.
Also, we do fact-check political/social claims and issues, economics/financial claims and issues, health related claims and issues, scientific claims and issues, manipulated user generated photos, manipulated user generated videos.
Trainings on fighting anti-democratic propaganda and disinformation, on fact-checking and information verification
The Stopfake team trains lecturers, journalists, students and civil activists to verify information. Our experts conduct training and workshops on fact checking both in Ukraine and abroad.
Media research
Constantly monitoring Russian propaganda, the StopFake team creates a platform for research on informational influences. In our website we have a section “Research” where we posted media research and also our own analytical investigation.
https://www.stopfake.org/uk/category/doslidzhennya/
https://www.stopfake.org/ru/category/issledovaniya/
https://www.stopfake.org/en/category/research/
Media Literacy
In order to draw the attention of Ukrainian audiences to the problems of media literacy and to encourage more critical consumption and evaluation of the media, we launched an information campaign that includes production and broadcasting of social ads on media literacy in the media.
Together with our partners we created “The Manual on teaching Media Literacy”. (See also Report 2016-2017)
Cooperation with IREX within the framework of the national project “The Learn to Discern: Info Media Literacy” (See also Report 2018-2019) The main goal of the project is to integrate critical information consumption skills into existing secondary school curricula and teacher training programs at pre- and in-service teacher training institutes. The StopFake team is expert of the project; Trainers for participants (school principals, teachers), developers of methodologies for integrated teaching of media literacy in schools and lessons (History of Ukraine, World History, Art, Ukrainian language, Ukrainian literature) for students in grades 9-10.
A national media literacy campaign in partnership with Facebook. (2019). The content of the campaign was to promote 9 media literacy tips developed by the British FullFact community of fact-checkers https://fullfact.org/toolkit/ on StopFake's Facebook page.
The main activities of StopFake also include:
Weekly 10-minute audio- and video digests (StopFakeNews) in Russian, Ukrainian and English.
It contains information about the fakes that the team exposed during the week, as well as ways to debunk the propaganda. They are distributed via YouTube, as well as many regional TV channels:
https://www.stopfake.org/ru/category/video/
https://www.stopfake.org/uk/category/video-uk/
https://www.stopfake.org/en/category/videos/
Until 2018, StopFake published a monthly newspaper “Tvoe pravo znat” which was distributed free of charge to residents of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. From the issue of the newspaper, people learned not only about false news spread in the media, but also about the ways to verify information - and thus become media literate
https://www.stopfake.org/ru/category/gazeta/
Also at the bottom of the site you can click to the link to read our detailed 2016-2017, 2018-2019 Report. https://www.stopfake.org/ru/o-nas/
4. StopFake aims to become a leading research and analytical institution, which, synthesizing the world's latest achievements in digital information and communication, will create a new model of digital expertise for the development of Ukrainian society. We also strive to become a platform for public discussion of problems and for communicating the results of our research to stakeholders involved in various information processes.
To achieve this, our strategic model model is based on the principle of RTI (Research, Teaching, Informing).
RTI priorities are:
● Network connections and digital communication;
● Analysis of destructive communication and roles of influencers;
● Study of the phenomenon of fake news, media manipulations and information operations;
● Information verification tools and technologies for analyzing the distribution of dangerous content;
● Fact-checking, information verification;
● Research of individual and collective behavior on the Internet;
● Methodology for the development of media literacy and work in the field of media education with different target audiences;
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The answers provided by StopFake.org, if maybe too long, check against available information and, indeed, against their reputation in Ukraine.
done_all 1.2 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
StopFake.org
03-Aug-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Since 2014 StopFake has published 40-100 fact-checking articles per month on StopFake.org web site.
You can find a list of our fact checks in this table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Yh7fdCBtjsYQ0tmad8rIPZAfvvARMMshMjidyGFNEto/edit?usp=sharing
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
StopFake.org do fulfill the required quota of the average number of fact checks per week.
done_all 1.3 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Broadly speaking, all the fact checks carried out by StopFake.org (including the ones carried out in the recent three months) relate to the well-being of society and different groups within the society (i.e. also relate to the well-being of individuals) if we go outside the definition of well-being as just material well-being.
