European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN)

VERIFIED MEMBERS

Membership in the EFCSN signifies an organisation’s rigorous commitment to provide accurate information ethically and transparently, without bias or prejudice and focus on matters in the public interest as well as a proven track record of excellence, integrity and accountability as definied in the European Code of Standards for Independent Fact-Checking Organisations.

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Faktoje

Website

https://faktoje.al/

Date

15/10/2023

Please, answer the following questions:

Applicant

Date: 30/01/2023

For the coming year, Faktoje aims to continue fulfilling its core mission of fact-checking public officials and institutions, especially during the upcoming local elections on May 14th, 2023.

For the third year, we're pursuing the course of Fact-checking workshops and training sessions with young journalists and local journalists, in the Department of Journalism at the University of Tirana. Our aim is to raise the capacities of this community on fact-checking journalism and public awareness about fake news and disinformation.

Also, by applying the Law on the Right to Information, we will insist on promoting accountability and transparency in public institutions. Faktoje will continue being involved closely in campaigns to raise the awareness of public officials in local governments, regarding the fulfillment of electoral promises and transparency of municipal councils. We'll be focused on the verification of statements and promises related to cyber security, as Albania had a critical issue after several attacks on the state's online data system, by a hacker group connected to the Iran government.

We are planning to continue the work on the pre bunking (production of how-to videos, quizzes, and infographics to raise awareness), as an effective tool in tackling critical thinking and the fight against disinformation.
We will continue collaborating with local journalists in other cities and districts of Albania, with the aim to raise awareness on issues of great importance and interest to the public, keep accountable the local public officials keeping their promises, and be transparent when it comes to spending the public funds.
Faktoje will continue implementing the ongoing regional project with fact-checking partners in Kosova, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and Serbia in counting disinformation and harmful influence, especially in times of crises, such as the war in Ukraine.
We aim to raise the capacities (depending on the possible funds) of our staff and other journalists interested in fact-checking, through AI programs and expertise in this field .

Applicant

Date: 30/01/2023

Countries on which Faktoje’s work is focused on: Albania – Kosovo – Macedonia – Serbia – Montenegro – Turkey – Ukraine
A very important part of our daily work at Faktoje is focused on malign influence and disinformation in the Western Balkans region. Focusing on different topics such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the Kosovo-Serbian dialogue, the Open Balkan process as well as the Russian and Chinese influence in the Balkans, we fact-check information concerning Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia. Also, considering that the 6 Western Balkans countries are considered a block’ in European Union’s enlargement agenda, with Albania just recently opening negotiations with the EU, we fact-check or debunk disinformation regarding Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Serbia. , China. Iran and Turkey. As expected, since February 2022 we have been focusing on fact-checking and debunking false information and Russian propaganda regarding the war in Ukraine. Being geographically connected with Kosovo, Macedonia, and Montenegro and having good political relations with Serbia and Turkey made these countries a substantial part of our fact-checking duties. Is important to emphasize that in North Macedonia. Montenegro there are a lot of citizens that speak and understand the Albanian language

Please find a list of articles supporting the abovementioned paragraph in the following:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dc8HQ4-SKrE6tzpQMqRkQwsOyeVSGWM65K0ULewFsic/edit?usp=sharing

Erlis Cela (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 26/04/2023

The applicant has specified in their response the focus of the organization on fact-checking activities. The applicant has provided a list of links for news related to countries such as Albania - Kosovo – Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Turkey, and Ukraine. This information provided by the applicant meets the criterion required by the code; “Have a substantial and demonstrable focus on one or more of the countries of the Council of Europe, Kosovo or Belarus."

