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.

Patikrinta 15min

Organization: Patikrinta 15min
Applicant: Eglė Zicari
Assessor: Martins Kaprans
Edits made by the organization after this assessment

IFCN Staff wrote:

The organization had already published not only a list, but a short bio of each author.

Examples:

https://www.15min.lt/autorius/liepa-zelniene-616295

https://www.15min.lt/autorius/paulius-gritenas-625571

https://www.15min.lt/autorius/vytenis-miskinis-763738

https://www.15min.lt/autorius/marius-jokubaitis-631707

The organization linked to contact page in the section "About us"

https://www.15min.lt/patikrinta-15min/apie



From the assessor 

The applicant is fully compliant with the fact-checkers code of principles. 


Conclusion and recommendations
on 20-Nov-2018 (5 years ago)

Martins Kaprans wrote:

https://www.15min.lt/ is a highly qualified fact-checker whose present activity corresponds to the professional standards of a media organization.

on 20-Nov-2018 (5 years ago)

Martins Kaprans recommended Accept


on 12-Nov-2018 (5 years ago)

Martins Kaprans wrote:

https://www.15min.lt/ is a highly qualified fact-checker whose present activity corresponds to the professional standards of a media organization. The applicant qualifies as a reliable and professional fact-checking organization and it can be accepted subject to edits.

on 12-Nov-2018 (5 years ago)

Martins Kaprans recommended Accept with edits


on 30-Oct-2018 (5 years ago)

Martins Kaprans wrote:

https://www.15min.lt/ is a highly qualified fact-checker whose present activity corresponds to the professional standards of a media organization.

on 30-Oct-2018 (5 years ago)

Martins Kaprans recommended Accept


on 22-Oct-2018 (5 years ago)

Martins Kaprans wrote:

https://www.15min.lt/ is a highly qualified fact-checker whose present activity corresponds to the professional standards of a media organization.

on 22-Oct-2018 (5 years ago)

Martins Kaprans recommended Accept


Section 1: Organization

Criterion 1a
Proof of registration
Evidence required: Please provide evidence that the signatory is a legally-registered organization set up exclusively for the purpose of fact-checking or the distinct fact-checking project of a recognized media house or research institution.

Patikrinta 15min
26-Sep-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago

"Patikrinta 15min" is a project of the second largest online media outlet in Lithuania - 15min.lt

https://www.15min.lt/patikrinta-15min 

Martins Kaprans Assessor
08-Oct-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago

The applicant is a a legally registered media organization. 15min.lt is among the leading media organization in Lithuania which has established a distinct fact-checking section. 


done_all 1a marked as Fully compliant by Martins Kaprans.

Criterion 1b
Archive
Evidence required: Insert a link to the archive of fact checks published in the previous three months. If you do not collect all fact checks in one place, please explain how the fact-checking is conducted by your organization.

Patikrinta 15min
26-Sep-2018 (5 years ago)
Martins Kaprans Assessor
08-Oct-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago

The archive shows that fact-checking reports are published on a regular basis (at least one reporta a week). 


done_all 1b marked as Fully compliant by Martins Kaprans.

Section 2: Nonpartisanship and Fairness

Criterion 2a
Body of work sample
Evidence required: Please share links to ten fact checks that better represent the scope and consistency of your fact-checking. Provide a short explanation of how your organization strives to maintain coherent standards across fact checks.

Patikrinta 15min
26-Sep-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago

https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/lietuva/tiesa-ar-melas-dalia-grybauskaite-grizta-vis-daugiau-ir-daugiau-emigrantu-56-843630

https://www.15min.lt/verslas/naujiena/finansai/tiesa-ar-melas-saulius-skvernelis-yra-abejoniu-del-siuksliu-kiekio-ar-netapsime-jas-importuojancia-salimi-662-975496

https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/lietuva/tiesa-ar-melas-viktoras-pranckietis-apie-20-tukst-socialdemokratu-dirba-valstybes-tarnyboje-56-831630

https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/lietuva/tiesa-ar-melas-algirdas-butkevicius-ne-kar-to-ne-su-vie-nu-ro-sa-to-m-at-sto-vu-ne-su-si-ti-kau-56-786262

https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/lietuva/tiesa-ar-melas-r-karbauskis-serialas-naisiu-vasara-su-naisiais-neturi-nieko-bendro-56-1000946

https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/lietuva/tiesa-ar-melas-trys-gabrieliaus-landsbergio-frazes-apie-susitikimus-su-mg-baltic-atstovais-56-965992

https://www.15min.lt/verslas/naujiena/finansai/tiesa-ar-melas-k-meide-maisto-kainos-ketveriu-metu-perspektyvoje-isaugo-5-3-proc-662-1034432

https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/lietuva/tiesa-ar-melas-mg-baltic-advokatas-r-kurlianskis-niekada-nebuvo-koncerno-viceprezidentas-56-1019456

https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/gyvunu-klubas/ivykiai/tiesa-ar-melas-n-zobovas-isitikines-kad-meskos-nera-mesedes-nevalgo-is-tikruju-nevalgo-172-1004034

https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/lietuva/tiesa-ar-melas-aurelijus-veryga-yra-gydymo-istaigu-kur-pacientai-su-miokardo-infarktu-visi-numirsta-56-993684

"Patikrinta 15min" covers a wide variety of topics, from claims made by politicians - from President to municipal politicians, from bussinespersons to lawyers. Here are the rules, how do we choose the claim for factchecking: https://www.15min.lt/patikrinta-15min/taisykles

Martins Kaprans Assessor
08-Oct-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago

Fact-checking reports cover a high variety of topics and characters and they provide a balanced assessment of each case.  


done_all 2a marked as Fully compliant by Martins Kaprans.

