The IFCN welcomes new applications to its Code of Principles beginning Jan. 16, 2024. Our website is currently under renovation, so new signatories should begin the application process by emailing their interest to info@ifcn.org with "New Signatory" in the subject line.

EFE Verifica

Organization: EFE Verifica
Applicant: Desirée García/Sergio Hernández
Assessor: Angel Badillo

Background

EFE Verifica is the fact-checking division of the Spanish public news agency EFE, created in 1939, which produces and distributes more than three million news items annually to two thousand media outlets around the world. Although the news agency is a public society depending on the Spanish state, its institutional design guarantee the journalistic independence of its work. EFE Verifica was created in 2019 within the agency's structure and in accordance with its Editorial Statute (Estatuto de Redacción), and has a team of 6 people who carried out more than two hundred fact-checks in the year 2021-22, showing a plural and professional use of primary and secondary informative sources, incorporating external verification tools and allowing its readers to check both the sources of hoaxes as the arguments and sources to debunk them. EFE Verifica joined the IFCN Code of Best Practices in 2020.

Assessment Conclusion

EFE Verifica is responsible and compliant to the Code of Conduct. The evaluation of its work during the last year offers evidence of a clear and transparent methodology, a consistent use of plural sources and a positive contribution to the Spanish language information ecosystem.

on 15-Nov-2022 (1 year ago)

Angel Badillo assesses application as Compliant

A short summary in native publishing language

EFE Verifica, la división de verificación de la Agencia EFE, realiza un trabajo responsable y en línea con el Código de Conducta. La evaluación de su trabajo durante el último año ofrece evidencia de una metodología clara y transparente, un uso consistente de fuentes plurales y una contribución positiva al ecosistema informativo en lengua española.

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.

EFE Verifica
10-Jun-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The EFE News Agency (Agencia EFE) launched its fact-checking and debunking service in March 2019 with the aim of improving public debate.

EFE is a multimedia company with a worldwide network of journalists working in 120 countries. It distributes almost 3 million news items and its mission is offering the Latino vision of the world in Spanish and other languages.

EFE is a Spanish public company founded in January 1939, and the Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales (SEPI), part of the Spanish Ministry of Finance, is its sole shareholder. It is currently registered under the name EFE SAU SME in the Registro Nacional de Asociaciones and its tax number (CIF) is A28028744.

EFE’s company bylaws and registration number are accessible at EFE's website:

https://agenciaefe.es/estatutos-de-la-sociedad

https://www.efe.com/efe/espana/aviso-legal/170

The information on the bylaws is also hyperlinked on the website of EFE Verifica - see section '¿Qué es EFE Verifica?':

https://verifica.efe.com/que-es-efe-verifica

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

EFE (founded in 1939 and converted to its current status as a state-owned corporation in 2015) is the most extensive Spanish-language news agency in the world, although it also publishes information in other languages. On its institutional website (www.agenciaefe.es) there is an extensive section dedicated to information about the company, its shareholding structure, its budget or its legal framework, in addition to the annual reports and accounts. In line with the "Law 19/2013 on transparency, access to public information and good governance", as a publicly traded company citizens have a standardized procedure to request specific information from Agencia EFE on any issue not listed on the institutional website. The information about its legal status is, therefore, extensive and valid.


done_all 1.1 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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?

EFE Verifica
10-Jun-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

1. EFE News Agency (Agencia EFE, https://agenciaefe.es) is the largest news organization of the World in Spanish language, thanks to its over 1.100 staff journalists. Founded in 1939 in Spain, it is nowadays a publicly owned news agency that distributes news stories, photographs, video and multimedia content in six languages.

As part of its news services, since March 2019 it runs a fact-checking and debunking section called EFE Verifica (https://verifica.efe.com).

EFE Verifica started its operations in Spain and has expanded to Latin America since September 2020. Its main mission is to fight disinformation spreading in Spanish and to provide citizens with data and verified information so that they can make informed choices.

2. Currently, six people work at EFE Verifica full-time: one director and four journalists in Madrid, and one coordinator for Latin America (https://verifica.efe.com/equipo). Their work is also supported by contributions from EFE professionals around the world.