Article 2.2: Methodology

In order to be recognised as a verified member of the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN), operations must:

Applicant

Date: 30/01/2023

Faktoje explains clearly the standardized methodology of work that it applies, where the process of claims selection is at the very top of this methodology, which can be found by our audience under the “About us” category, in the “Methodology” section within “How we work”. We select claims of all the actors of the political scene and interest groups, based on the importance of the issue and the interest of the public. Please check the link below:

https://faktoje.al/si-punojme-ne/#Metodologjia

Faktoje has also a clear and standardized categorization of the verified promises and statements of public officials, part of the Faktometer category. Here is the link: https://faktoje.al/category/faktometer/

The categorization of statements and promises are explained in the link which can be easily found on our web: https://faktoje.al/si-punojme-ne/

Erlis Cela (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 26/04/2023

The applicant has explained in detail the information regarding the fact-checking methodology. This information is easily accessible under the section "How we work" on their website. The section explains the process of selecting topics, which starts with a preliminary selection of statements by politicians on important issues and in the public interest. Similarly, the website also includes information calling for public involvement in verifying information. Based on the above, the applicant fully meets the criteria outlined in Chapter 2, Article 2 of the European Code of Standards for Independent Fact-Checking Organizations.

Aleksandra Bogdani (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 17/05/2023

The methodology is clear and easily accessible on Faktoje's website. The methodology explains the editorial process and the categorization of statements and promises in 4 categories: true, half true, untrue and without category.

Applicant

Date: 30/01/2023

Faktoje's mission is to verify the veracity of the statements and promises of public officials and tell the truth to the audience. We monitor and collect promises and statements to verify, based on the interest of the public and what they relate to in their everyday life and welfare. Faktoje's work is focused on the most relevant issues, especially in times of crisis. We fact-checked the promises of the reconstruction process after the tragic earthquake in November 2019, and during the Covid pandemic, our work was focused on the claims and situation of the hospitalization of patients, the false claims on different cures of covid 19, the vaccinations, etc. On Faktoje's website, the audience can easily find fact-checking reports on those issues (https://faktoje.al/category/premtime/). Later on, we fact-checked reports on the crises after the war in Ukraine, but also on the spread of disinformation through propaganda.
https://faktoje.al/category/si-te-dallojme-fake-news/dizinformimi-ne-kohe-krizash/

Erlis Cela (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 05/05/2023

The applicant is focused on issues that are of public interest. In addition to the evidence provided by the applicant in his response to this standard, we also verified the fact-checking website where it appears that the issues covered by "Faktoje" touch on issues such as healthcare, education, reconstruction of homes destroyed by the 2019 earthquake, promises of the government and local authorities for various infrastructure projects, etc. Based on the above, the applicant meets the standard.

Aleksandra Bogdani (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 17/05/2023

Faktoje's work has been focused on a wide range of issues that are in the public interest, such as elections, public spending, health sector, education, central and local governance etc. However, their work on debunking disinformation does not include in every case the most relevant narratives.

Erlis Cela (assessor)

Needs more info

Date: 05/05/2023

In the methodology section, there is no detailed information explaining the use of anonymous sources. For this reason, more evidence is needed to evaluate the fulfillment of this standard. Meanwhile, a sample of 5 articles published in the last two months on the applicant's website was analyzed, and in none of these cases was the use of anonymous sources identified.

Applicant

Needs more info

Date: 02/08/2023

Faktoje has outlined clearly outlined in the methodology

Applicant

Needs more info

Date: 02/08/2023

Faktoje has outlined clearly outlined in the methodology section that we always identify the source, in respect to the high standards of trust and transparency towards the audience. The only cases we don't identify the sources are the ones that apply in the Code of Journalism Ethics, which we publicly declare we apply, under the section Who we are (e.g. we don't publish the identity of minors etc.)
The 5 articles illustrate the above explanation.

Erlis Cela (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 13/09/2023

The applicant has successfully addressed and clarified the matter of source anonymity. Upon examination of the methodology, it is evident that the applicant has enhanced this aspect within the fact-checking process. Considering the response provided by the applicant and the verification of information on the website, it can be confidently affirmed that the applicant fully adheres to this standard.

Aleksandra Bogdani (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 17/05/2023

The practice is outlined in the methodology and applied in practice. The sample checked by me shows that Faktoje does not use anonymous sources.