done_all 1.4 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
StopFake.org
03-Aug-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Stopfake.org is not supported financially or otherwise by any official Ukrainian organization or government agency. We are a journalists’ organization whose primary goal is to verify information, raise media literacy in Ukraine and establish a clear red line between journalism and propaganda. Our editorial policy is based on international principles of professional ethics in journalism, including the right to true information. Our intentions are to fight disinformation by debunking it and educating people about real news vs fake news and how to build informational resilience: https://www.stopfake.org/ru/o-nas/
Main approaches to our work are summarized in our EDITORIAL POLICY: https://www.stopfake.org/ru/o-nas/
StopFake also has a Supervisory Board - an advisory body, which includes well-known opinion leaders and influencers in education, journalism, communications and the public sector - both from Ukraine and from abroad. The experience and advice of the members of the Supervisory Board will help to make our fact-checking work even more transparent, ideologically balanced and aimed at ensuring the sustainable development of the organization. https://www.stopfake.org/uk/stopfake-otrimav-novu-naglyadovu-radu/
In 2019 StopFake received as a grant 191,843.74 GBP from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) of the United Kingdom. The FCO provided grant funding to implement the project entitled: “StopFake.org – Using fact checking and data verification for tackling propaganda”. The grant money was spent to produce media literacy content (including 3 weekly TV shows, one weekly radio show and one monthly newspaper). StopFake does not have local or foreing state funding support in 2020 FY.
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
StopFake.org is well known in Ukraine for its independent status, not linked to any governmental or political party institutions and organizations, as well as for being aloof from any individual politicians. They are also not linked to such persons or organizations in other countries they cover. The grant they received from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office can hardly be considered a factor of dependance on the UK government as the conditions of the grant provide for the applicant's independence in organizing the work of the website.
done_all 1.5 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
StopFake.org
03-Aug-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Garanties of independence of the StopFake work reflected in our Editorial Policy that can be found on our web site https://www.stopfake.org/en/about-us/ (in English)
https://www.stopfake.org/ru/o-nas/ (in Russian)
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago)
The link dutifully provided and the contents on the webpage match the required aspect, though it seems that the description may be (and indeed should be) shorter.
done_all 1.6 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
StopFake.org
03-Aug-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
1. Фейк: Американцы начали испытывать вакцину от коронавируса на «ВСУшниках»:
2. Манипуляция: Грузия и Молдова не платят пенсии жителям оккупированных территорий
3. Фейк: У тех, кто носит маску и перчатки, появляется грибок на руках
https://www.stopfake.org/ru/fejk-u-teh-kto-nosit-masku-i-perchatki-poyavlyaetsya-gribok-na-rukah/
4. Манипуляция: В Евросоюзе фермерам дотации, а в Украине — налог
https://www.stopfake.org/ru/manipulyatsiya-v-evrosoyuze-fermeram-dotatsii-a-v-ukraine-nalog/
5. Фейк: «Наркотик» «адренохром» был заражен коронавирусом для всемирной спецоперации
6. Манипуляция: С 28 апреля в Украине нельзя оплачивать коммунальные услуги дистанционно без идентификации личности
7. Фейк: В Ужгороде “исчез” радиоактивный источник, ЕС в опасности
https://www.stopfake.org/ru/fejk-v-uzhgorode-ischez-radioaktivnyj-istochnik-es-v-opasnosti/
8. Фейк: Украинская ракета «Нептун» оконфузилась во время испытаний
https://www.stopfake.org/ru/fejk-ukrainskaya-raketa-neptun-okonfuzilas-vo-vremya-ispytanij/
9. Фейк: Украинский Boeing, который сбили в Иране, находился под управлением США
10. Фейк: Опрос показал, как УССР жилось в составе Советского Союза
https://www.stopfake.org/ru/fejk-opros-pokazal-kak-ussr-zhilos-v-sostave-sovetskogo-soyuza/
Evidence-based debunking is focusing on getting corroborating information from open sources (information from official websites – institutions and organizations, statistical data from official bodies and sociological research groups; comments from leading experts, officials and international experts. Also analysis of photo and video images can be conducted - with a use of special software or without.
For example, the debunking of the fake information that Americans allegedly started testing the COVID-19 vaccine on the Ukrainian military was based on the comments from Oleksiy Mazepa, the head of the media relations department of the Medical Division of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as official statistics of the Armed Forces on coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
The fake report that those who wear a mask and gloves develop fungus on their hands has been refuted by using official data from the study "Microclimate and the spread of bacteria in the dead zone of filter respirators for the face №95" which was done in 2018, where researchers studied the distribution of bacteria taken from the inner surface of the mask used. They showed no signs of bacterial growth in the mask. Also we gave the expert opinion of the doctor Daryna Dmytrievska, who explained the nature of bacterial reproduction and also refuted the fake information. In analyzing this fake story, StopFake fact-checkers also used the previous output from other fact-checking organizations- Politifact, Boom, Reuters.
The debunking of the manipulation that Georgia and Moldova do not pay pensions to residents of the Russia-occupied territories was based on expert commentary by Marina Pochhua, Georgian human rights activist, as well as opinion of Lidia Zubko, UN Legal Adviser on Refugees and Oleksandr Moza, human rights activist from Moldova that they presented during a conference of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
False reports are often based on manipulative interpretations of laws and other official documents. In such cases, fact-checkers review these documents in detail, comparing the main provisions with those interpreted in a fake story.