3. Our focus is to verify narratives and messages causing harm or trying to polarize the population and undermine democracy. We debunk digital content on health, politics, science, economy, technology and human rights mainly. We also monitor the public discourse and answer questions over topics polarizing citizency. This work is reflected either on verification articles published on EFE Verifica’s website or on video fact-checks and podcasts.

Beyond this journalistic work, EFE Verifica raises awareness about the importance of verification by organizing forums and conferences, especially in Latin America.

We also give educational workshops to journalists to teach them how to fact-check in a professional way.

4. In the coming year, we want to scale our WhatsApp channel to reach a wider audience, so the users can send us their queries about the messages they receive.

We plan to continue our growth in Latin America and among the Hispanic population in the United States.

In addition, we will seek to strengthen the distribution and dissemination of our content. We will produce more graphics, videos, and podcasts and spread them on more social networks.

In the framework of several international projects in which we collaborate with other verification organizations and academic institutions, EFE Verifica will launch several media literacy and fact-checking training initiatives for journalism professionals.

We also intend to deepen our understanding of disinformation narratives through statistical and content analysis.

On the other hand, we will participate in an initiative to develop a deepfake verification tool using AI.

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The fact-check division of the EFE Agency was created in 2019, as can be cross-checked in the company's 2020 Annual Corporate Report, and in the previous IFCN Code of Principles compliance reports conducted in 2020 and 2021. The data provided by EFE Verifica in its application about its team are consistent with those appearing in the "Team" section of its website. Due to the high number of latin american subscribers, the news provided by the agency highlights Latin America, also the verifications publicly provided on its website refer to false news published in Latin American media or referring to Latin American societies.


done_all 1.2 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

EFE Verifica
10-Jun-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

EFE Verifica has published an average of 4.4 fact-checks a week over the last year, 233 in total (from July 2021 to the end of June 2022). Please see the document attached.

Files Attached
picture_as_pdf EFE VERIFICA - Fact... (231 KB)
Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

Analyzing the information provided by the applicant, EFE Verifica has published a total of 230 fact-checks between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, an average of 4,4 verifications per week*. To review the full compliance of the criteria, we have checked the fact-checking production and publication in all the 52 weeks of the past years, showing that EFE Verifica effectively published at least 1 verification each week, topping 17 in the week February 24 to March 2, 2022, and showing 5 weeks with just 1 verification published. The most typical occurrence (modus) was 2 verifications per week, as shown in 12 cases.  * For methodological purposes, we considered the weeks starting on Thursday, July 1, 2021, and comprising the next 6 natural days; the final week of the analysis was June 23 to June 29, 2022. Applicant's information was attached in pdf, difficulting the time-series analysis of the criteria (we recommend offering this information in tab-delimited text or plain text in the future to facilitate the analysis).


done_all 1.3 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The analysis (both through information provided by the applicant and cross-checked on the website) shows a wide variety of topics reviewed by the verifier, with a significant presence of news related to the Ukrainian war. The news items have, in an overwhelming majority, significant social relevance: out of the 42 published verifications in the last three months, we considered 97% socially relevant news items with an impact on the well-being of citizens. * Methodology: news checks published between May 1 and June 30, 2022 were reviewed.


done_all 1.4 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

EFE Verifica
10-Jun-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

EFE is a public company founded in January 1939, and the Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales (SEPI), part of the Spanish Ministry of Finance, is its sole shareholder.

EFE is financed through public and commercial resources.

EFE's main mission is to provide a public service in the field of information, as established in its statutes. In fact, EFE's activity is recognized as a General Service of Economic Interest (SGEI) by the European Commission, as well as other public agencies such as AFP. For this reason, the Spanish Government pays resources to EFE to offset the cost of offering this public information service. In 2020 - the last exercise with published data - EFE obtained a net turnover of 84.3 million euros, 63.1 % of which are state funds; the rest is commercial income obtained by subscribing to its services. This information is detailed in the annual accounts for the 2020 financial year (https://www.agenciaefe.es/cuentas-anuales, note 15.1, page 38).