Erlis Cela (assessor)

Non Compliant

Date: 05/05/2023

After checking the material in the methodology section published on the applicant's website, no information was found regarding the editing of articles by anyone other than the author.

Applicant

Needs more info

Date: 02/08/2023

Faktoje outlined in the Methodology category, the explanation of the process each article undergoes, including the editing process before publication.

Erlis Cela (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 13/09/2023

Considering the response provided by the applicant and the verification of information on the website, it can be confidently affirmed that the applicant fully adheres to this standard.

Aleksandra Bogdani (assessor)

Needs more info

Date: 17/05/2023

This requirement is not specifically outlined in the methodology.

Applicant

Needs more info

Date: 02/08/2023

Faktoje outlined in the Methodology category, the explanation of the process each article undergoes, including the editing process before publication.

Aleksandra Bogdani (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 30/08/2023

The methodology ensures each investigation undergoes editing by the editorial team before publication.

Best Practices:

In addition to the required standards listed above, the Code identifies the following as a best practice that is encouraged but not required to join the EFCSN.

Applicant

Non Compliant

Date: 02/08/2023

In the section Who we are there is a summery of our mission, goals and objectives who clearly state the scope of our work and how it impacts the public (e.g. creating a healthy informative environment, raising the standard of quality journalism, making the audience aware on the accountability of the public officials and holding them accountable on the statements and promises they give to the public.
Whenit comes to the results of our work, they v=can easily be found in the Activities section and Project sections

Erlis Cela (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 13/09/2023

After assessing the supplementary response provided by the applicant and conducting a secondary verification of the information available on the website, particularly within the "who are we" section, it became evident that the applicant has indeed published content detailing their activities and the impact they have made in the public interest.

Applicant

Needs more info

Date: 02/08/2023

Aleksandra Bogdani (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 30/08/2023

Faktoje is compliant to the criteria.

Article 3.1: Non-Partisanship and Impartiality

In order to be recognised as a verified member of the European Fact-checking Standards Network (EFCSN), operations must:

Applicant

Date: 30/01/2023

Faktoje is a nongovernmental organization and its mission is to verify the authenticity of promises, statements and actions of public officials (or private entities that benefit from public funds) and then tell the public the truth. As such, we work totally independently of political parties.
None of our team members have joined political parties or organizations. Since its establishment and following, "Faktoje" has set as a condition the persons who are currently employed and those who will be part of it, not to engage in political activity.
We are committed to transparency and depoliticization and that is made clear on our website.

https://faktoje.al/si-punojme-ne/#Depolitizimi,%20angazhimi%20p%C3%ABr%20paan%C3%ABsi%20dhe%20ndershm%C3%ABri
https://faktoje.al/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Kodi-i-Etikes-final-shqip.pdf
https://faktoje.al/si-punojme-ne/#Si%20financohemi

Erlis Cela (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 05/05/2023

Based on the evidence provided and the observation I have made in the website, the applicant fully complies with this standard. In the link provided by the applicant is mentioned as below. "Faktoje" is an organization that does not engage in political activities. The selection for fact-checking statements and promises of politicians, public officials, and entities that benefit from public funds is based on the impact they have on the lives of citizens. We verify facts using a standardized method by applying the methodology, which is published on our official website "Faktoje.al," under the subcategory "About Us." "Faktoje" strives to be balanced and verify statements and promises of representatives from the entire political spectrum (government and opposition) and other public institutions. We let the evidence dictate our conclusions.

Applicant

Date: 30/01/2023

Faktoje's methodology guides the editorial team and journalists in selecting topics, conducting research, structuring articles or videos, evaluating claims, and most importantly, delivering a verdict based on facts.

https://faktoje.al/si-punojme-ne/#Metodologjia

Erlis Cela (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 05/05/2023

In the methodology section there is a clear statement in which is explained the fact that "Faktoje" apply the same methodology regardless of the origin or political leanings.

