The Code was approved in September 2022 by more than 40 fact-checking organisations from over 30 European countries. Recognition as a verified member of the network is intended to allow the public to know which European fact-checking organisations operate independently, ethically, transparently and with a commitment to serving the public interest.
What does it mean that Maldita.es complies with the standards of the Code?
When an organisation such as Maldita.es becomes a verified member of the EFCSN, it means that it complies with standards:
-Methodological, such as providing at least two sources, although preferably more, to verify the central claim of an investigation, except in cases where there is only one relevant source; or selecting what we fact-check based on virality or harmfulness.
-Ethical, such as being editorially free and politically independent, or including in the corrections policy a detailed description of how correction requests are assessed, and ensuring that this is available and easily accessible on its website.
-Organisational transparency, such as having a statement available and easily accessible on the website setting out the applicant’s organisational structure and clarifying how and by whom editorial control is exercised; or financial transparency, having available and easily accessible on its website an updated statement of the organisation’s total annual income, as well as a transparent declaration of any potential conflicts of interest it may have.
Who certifies that Maldita.es complies with the standards required by the Code?
In accordance with the European Code of Standards, two independent assessors evaluate each organisation’s compliance with the requirements of the Code. This assessment is carried out blind for the assessors. Once assessed, the applications are reviewed by the EFCSN Governing Body, which makes the final decision: approved, rejected or pending.
Approved organisations are reviewed every two years to check that they still comply with the Code of Standards.
Likewise, any individual or organisation that believes an EFCSN member has failed to comply with any of the requirements of the Code, if the complaint is not satisfactorily addressed by the organisation in question, may submit a complaint to the EFCSN through this link for evaluation by the Governing Body.
Who makes up the EFCSN?
European fact-checking organisations are currently applying to become verified members of the EFCSN. In the first round, 29 organisations submitted their applications and 10 did so in the second. Some of the organisations assessed and approved so far, together with Maldita.es, are Full Fact (United Kingdom), AFP (France), Demagog (Poland) and Myth Detector (Georgia). The remaining assessments from the first round are expected to be completed by the end of July.
The EFCSN was born out of a project led by Maldita.es and five other independent European fact-checkers during 2022 and part of 2023. Clara Jiménez Cruz, CEO of Maldita.es, is currently the president of the Governing Body, which is made up of 11 members from different European fact-checking organisations. As required by the Code and the EFCSN statutes, Clara abstains from any discussion and decision related to Maldita.es and, of her own accord, also does so in matters related to other organisations in Spain in order to avoid conflicts of interest.