EFE has no commercial or financial relationship with specific political parties or leaders, and maintains its relationships with political formations within the normal journalistic activity in its various departments.

EFE Verifica has been consulted by public institutions, as experts, to address the phenomenon of disinformation, often in forums open to other fact-checkers and journalists.

All our commercial, financial and institutional relationships are public. Every year EFE publishes its accounts, which can be consulted here:

https://www.agenciaefe.es/cuentas-anuales

Files Attached
picture_as_pdf Cuentas-anuales-EFE-... (6 MB)
Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

EFE Verifica is integrated within Agencia EFE, whose sole shareholder is the ""Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales"" (SEPI), a Spanish state-owned company, which partially finances the activities of the agency, as the applicant reflects in the information provided and as can be cross-checked in the annual accounts of Agencia EFE published on its website. The importance of the service provided by the Agency has been recognized not only by the European Commission (Decisions C-4711 of 25 July 2016 and C-8146 of 9 December 2016), but also by the framework for the provision of services to the Spanish state (Additional Provision 53 of Law 9/2017 and Royal Decree 1463/2018). The Statement of the Editorial Board of Agencia EFE after the dismissal of its former president in February 2020 pointed out that "the independence, credibility, rigor and professionalism of the Agency's reporters are unquestionable, and are and will always be guaranteed regardless of who is the person who presides it". As the Editorial Board recalls, the EFE agency "has no ideological line" and its statutory mandate is to produce and disseminate "truthful, relevant, quality and reliable information, not subject to particular interests, whether of a political, economic or any other kind".

* The Statement of the Editorial Board of Agencia EFE can be reviewed at: https://agenciaefe.es/consejo-de-redaccion-agencia-efe-la-independencia-y-profesionalidad-de-efe-son-incuestionables/"


done_all 1.5 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

EFE Verifica
10-Jun-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

We provide information of the editorial independence standards here: 

See '¿Qué hacemos?': https://verifica.efe.com/que-es-efe-verifica

'Metodología': https://verifica.efe.com/metodologia

EFE has an Editorial Statute (See 'Estatuto de Redacción', https://agenciaefe.es/consejo-de-redaccion) which highlights that EFE’s public service is based on truthful information, not subject to particular interests (whether political, economic or otherwise) and to the independence of its journalists. It also has an Editorial Board ('Consejo de Redacción', https://agenciaefe.es/consejo-de-redaccion) that ensures compliance with the provisions of this document.

Files Attached
picture_as_pdf EstatutoEFE.pdf (109 KB)
Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The information provided by the fact-checker confirms that, despite being a publicly funded organization, its professional practices guarantee an autonomous and independent procedure in the selection, review and publication of verified news items.


done_all 1.6 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

EFE Verifica
10-Jun-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

We verify claims using the same standard for every piece regardless of the person, institution or internet user who made the claim. This applies to both selection and research processes.

We do not concentrate our fact-checking on any one side. We collect pieces of misinformation regarding issues of public interest (health, politics, science, technology, security, human rights) that go viral or are sent to us by our community. We then classify them according to their social utility and their potential to polarize citizens.

We follow the same process for every fact check - we use primary sources and independent experts to debunk or verify a claim. Our articles reproduce all the research so that the reader can verify each step.

We always issue a ‘conclusion’ based on the evidence collected, as you can see from these examples here:

In Spain, we have fact-checked Government and opposition statements. Here is an example from the Vice-President of the Government Nadia Calviño, PSOE, and another of Isabel Díaz Ayuso, PP:

Vox no pide la venta libre de armas sino poder usarlas en casa en defensa propia

https://verifica.efe.com/vox-no-pide-venta-libre-armas-sino-usarlas-casa-defensa-propia 

España no planeaba prohibir el vino y la cerveza en los menús de los bares

https://verifica.efe.com/sanidad-alcohol-bares-no-prohibicion-espana

We have also published articles debunking claims or facts attributed to various political parties or their representatives:

Pablo Echenique no ha tuiteado que las víctimas ucranianas son un daño "sin importancia"

https://verifica.efe.com/echenique-tuit-victimas-ucrania

Castilla y León no será la primera región europea con la ultraderecha en el Gobierno

https://verifica.efe.com/castilla-leon-region-europea-ultraderecha-gobierno/

Furthermore, we have analyzed false claims against the main parties during the Andalusian regional election campaign:

https://verifica.efe.com/bulos-elecciones-andalucia-2022/

In Colombian election, we have debunked disinformation against the main candidates:

El candidato colombiano Petro no está involucrado en un atentado en el sur de Bogotá

https://verifica.efe.com/petro-no-atentado-bogota-zamora

El candidato Hernández no dijo que implementará una jornada laboral de 10 horas en Colombia

https://verifica.efe.com/hernandez-diez-horas-trabajo

La foto del candidato colombiano «Fico» con Pablo Escobar es un montaje

https://verifica.efe.com/fico-pablo-escobar-montaje

In the same way, we have verified falsehoods about Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro and former President Dilma Rousseff, of opposing ideologies:

La libertad de prensa retrocede cinco y no nueve posiciones en Brasil

https://verifica.efe.com/nueve-posiciones-prensa-brasil

Rousseff no ha defendido aplicar primero las segundas dosis de las vacunas anticovid

https://verifica.efe.com/rousseff-no-defendio-segundas-dosis-de-vacunas-covid/ 

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The cases provided by the fact checker show that there is no bias in the selection process of the verified news published, in line with the principles of the organization and with the professional standards expected in an institution of the scope of Agencia EFE.


done_all 2.1 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

EFE Verifica
10-Jun-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

EFE Verifica methodology is public in this link (See 'Metodología', https://verifica.efe.com/metodologia):

We choose messages collected by EFE Verifica or sent by readers and other media. We identify content (video, audio, photo, text or memes) that circulates on the Internet and that may be a potential piece of misinformation affecting topics of public interest, and we also receive clues about hoaxes from our community through social networks, WhatsApp and via email.

We decide to verify them when they meet at least one of these three requirements:

-Viralization: We choose to debunk the content if it has been widely shared on social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube or if it is published on a website or in news media.

- It puts public opinion at risk, either because it represents a physical risk to people or is a threat to democracy and political rights.

- It is useful information: We debunk content that mainly refers to topics of public interest (health, politics, science, human rights, environment, technology, security) and that citizens can leverage.

We select these contents using the same criteria in each of them. And when they affect political formations, we do not concentrate our verifications on any other side.

The reach of these messages can be measured by their number of shares through different tools and their diffusion across platforms and also if they jump to traditional media and the public discourse.

We prioritize debunking over fact-checking to optimize our available resources, but we do fact-check when a political claim becomes so large that it sparks conversations and messages on the Internet. That is also a sign of the importance of the fact-checked claim.

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The methodology used in the verification process can be checked publicly on the verifier's website (https://verifica.efe.com/metodologia) and sets 3 criteria for the selection of cases: news that have been widely disseminated, represent a danger to public opinion and/or provide useful information for the citizen. Regarding political orientation, EFE Verifica states that "when [the verifications] affect political formations, we do not concentrate our verifications on any side". We consider that the verifier complies with this requirement by reviewing the verified news of the year under review, in line with both a random sample of publications and the examples referred in criteria 2.1. (Methodology: review of cases based on a random sample obtained from the universe of verified news in the period under evaluation).


done_all 2.2 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

Last year's verifications reviewed for this evaluation show no political or commercial interests that could influence the selection, research or publication of news, in a consistent manner with its operating rules and with its own institutional nature. (Methodology: review of cases based on a random sample obtained from the universe of verified news in the period under evaluation).


done_all 2.3 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The operating rules of the editorial staff of Agencia EFE and EFE Verifica, as well as its institutional nature, show a commitment to political independence, as can be verified in the information provided by the fact checker and can be cross-checked on its website. The cases analyzed confirm the plurality of the topics covered in the verifications that are the subject of this evaluation (Methodology: review of cases based on a random sampling performed on the universe of verifications carried out in the period under evaluation).


done_all 2.4 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

EFE Verifica
10-Jun-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

EFE Verifica doesn’t support any political party or candidate nor advocate or take policy positions on any issues.