Aleksandra Bogdani (assessor)

Needs more info

Date: 17/05/2023

The selection of 10 fact-checks and the explanation is missing. However, the sample assessed by me shows that the applicant's work includes representatives from the entire political spectrum and other public institutions. The conclusions are based on facts.

Applicant

Needs more info

Date: 02/08/2023

Faktoje has explicitly categorized the all the fact-checked statements/promises/claims (including the 10 articles) from the whole political specter, applying the criteria of impartiality and fairness.

Aleksandra Bogdani (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 30/08/2023

The applicant fulfills the criteria.

Applicant

Date: 30/01/2023

Faktoje has internal policies in regard to that topic, foreseeing even nonpartisanship.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RedG8ERnysnPl93JmIqEE3vmbhmbbaiJ/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=107159485751663193789&rtpof=true&sd=true

Erlis Cela (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 05/05/2023

The applicant has provided sufficient evidence to verify the compliance with this standard. Faktoje has internal policies that bar employees from making partisan statements. These internal policies are included in the document entitled "Administrative and Financial Guidelines".

Aleksandra Bogdani (assessor)

Needs more info

Date: 17/05/2023

The guidelines attached to the proposal does not mention any specific policy barring employees from making partisan statements.

Applicant

Needs more info

Date: 02/08/2023

In the section Who we are, under the subtitle Depolitization, commitment to impartiality and fairnes we clearly outline:

“Faktoje” organization does not engage with political activities. Statements and promises of politicians, public officials and entities benefiting from public funds to be fact-checked are selected based on the impact they have on citizens’ life. Fact-checking is carried out in a standard manner, implementing a methodology, which was published on our official website “Faktoje.al”, under the subcategory “About Us”. “Faktoje” aims at maintaining a balance and verifying statements and promises of the political sphere (government and opposition) representatives and other public institutions. The conclusions we draw are based on evidence at all times.

None of our team members are affiliated with any political party or organization. From its foundation onwards, current and future staffers of “Faktoje” are required not to engage with political activities.
In our internal guidelines we clearly define that the members of the staff should not be part of any political party, and making political advocacy or statement is banned.

Aleksandra Bogdani (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 30/08/2023

The methodology clearly ensures now the commitment to impartiality and fairness.

Applicant

Date: 30/01/2023

Depoliticization, commitment to impartiality, and honesty

"Faktoje" is an organization that does not engage in political activities. Our verification selection of statements and promises of politicians, public officials, and entities that benefit from public funds is based on their impact on citizens' lives. We fact-check using a standard procedure, our methodology which is published on our official website "Faktoje.al", in the "About us" subcategory. "Faktoje" tries to be balanced and verify statements and promises of representatives from the entire political spectrum (government and opposition) and other public institutions. We let the evidence dictate our conclusions.

None of our team members have joined political parties or organizations. Since its establishment and ongoing, "Faktoje" has applied as a condition that its employees do not engage in political activities.

https://faktoje.al/si-punojme-ne/#Depolitizimi,%20angazhimi%20p%C3%ABr%20paan%C3%ABsi%20dhe%20ndershm%C3%ABri

Erlis Cela (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 05/05/2023

The applicant has published a clear summary of their non-partisanship policies on their website. Ander the section "Depoliticization, commitment to impartiality and honesty" is mentioned as below "None of our team members are members of political parties or organizations. Since its founding and thereafter, "Faktoje" has set a condition for individuals who are currently employed and those who will be part of it, not to engage in political activities."

Aleksandra Bogdani (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 17/05/2023

Non-partisanship policies are clear and complete and can be easily found on their website.

Article 3.2: Privacy and Safety

In order to be recognised as a verified member of the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN), operations must:

Applicant

Date: 30/01/2023

Faktoje takes care to preserve the privacy and integrity of its sources, as well as of the persons included in the fact-checking reports. This is a principle of journalism and it is also foreseen in the code of ethics of journalism in Albania.
Below are 2 links to the stories and an explanation of why Faktoje has hidden the identity of the verification subjects.