For example, after some outlets published manipulative story that starting April 28,2020 it is allegedly impossible to pay for utilities remotely, without identification of the payee, fact-checkers analyzed the law and found that this information is not true.
The law has a number of exceptions, including utilities: “This article does not apply to the cases of: transfer of money to pay taxes, fees, charges, mandatory payments to state Pension fund and social insurance, penalties and fines to the state and local budgets, to the accounts of public authorities, local governments or the transfer of funds for housing and communal services, "- says the law.
The refutation also provides information from the official website of the National Bank of Ukraine.
For the fullest possible explanation, StopFake also asked the chairman of the Association Antonina Murashko to comment. She said that the information disseminated in the media and social networks was taken out of context: the problem can arise only when payments for the utilities are made via electronic wallets. According to her, the new law prescribes that all e-wallets must be identified before making payments.
Manipulative poll interpretation can be another example of a fake story. StopFake fact-checkers analyzed contradictory results for the poll about Ukraine as part of the Soviet Union that allegedly demonstrated certain level of nostalgia for Soviet Union among Ukrainians.
In this case analysis revealed that it is not a representative study, but rather a survey of Telegram channel users. Also we asked Volodymyr Paniotto, Director of the reputable Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) for the comment. For the wider context StopFake added data from recent (December 2019) research by SeeD, which studied Ukrainian society within the framework of the SCORE project (Social Cohesion and Reconciliation Index) and also studied the level of Soviet nostalgia in Ukraine that demonstrated opposite results.
In addition to that fact-checkers quoted another study by Rating, the Ukrainian reputable sociological group on whether Ukrainians regret the collapse of the USSR. 55% said they did not regret, 30% regretted, and 16% found it difficult to answer this question (December 2017).
In their work all StopFake fact-checkers follow the methodology, which is available at: https://drive.google.com/file/u/1/d/1BTwVSDx32jB-OTi0DtF-vCIkasdUvsGi/view
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Overall, the links to publications and the explanations provided by the applicant match the non-partisanship criteria, although it seems that in one case (https://www.stopfake.org/ru/fejk-amerikantsy-nachali-ispytyvat-vaktsinu-ot-koronavirusa-na-vsushnikah/) the debunking is based solely on claims by a person and an organization who are most interested in disporoving the allegation in question.
done_all 2.1 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
StopFake.org
03-Aug-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
In order to identify false or questionable information, our team members conduct regular monitoring of messages from mainly traditional and online media but also occasionally from social networks.
The fakes that Stopfake checks and refutes traditionally mostly relate to, but are not limited to, Russian disinformation. Information subject to fact checking may include, but is not limited to. television or radio stories. publications in the media or on the sites that are not officially registered media, posts on social networks in certain thematic groups, made by both well-known bloggers and regular users.
We do not unduly concentrate our fact-checking on any one side, we do fact checking and verification information according to StopFake methodology: https://www.stopfake.org/ru/o-nas/
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
StopFake.org really does not limit its efforts to debunking disinformation solely from Russian sources. However, the bulk of their factchecks pertains to information generated in Russia (which may be quoted by a Ukrainian source). Where Ukrainian-Russian opposition or relations are concerned, it is hard to find a publication which would aim at finding out whether the Ukrainian official point of view is due to be questioned. From the formal point of view, though, StopFake.org does explain on its website what is required by the criteria.
done_all 2.2 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago)
The applicant does meet the criteria by denoting relevant information in its publications.
done_all 2.3 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The applicant does meet the requirements of riteria 2.4, although it is understood that impressions of users of the organization's produce may run contrary to what the organization declares or does not declare.
done_all 2.4 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
StopFake.org
03-Aug-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
StopFake fact- checkers subscribe to Global Charter of Ethics for Journalists (known as “Bordeaux Declaration”) and use it as a guideline for their activities: https://www.stopfake.org/en/about-us/
https://drive.google.com/file/d/16D2z8uIPe3O6hsK845XGH3CSvFXX3WK0/view
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The applicant's claim checks against what is displayed on their website.
done_all 2.5 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
StopFake.org consistently provide sources of all significant evidence they use in their fact checks. The links open and lead to the relevan information. Users can replicate the work of the fact checkers if they wish to do so.
done_all 3.1 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
StopFake.org go for primary sources wherever possible. They resort to secondary sources for checking information rarely, and do explain why they have done so if they have to resort to secondary sources.
done_all 3.2 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
StopFake.org check their claims against more than one relevant source except cases when there is only one relevant source available.
done_all 3.3 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
StopFake.org do identify relevant interests of the sources they use to check information they are verifying so that users can see a possible influence of such interests on the information gleaned from those sources.