We state our non-partisanship policy here (See '¿Qué hacemos?': https://verifica.efe.com/que-es-efe-verifica). That is also proven by our fact-checking record and our commitment with a due balance among the main Spanish political parties.

This non-partisan way of fact-checking is also based on EFE’s Code of editorial standards and values (See 'Estatuto de Redacción': https://agenciaefe.es/consejo-de-redaccion), that highlights “impartiality, accuracy, lack of bias and honesty” as “unavoidable principles to achieve objective and rigorous information on any of the media”.

EFE’s Code of editorial standards rejects any pressure from political parties over its staff members and states that working for EFE is incompatible with a job at governmental or party press offices:

“EFE rejects any pressure from institutions, political parties, economic, cultural, religious, social, ideological or other groups that attempt to alter or influence information for the benefit of their interests. In the event of these pressures, journalists may notify the Editorial Board or the Board of Directors”.

EFE’s journalists must present “significant points of view, expose the facts in context, without deliberate omissions and with the right words, without affecting their beliefs or ideologies, and act with diligence and decent methods in obtaining and treating the information”.

Furthermore, working as a journalist at EFE is “incompatible with any other job, as with any paid periodic collaboration in another journalistic, advertising, public relations company, governmental press offices and in all those that may involve unfair competition, including companies that are suppliers of products or services of EFE News Agency”.

Files Attached
picture_as_pdf EstatutoEFE.pdf (109 KB)
Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The fact-checker has an Code of Editorial Standards establishing a system of autonomous and independent journalistic practices. We also consider that the importance of Agencia EFE puts it under a heavy daily scrutiny by all the actors of the public space in Spain and the rest of the Spanish-speaking countries. The review of cases carried out on all the fact checkers published in the year under evaluation confirms the fulfillment of the criterion (Methodology: review of cases based on a random sampling carried out on the universe of verifications carried out in the period under evaluation).


done_all 2.5 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The fact checks reviewed show an extensive use of direct references in the text of the items published through URLs of websites or publications publicly accessible on social networks. Additionally, each item shows at the end of the text a section called “fuentes” (sources) referring to the sources used and allowing the reader to access all of them and replicate the verification process. (Methodology: case review based on a random sampling performed on the universe of verifications carried out in the period under evaluation).


done_all 3.1 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The fact checker shows a professional use of references to primary sources and, when necessary, complements them with secondary sources and other instruments such as public databases, news published by other media, social network messages and multimedia verification tools. (Methodology: case review based on a random sampling performed on the universe of verifications carried out in the period under evaluation).


done_all 3.2 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The use of sources in the published and reviewed verifications shows the professional standards expected from the Agencia EFE, with an abundant use of direct references to the main source and to all the supplementary sources necessary to carry out the verification process. (Methodology: review of cases based on a random sampling carried out on the universe of verifications carried out in the period under evaluation).


done_all 3.3 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
The items analyzed for this evaluation do not show any specific case in which it was necessary to indicate the specific interests of the sources. We understand that the professional and appropriate use of references to primary sources (including URLs where readers can cross-check the data provided) does not make it necessary, in the cases reviewed, to explicitly indicate the interests of each of the sources used with respect to the subject under verification. (Methodology: review of cases based on a random sampling performed on the universe of verifications carried out in the period under evaluation).

done_all 3.4 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

EFE Verifica
10-Jun-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

EFE Verifica is part of the newsroom activity of EFE (see Criterion 1.1) and its team is made of EFE’s staff journalists. It is a department that depends on the EFE Digital Directorate, whose head is Desirée García (https://agenciaefe.es/equipo-directivo-agencia-efe).  

The EFE Verifica website (https://verifica.efe.com) is a tab on the official page of EFE News Agency (https://www.efe.com/efe/espana/1).

EFE has also published press releases where it reports on the activity and projects of EFE Verifica:

EFE impulsa la verificación en América Latina, “especialmente vulnerable” a la desinformación (https://www.agenciaefe.es/efe-impulsa-la-verificacion-en-america-latina).