1-In the following story, the subject is identified with a false name and this is explained in the text. This is because the person testifies how the illegal immigration market of Albanian citizens to Great Britain works. The character gives concrete information about how much he pays and shows the route followed by the traffickers to take the Albanians by small boats to England because identification by name would endanger his life.
https://faktoje.al/mashtrimi-i-embel-ne-tiktok-premtohet-parajsa-ne-londer-por-shqiptaret-po-perjetojne-ferrin/

2-The following is a report on a small town in Albania that has a power outage. Two characters, a merchant and an 8-year-old child, have shown the difficulties they face due to the lack of power. Faktoje has censored the identity of the merchant, who is afraid to be identified because his relatives work in a local government office. While the 8-year-old child who shows that he cannot learn without lights is not identified.
https://faktoje.al/orikumi-probleme-me-nderprejen-e-energjise-investimet-miliona-euro-pa-rezultat/

Erlis Cela (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 05/05/2023

Based on evidences provided and the observed in reviewing their work and website the applicant fully complies with this standard.

Applicant

Date: 30/01/2023

https://faktoje.al/tritan-shehu-21-mije-persona-humben-jeten-nga-covid-eurostat-dhe-the-economist-tregojne-vetem-per-11-mije-persona/

Above is the verification of the statement of the former Minister of Health, Tritan Shehu who claimed that 21 thousand individuals lost their lives from Covid 19 in Albania. The statement was posted on the social network of the former minister and there was no doubt about the source of these figures. But Faktoje contacted the person himself, giving him the opportunity to show where he based his statement. The verification showed that the figures were untrue and Mr. Tritan Shehu did not appeal this verdict.

Erlis Cela (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 05/05/2023

The applicant has a special section on their website for corrections and complaints with the title 'Complaints and Corrections'. In the methodology section, this explanation has been published: 'From time to time, we add new information to previously published fact-check news, if there are updates. These are not announced as corrections, but the public is informed through reposting.

Aleksandra Bogdani (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 17/05/2023

The applicant bases its work on public statements of the politicians and usually gives them or their institutions the right to reply.

Best Practices

In addition to the required standards listed above, the Code identifies the following as a best practice that is encouraged but not required to join the EFCSN.

Article 3.3: Honest corrections

In order to be recognised as a verified member of the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN), operations must:

Applicant

Date: 30/01/2023

In the category 'About us, under the section "How we work", we have a section entitled "How we correct mistakes". Here we list different kinds of corrections and briefly explain how we make these corrections. Corrections may include changing the rating of a claim, based on our rating system, correcting grammatical errors, and also updates, which are not errors but remain a change in the original article for which we notify our audience. More details are provided in the link below.

https://faktoje.al/si-punojme-ne/#Si%20i%20korrigjojm%C3%AB%20gabimet%20tona

Erlis Cela (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 05/05/2023

Aleksandra Bogdani (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 17/05/2023

The applicant has a Complaints and Corrections section and they use an honest correction note. The assessment has been based on 4 fact-checks that appears in that section from 2018.

Best Practices:

In addition to the required standards listed above, the Code identifies the following as best practices that are encouraged but not required to join the EFCSN.

Applicant

Date: 30/01/2023

Download File

Applicant

Non Compliant

Date: 02/08/2023

Faktoje hasn't encounter during the last two years claims for corrections. This may happen due to the rigorous application of the fact methodology which leads to a exhaustive fact-checking reports that can hardly being contested as long they are fact based and the audience knows how the verification was done.

Applicant

Non Compliant

Date: 03/08/2023

In addition, we consider very important to stress that Faktoje has clearly published the correction policy under the Methodology. Also undr the About us Section there is Complaints and corrections category with all the corrected articles are exposed.

Erlis Cela (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 13/09/2023

The applicant has improved the content on the website by completing the code requirements related to this standard.

Applicant

Date: 30/01/2023

We haven't met such a case

Applicant

Non Compliant

Date: 02/08/2023

Faktoje has not encountered any case when after the correction of a compliant, the subject is not satisfied.