Criterion 2b
Nonpartisanship policy
Evidence required: Please share evidence of your policy preventing staff from direct involvement in political parties and advocacy organizations. Please also indicate the policy your organization has as a whole regarding advocacy and supporting political candidates.

Patikrinta 15min
26-Sep-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago

Every employee of 15min signs the code of principles, which is attached. It says, that they can not be member or support any candidate or political party and can not advocate or take policy positions on any issues not strictly related to fact-checking. Moreover every employee of 15min fills the annual declaration of interests. 

Files Attached
picture_as_pdf 15min darbuotoju_ el... (162 KB)
Martins Kaprans Assessor
08-Oct-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago

The published reports suggest that the organization adhere to the highest standards of impartiality.


done_all 2b marked as Fully compliant by Martins Kaprans.

Section 3: Transparency of Sources

Criterion 3a
Sources Policy
Please share a brief and public explanation (500 words max) of how sources are provided in enough detail that readers could replicate the fact check. If you have a public policy on how you find and use sources for your fact-checking, it should be shared here.

Patikrinta 15min
26-Sep-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Martins Kaprans Assessor
08-Oct-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago

Fact-checking reports use different sources (statistics, documents, experts etc.) in order to corroborate claims. External evidences are largely attributed and  linked to reliable sources, thus readers can check the fact-checker's arguments.


done_all 3a marked as Fully compliant by Martins Kaprans.

Section 4: Transparency of Funding & Organization

Criterion 4a
Funding Sources
Evidence required: Please link to the section where you publicly list your sources of funding (including, if they exist, any rules around which types of funding you do or don't accept), or a statement on ownership if you are the branch of an established media organization or research institution.

Patikrinta 15min
26-Sep-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago

15min UAB is owned by Margus Linnamäe via AS Eesti Meedia and OU UP Invest.  https://www.eestimeedia.ee/brands-and-companies/our-brands

Martins Kaprans Assessor
08-Oct-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago

The applicant has provided a statement of owner. The ownership structure of media organization is transparent and credible. 


done_all 4a marked as Fully compliant by Martins Kaprans.

Criterion 4b
Staff
Evidence required: Please link to the section detailing all authors and key actors behind your fact-checking project with their biographies. You can also list the name and bios of the members of the editorial board, pool of experts, advisory board, etc. if your organization has those.

Patikrinta 15min
26-Sep-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Martins Kaprans Assessor
08-Oct-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago

Authors involved in the fact-checking project and their contacts are listed on the media organization's webpage. However, detailed information about authors is not provided. 


done 4b marked as Partially compliant by Martins Kaprans.

Criterion 4c
Contact
Evidence required: Please link to the section where readers can get in touch with the organization.

Patikrinta 15min
26-Sep-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Martins Kaprans Assessor
08-Oct-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago

The applicant provides a convenient online tool for submitting complaints, comments or proposals. 


done_all 4c marked as Fully compliant by Martins Kaprans.

Section 5: Transparency of Methodology

Criterion 5a
Detailed Methodology
Evidence required: Please link to a section or article detailing the steps you follow for your fact-checking work.

Patikrinta 15min
26-Sep-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Martins Kaprans Assessor
08-Oct-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago

The fact-checking methodology is available on the applicant's webpage. It clearly describes different information gathering and analytical procedures that are used to create fact-checking reports.


done_all 5a marked as Fully compliant by Martins Kaprans.

Criterion 5b
Claim submissions
Evidence required: Please link to the page or process through which readers can submit claims to fact-check. If you do not allow this, please briefly explain why.

Patikrinta 15min
26-Sep-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago

https://www.15min.lt/patikrinta-15min/taisykles

Form to submit claim goes with every factcheck. Here is an example, how it looks: 

Files Attached
formapatikrinta.png (506 KB)
Martins Kaprans Assessor
08-Oct-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago

The applicant provides a convenient online tool for submitting proposals. This tool explains that each factual claim will be checked while ideological or normative claims will be ignored.


done_all 5b marked as Fully compliant by Martins Kaprans.

Section 6: Open & Honest Corrections Policy

Criterion 6a
Corrections policy
Evidence required: Please link to the page with your policy to address corrections. If it is not public, please share your organization's handbook.

Patikrinta 15min
26-Sep-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago
Martins Kaprans Assessor
08-Oct-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago

The applicant has provided evidences that demonstrate that its fact-checking section has a public correction policy which is consistent with the correction policy of entire media organization.


done_all 6a marked as Fully compliant by Martins Kaprans.

Criterion 6b
Examples of corrections
Evidence required: Please provide two examples of a correction made, or correction requests handled, in the past year.

Martins Kaprans Assessor
08-Oct-2018 (5 years ago) Updated: 5 years ago

The applicant has provided compelling examples of the organization's correction policy.


done_all 6b marked as Fully compliant by Martins Kaprans.