EFE Verifica entra en la International Fact-Checking Network, la principal red de verificadores del mundo (https://www.agenciaefe.es/efe-verifica-entra-en-la-international-fact-checking-network-la-principal-red-de-verificadores-del-mundo).

EFE aspira a ser el medio “verificador” más importante del mundo hispano (https://www.agenciaefe.es/efe-aspira-medio-verificador-mas-importante-del-mundo-hispano). 

EFE Verifica estrena web (https://agenciaefe.es/efe-verifica-estrena-web). 

EFE Verifica lanza una “newsletter” semanal en WhatsApp (https://agenciaefe.es/efe-verifica-lanza-una-newsletter-semanal-en-whatsapp).


Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

EFE Verifica is a division of the state-owned Agencia EFE, whose status and funding is detailed on the organization's website. The information provided by the applicant and the institution's public data accessible to readers adequately clarify the status of " fact-checking section or unit of a media house or other parent organization".


done_all 4.1 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

EFE Verifica
10-Jun-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

See '¿Qué es EFE Verifica?' (https://verifica.efe.com/que-es-efe-verifica) and 'Financiación' (https://verifica.efe.com/financiacion).

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The information provided is sufficient and adequate to meet the criterion.


done_all 4.2 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

EFE Verifica
10-Jun-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The EFE Verifica team is made up of six fact-checkers. We provide information on their roles and responsibilities in this link (See 'Equipo'): https://verifica.efe.com/equipo

Further information on how we make editorial decisions and revise each article can be found here:

'Metodología': https://verifica.efe.com/metodologia

'Correcciones': https://verifica.efe.com/correcciones

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The information provided is sufficient and adequate to meet the criterion.


done_all 4.3 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

EFE Verifica
10-Jun-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The biographies of the staff members involved in fact-checking activities are available in the link above ('Equipo': https://verifica.efe.com/equipo).

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The information provided is sufficient and adequate to meet the criterion.


done_all 4.4 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

EFE Verifica
10-Jun-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

See 'Contacto': https://verifica.efe.com/contacto

In addition, we encourage our readers to send us their queries via WhatsApp in many of our articles.

Here are three examples:

https://verifica.efe.com/desinformacion-y-mentiras-ucrania-y-rusia

https://verifica.efe.com/que-es-la-viruela-del-mono

https://verifica.efe.com/duque-datos-falsos-entrevista-bbc

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The information provided is sufficient and adequate to meet the criterion. In some of the examples sampled for review, additional references are found about the way to contact the organization and send news items for verification.


done_all 4.5 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

EFE Verifica
10-Jun-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

Our methodology is explained in detail in these links:

-‘¿Qué es EFE Verifica?’: https://verifica.efe.com/que-es-efe-verifica

-‘Metodología’: https://verifica.efe.com/metodologia

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The information provided is sufficient and adequate to meet the criterion.


done_all 5.1 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

As this evaluation has noted in previous sections, the selection of topics seems consistent with the principles expressed in the EFE Verifica guidelines regarding the election of issues: virality, risk to public opinion and public interest. The relevance of the issues addressed and verified makes, in the sampled cases, unnecessary to explicit the selection of the cases studied. (Methodology: review of cases based on a random sampling performed on the universe of verifications carried out in the period under evaluation).


done_all 5.2 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The presentation of the verified topics offers the evidence proposed in the messages that spread the hoax and the evidence (and its sources) to debunk it. The cases reviewed show a careful elaboration of the structure of the texts to provide readers with both the fact checker data and the data used to support the hoax. (Methodology: review of cases based on a random sampling performed on the universe of verifications carried out in the period under evaluation).


done_all 5.3 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The cases sampled, as well as those offered by the fact checker to supplement other sections of this evaluation, show an adequate use of references and contextualization of sources, in accordance with the most demanding professional practices. This approach seems to keep homogeneous criteria both in those used for the elaboration of the hoaxes and in those selected by the EFE fact checker for their refutation. (Methodology: review of cases based on a random sampling performed on the universe of verifications carried out in the period under evaluation).