Erlis Cela (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 13/09/2023

The response provided by the applicant following the initial evaluation for this standard is satisfactory and supports a positive evaluation outcome.

Aleksandra Bogdani (assessor)

Needs more info

Date: 17/05/2023

I can't assess the criteria as the applicant claims they haven't met such a case.

Applicant

Needs more info

Date: 02/08/2023

Faktoje has not encountered any case when after the correction of a compliant, the subject is not satisfied.

Article 4.1: Organisational transparency

In order to be recognised as a verified member of the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN), operations must:

Applicant

Date: 30/01/2023

From its foundation onwards, current and future staffers of “Faktoje” are required not to engage in political activities.

https://faktoje.al/si-punojme-ne/#Depolitizimi,%20angazhimi%20p%C3%ABr%20paan%C3%ABsi%20dhe%20ndershm%C3%ABri

Please find below the documents which consist of the rules and criteria the members of our team must fulfill to be compliant with the highest standards of ethics and impartiality, besides professionalism. They are considered part of the internal politic of Faktoje and are not published on the website.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SpoBIwZz4t-NmNC4YHUD8bPhKnJHqWSSyiSCYUtOwbs/edit?usp=share_link
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CcWCfWxOMCrT2cSTtQK1tsqZrM7LBsl49F8Xz3Z6L9c/edit?usp=share_link
https://docs.google.com/document/d/173ZlWdNhBuqBrORddspmRT4_a5IyymB7/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=107159485751663193789&rtpof=true&sd=true

Erlis Cela (assessor)

Needs more info

Date: 06/05/2023

The applicant has shared comprehensive information about the organization's by-laws and internal rules by providing links. However, the applicant has acknowledged that this information is not readily accessible to the public as it is not published on the organization's website.

Applicant

Needs more info

Date: 02/08/2023

Faktoje considers that the internal by-laws are confidential and related to internal policies, which affect directly the work relationship within the team, not the audience.

Erlis Cela (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 13/09/2023

The response provided by the applicant following the initial evaluation for this standard is satisfactory and supports a positive evaluation outcome.

Aleksandra Bogdani (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 17/05/2023

Some of the rules are available and easily accessible on the website, others internal policies are in place and has been attached to the proposal.

Article 4.2: Financial transparency and conflicts of interest

In order to be recognised as a verified member of the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN), organisations or parent organisations must:

Erlis Cela (assessor)

Needs more info

Date: 06/05/2023

On the applicant's website, there is only general information with the names of the donors. As an evaluator, I was unable to find detailed information about financing. Information published on applicant's website is as below:

Transparency is crucial on the subject of sources of funding. We aCCept funds from other organizations and make sure that the conclusions drawn on our reports are not affected by our donors. We provide details on the professional background of the main personalities of our organization, and we also give information on our organizational chart and legal status. “Faktoje” in 2022 is funded through grants of: “Matra programme” of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs , IREX, NED and EU.

Applicant

Needs more info

Date: 02/08/2023

The donor's organizations and audit reports are available on the applicant's website.
Faktoje has clearly outlined the donors and the audit reports. Any other detail on the financing is confident and can be made available to the stakeholders if asked by them.

Applicant

Needs more info

Date: 03/08/2023

After a

Applicant

Needs more info

Date: 03/08/2023

After the reviews Faktoje added in the website the needed information applying the criteria of 4.2 B putting and the Annex 8. Also under the section How we work are accesiblle the financial statements where you can find the anual income.

Erlis Cela (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 13/09/2023

After assessing the supplementary response provided by the applicant and conducting a secondary verification of the information available on the website, the applicant has the needed information applying the criteria of 4.2 B. The response provided by the applicant following the initial evaluation for this standard is satisfactory and supports a positive evaluation outcome. Furthermore, the applicant has incorporated the following documentation onto their website: '2019 & 2020,' '2021,' and '2022' audit documents, along with their '2022 financial statements and income report.

Aleksandra Bogdani (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 17/05/2023

The donor's organizations and audit reports are available on the applicant's website.