done_all 3.4 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
StopFake.org
03-Aug-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
StopFake is a fact-checking project of a Ukrainian non-government organization Media Reforms Center
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
There is evidence of the applicant being a unit of an independent organization, and there is proof of this organiation's status.
done_all 4.1 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
StopFake.org
03-Aug-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Please see this information on our web-site - “About us”:
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The link the applicant has provided does lead to a detaied budget description, albeit one click away.
done_all 4.2 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
StopFake.org
03-Aug-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Please read about the organizational structure on the website "About us" menu - "The Stopfake team": https://www.stopfake.org/ru/o-nas/
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The link provided by the applicant does lead to a clear statement about the structure of their team from which you can easily get an idea about who exercises editorial control and how this is done.
done_all 4.3 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
StopFake.org
03-Aug-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
You can find "The Stopfake team" and bios on the website - "About us" menu: https://www.stopfake.org/ru/o-nas/
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The link the applicant provided leads to the page from where you can easily access professional biographies of people who play a significant role in the editorial output of StopFake.org.
done_all 4.4 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
StopFake.org
03-Aug-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
If readers spot fake information, they can send it to us for a truth autopsy at email. You can find this information in "About us" menu. Also under the language icons on the site we have a form - "Report about fake" and icons to our accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Telegram and Youtube channel: https://www.stopfake.org/ru/o-nas/
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The link the applicant sent does lead to a call on users to communicate with the editorial team of StopFake.org.
done_all 4.5 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
StopFake.org
03-Aug-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
We explain our Methodology on the page "About us": https://www.stopfake.org/ru/o-nas/
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
There is a detailed explanation of the methodology the applicant uses to select, research, write, and publish their fact checks.
done_all 5.1 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The fact checks published by StopFake.org are by and large conducted according to the methodology they display on their website.
done_all 5.2 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
StopFake.org scores here on both counts checking both the evidence that supports and undermines a claim they research.
done_all 5.3 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The applicant meets the criteria of even-handed attitutde towards assessing the merits of the evidence on equivalent claims, no matter who the claimants are.
done_all 5.4 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Where possible, StopFake.org do seek to contact makers of a claim. The results of these efforts would find their way into publications.
done_all 5.5 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
StopFake.org
03-Aug-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
We do have a button 'Report about a fake' on the website, also we use social media engagement instruments and invite our TV audience (Ukrainian/Russian/English TV shows) to reach out to us and report fakes:
https://www.stopfake.org/ru/o-nas/
https://www.stopfake.org/ru/category/video/
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
It is easy to send claims to check to StopFake.org, and this opportunity is advertised on their website.
done_all 5.6 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
StopFake.org
03-Aug-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The correcions and complaints policy of StopFake.org is easily available on their website.
done_all 6.1 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
Criteria 6.2
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the corrections policy to verify it meets critera. No additional information needed.
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
The corrections policy of StopFake.org does meet the criteria explained above.
done_all 6.2 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
StopFake.org
03-Aug-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
We have 2 examples. Please click to the button on our website - “Corrections policy” (page “About us”): https://www.stopfake.org/ru/o-nas/
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
There really are two examples of the application of the corrections policy. However, it is not clear whether they happened within the specified period of time.Provided StopFake.org understood the time period requirement this criteria may be deemed compliant. It also goes for the response requirement although it is provided rather in a descriptive way than in a way of quoting the responses proper.
done_all 6.3 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
StopFake.org
03-Aug-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
We inform users that we are a signatory of The International Fact-checking Network (IFCN) and follow The Code of Principles on the page “About us”: https://www.stopfake.org/ru/o-nas/
StopFake.org
18-Sep-2020 (4 years ago)
We inform users that we are a signatory of The International Fact-checking Network (IFCN) and follow The Code of Principles on the page “About us”: https://www.stopfake.org/ru/o-nas/
We've added the link to the complaints page on the IFCN website into our website. Please find this sentences "The IFCN has its own complaints function which you can read about here" on the About us page of Stopfake.org.
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
Although the applicant does inform users that they are a signatory to the IFCN, the link to the complaints page on the IFCN website cannot be found on the About Us page of StopFake.org where the above-mentioned information is published.
cancel 6.4 marked as Request change by Andriy Kulykov.
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
18-Sep-2020 (4 years ago)
The link to the complaints page on the IFCN website can easily be found on the About Us page of StopFake.org next to the paragraph where they say that they have joined the IFCN and also provide the link to the IFCN Principles document.
done_all 6.4 marked as Compliant by Andriy Kulykov.
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.
Andriy Kulykov Assessor
13-Sep-2020 (4 years ago) Updated: 4 years ago
As StopFake.org are not a unit of a media company, they cannot provide a link to the parent media's company statement of corrections policy.