done_all 5.4 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The use of journalistic sources in the review of hoaxes complies with the usual professional standards and seems adequate for the cases that have been reviewed by sampling, and those that have been reviewed in other parts of this evaluation. Not all the situations described in the criterion could be found in the cases analyzed, but the proper management of the sources of the information and their reference in the text is recommended and adequate for a journalistic text that guarantees the transparency of the verification process. (Methodology: review of cases based on a random sampling performed on the universe of verifications carried out in the period under evaluation).


done_all 5.5 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

EFE Verifica
10-Jun-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

Under every check and page, we encourage our readers to send us claims via a form, or WhatsApp. Contact info is also available on our Contact page, where readers are advised they can send claims:

https://verifica.efe.com/contacto

It clarifies what the reader can expect to be checked, and what is checkable, which are only statements regarding facts and data, and not opinions. Readers are also instructed that claims that have social importance and reach have precedence.

In addition, we encourage our readers to send us their queries via WhatsApp in many of our articles.

Here is another example:

https://verifica.efe.com/batallon-azov-esposa-militar-no-nazi-fotos

On the other hand, we campaign on social networks providing our users with the phone number of our WhatsApp:

https://twitter.com/search?q=consulta%20WhatsApp%20(from%3AEFEVerifica)&src=typed_query

https://www.facebook.com/page/111704727177386/search/?q=WhatsApp

https://www.instagram.com/efe_verifica/

https://smartlink.metricool.com/public/smartlink/verifica 

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The information provided is sufficient and adequate to meet the criterion. In some of the examples sampled for review (as in the ones offered by the applicant), additional references are found about the way to contact the organization and send news items for verification.


done_all 5.6 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

EFE Verifica
10-Jun-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

See ‘Correcciones': https://verifica.efe.com/correcciones 

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
The information provided is sufficient and adequate to meet the criterion.

done_all 6.1 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

Criteria 6.2
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the corrections policy to verify it meets critera. No additional information needed.

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The information provided is sufficient and adequate to meet the criterion.


done_all 6.2 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

EFE Verifica
10-Jun-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

We have not made any corrections in the last year because we didn't received any complaints and didn't found any errors in our published articles. This is partly explained because we have a two-tier editing system (the fact-checks are first reviewed by an editor at the fact-checking team and then by a second editor specialized in the subject) before being published. EFE Verifica has been approached by some social networks users requesting us to change our rating in different digital platforms, and most of the times the result was that we were not mistaken and so we explained it to the user.

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The information provided is sufficient and adequate to meet the criterion. However, in the "Correcciones" (corrections) section of the website, three cases of corrections published by the applicant in the previous years (not applicable to this evaluation): one of the links are broken (Corrección 15/04/2020, must be solved) and the other two seem adequate.


done_all 6.3 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

EFE Verifica
10-Jun-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

We have links to the IFCN in two places.

There is the badge of IFCN with a link to our profile in the network in the footer of every page:

https://verifica.efe.com

Besides, we encourage users to send a complaint to the IFCN if they believe we have violated its Code of Principles:

(See 'Miembro de la IFCN'): https://verifica.efe.com/metodologia 

Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The information provided is sufficient and adequate to meet the criterion.


done_all 6.4 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.

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.

EFE Verifica
10-Jun-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The transparent and solid corrections policy of EFE News Agency inspires that of EFE Verifica.

EFE's professionals are people and, therefore, we make mistakes. But credibility is one of our main values and, when we are wrong, we try to correct it as quickly and as transparently as possible.

If the error originates from the source and they ask for a correction, the new text specifies that it was made 'at the request of the reporting source' or 'by error of the reporting source'. Any correction, rectification or cancellation of a news item is previously consulted with its author whenever possible and if, contrary to their opinion, EFE corrects, rectifies or cancels the news item, they can go to the Editorial Board.

EFE News Agency general corrections policy are included in its Editorial Statute (See 'Estatuto de Redacción', page 6, 'Correcciones y Rectificaciones', https://agenciaefe.es/consejo-de-redaccion).

Files Attached
picture_as_pdf EstatutoEFE.pdf (109 KB)
Angel Badillo Assessor
11-Nov-2022 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago

The information provided is sufficient and adequate to meet the criterion.


done_all 6.5 marked as Compliant by Angel Badillo.