Applicant

Date: 30/01/2023

Please find below the link with the information requested. The annual report in this regard for 2022 closes in March 2023 so we'll publish that after this deadline.

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://faktoje.al/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/opinioni-audituesit-2021.pdf

During the second half of 2022, Faktoje has collaborated with Meta as a third-party fact checker respecting the guidelines of our work as fact-checkers in line with our editorial principles.
https://faktoje.al/category/pertej/verifikimi-i-lajmeve-ne-facebook/

Erlis Cela (assessor)

Needs more info

Date: 06/05/2023

As an assessor, I was unable to locate the detailed information described by Annex 8. Although the applicant provided an independent auditor's report, it did not include the necessary tables indicating the donors who contributed more than 5% of their annual income.

Applicant

Needs more info

Date: 02/08/2023

Applicant

Needs more info

Date: 03/08/2023

After the review Faktoje made easily accessible the included the financial information in accordance with criteria 4.2B and Annex 8. Meanwhile the annual income of the organization is clearly outlined in the financial statements under the Section How we work, Documents of audit.

Erlis Cela (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 13/09/2023

Best Practices

In addition to the required standards listed above, the Code identifies the following as a best practice that is encouraged but not required to join the EFCSN.

I. ELIGIBILITY TO APPLY In order to apply to the EFCSN, your fact-checking operation must first meet the criteria outlined in Chapter 5.2 of the Code.

1. When and why was your fact-checking operation started?

2. How many people work or volunteer in the operation and what are their roles?

3. Please list any activities besides fact-checking that your operation engages in.

4. What are the goals of your fact-checking operation over the coming year?

5. Please explain the geographical scope of your fact-checking operation and how you fit the Code’s requirement to “have a substantial and demonstrable focus on one or more of the countries of the Council of Europe, Kosovo or Belarus”.

6. Please attach a list of an average of four original fact-checks per month from the past year if this is your first time applying to the EFCSN or from the past two years if you are renewing your application.

7. Please note which policies you have had to change, if any, over the past 6 months in order to comply with the Code.

2.A. Make available and easily accessible on their website an explanation of the process used to select, research and complete investigations, including a definition of any rating systems used.

2.B. Assess the merits of the evidence found using the same standards applied to evidence on equivalent claims, regardless of who made the claim.

2.C. Primarily focus on topics that are in the public interest, defined here as issues that concern the welfare of society or individuals, and be willing to explain, if requested by an assessor, how various investigations fit this definition.

2.D. Make available and easily accessible on their website a channel through which the public can submit possible claims for verification and encourage users to send claims to check, while making it clear what readers can legitimately expect will be fact-checked and what isn’t fact-checkable.

2.E. Identify and include in publications, when possible, access to all evidence or other required information for a reader to replicate the verification process.

2.F. Provide evidence for every pertinent factual statement made in an investigation, relying on primary sources where possible. Set out in its fact checks relevant evidence that appears to support the claim as well as relevant evidence that appears to undermine it.

2.H. Name all sources except when their safety is at risk. In such exceptions, anonymous sources may only be included if the information they provide is corroborated by named sources or material evidence.

2.I. When quoting experts, establish their credibility in the relevant topic.

2.J. Ensure each investigation undergoes at least one round of editing by someone other than the author before publication.

2.K. Present findings in precise, factual and non-emotive language, while taking care not to overstate conclusions.

2.K. Present findings in precise, factual and non-emotive language, while taking care not to overstate conclusions.

3.1.A. Be editorially free and politically independent.

3.1.B. Not endorse or advise the public to vote for any political parties or candidates for public office.

3.1.C. Not conclude any agreement or partnership with a political party or any other public relations and similar activities that could compromise the operation’s reputation for independence and impartiality

3.1.D. Not focus investigations unduly on one particular political party or side of the political spectrum.

3.1.E. Not employ anyone who holds a salaried and/or prominent position in a political party, government, state or public company under the direct control of a political party or government.

3.1.F. Explicitly address in publications any reasonable conflict of interest or political bias, including from experts or organisations cited.

3.1.H. Have internal policies that bar employees from accepting in a professional context any gifts, favours, or services with advantageous conditions that go beyond common social and courtesy items, and have procedures in place to take action if they do.

3.1.I. Make available and easily accessible on their website these and any other non-partisanship policies (See template in Annex 3)

3.1.J. Only advocate for issues that are relevant to the mission of fact-checking and are compatible with a reputation for independence and impartiality. Organisations that engage in advocacy must set out public guidelines on how they adhere to these standards.

3.2.A. Obscure the image and/or identity of subjects of an investigation when there is a reasonable concern for their safety.

3.2.B. Take measures to avoid exposing the source or identity of user-generated disinformation content to undue public scrutiny.

3.2.C. Be restrictive, respectful and considerate when mentioning or identifying minors and make efforts to protect their privacy.

3.2.D. Anonymise any personal information that could allow the harassment of people (i.e. at least partially concealing telephone numbers, IDs or passports, bank account numbers, email addresses…).

3.2.E. When appropriate and possible, a right-of-reply should be offered to any named person or organisation who is the source of the inaccurate claim and/or is the subject of significant criticism or allegations.

3.2.F. Put in place measures that aim to address the risk of trauma or harassment experienced by staff as a result of the operation’s activities, including but not limited to providing training to prevent and identify symptoms.

3.3.A. Correct every known mistake promptly with a correction note in the same publication in which the error was made; if the error is only typographical, grammatical or stylistic, a correction note is not needed.

3.3.B. When the original publication in which the mistake was made is not editable, disseminate the correction in the same format and channel as the original so that as far as possible users of the original see the correction and the corrected version.

3.3.E. Make available and easily accessible on their websites a corrections policy and a record of the corrections published over the previous year in the first application for EFCSN membership and of the previous two years upon renewal.

3.3.F. Include in their corrections policy, available and easily accessible on their websites, a detailed account of how they assess requests for corrections.

3.3.G. Offer audiences direct channels to request a correction, within the corrections policy on their website.

3.3.I. Undergo an internal and documented annual review of published corrections to determine whether methodological and procedural changes should be made to avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future.

3.3.H. Inform audiences of the possibility of submitting a complaint to the EFCSN under the terms of article 6 with a link to the complaint form.

4.1.A. Make available and easily accessible on their website a statement that sets out the applicant’s organisational structure and makes clear how and by whom editorial control is exercised.

4.1.B. Make available and easily accessible on their website regularly updated information related to the ownership and legal status of the operation and/or parent organisation. People or entities holding over 5% of the shares must be disclosed (see template in Annex 4).

4.1.C. Make available and easily accessible on their website regularly updated information related to the governance of the operation and/or the parent organisation (see template in Annex 5).

4.1.D. Provide proof of the ownership, legal status and governance of the organisation to the external assessors

4.1.E. Make available and easily accessible on their website regularly updated information about the identity of the editors or decision makers behind the operation, including any relevant previous roles.

4.1.F. Make available and easily accessible on their website regularly updated information about the positions held by all staff involved in the fact-checking operation’s editorial output, including any relevant previous roles.

4.1.G. Make available and easily accessible on their website a statement setting out the operation’s mission, values and internal guidelines in place to protect its independence.

4.1.H. Make available and easily accessible on their website the organisation’s bylaws, understood as the rules or statutes that govern the members of an organisation.

4.2.A. Disclose all income sources contributing 1% or 5.000 euros (whichever the higher), from the most recent annual accounts when joining and the last two annual accounts when renewing membership, to external assessors and the Governance Body

4.2.D. Make available and easily accessible on their website an updated declaration of all unpaid significant commitments made to other organisations (see Annex 9).

4.2.F. Make available and easily accessible on their website goods and services they receive from external sources, including paid subscriptions or free access to tools, software and/or advertising, that make a material difference to their finances (5% of net income).

4.2.H. Make available and easily accessible on or from their website the full annual accounts of their organisation for each year since joining the EFCSN.