covid19misinfo.org

Rapid response project of the Social Media Lab

The attributes we collect are as follows:

  • Name, Country, URL
  • Structure (Non-profit, For Profit, Volunteer…) 
  • Coverage (Local/Regional, National, Intl..)
  • Affiliation (Media Organization, Government, Independent…)
  • Funding (Media Organization, Affiliate advertising, Donations…)
  • Language, Secondary Language
  • Topic/Scope (COVID-19, Politics, Public figures…)
  • Twitter/ Facebook
  • IFCN Signatory?

Note – The attributes and their definition are work-in-progress and will be refined periodically.

Name -This is the word or term used to identify the fact-checking group or organization. May include the formal or informal title used to describe, address or refer to the group. 

Country Includes the official name of the country/territory where the fact-checking organization or group is located. For help, please refer to the WHO’s alphabetical list of member states here: https://www.who.int/choice/demography/by_country/en/

URL Includes the web address for the fact-checking organization or group. Insert a URL if one is available, if not, enter N/A. Examples: https://covid19misinfo.org/

Structure – Organizational form, composition or construction of the fact-checking group:

    • Non-profit

Does not make a profit from fact-checking activities.

    • For Profit

Makes a profit from fact-checking activities.

    • Academic Institution

Fact-checking organization is part of an educational organization like a university, college, academy or polytechnic.

    • Media Organization

Fact-checking organization exists as a department or group within a larger media organization like a newspaper, television company or other mass media.

    • Volunteer Group/Individual

Fact-checking group is an assemblage of people who freely engage in fact-checking as an activity without pay.

    • Other

Fact-checking group’s structure exists outside of the definitions listed here.

Coverage The geographical coverage area of the fact-checking organization or group. 

The specific country or region that claims come from, that a fact-checking organization chooses to debunk. Could include broad geographical coverage of a single country, or be active at local, provincial or national levels. Choices include:

    • Local/Regional
    • National
    • International

Affiliation If the fact-checking organization or group is connected or associated with:

    • Media Organization 
        • The fact checking group is closely associated with a media organization (does not exclude being owned by).
    • Government/Government department
        • The fact-checking group is associated with a government or department of a government.
    • Department or Division of a Private Company
        • The fact-checking group is part of a private company and is not media.
    • Academic Institution
        • The fact-checking group is associated with an academic institution, like a university, college or polytechnic.
    • Independent 
      • The fact-checking group is independent.

Funding – Includes information on resources that finance the fact-checking organization or group: (May include more than one)

      • Funding from a Media Organization 
        • Fact-checking is primarily funded by aparent media organization.
    • Affiliate Advertising
        • Funding comes from online advertising (display, programmatic, or other).
      • Donations/Crowdfunding
        • Funding comes from individuals or large benefactors.  
      • Trusts/Foundations
        • Funding comes from a trust, or a foundation (public or private). 
    • State or Government Grants
        • Financial support from a state or government authority (generally for beneficial or research purposes).
    • Selling Fact-checks to Other Media Organizations
        • Revenue from fact-check claims sold or licensed to media outlets.
    • Consulting/Teaching/Training/Speaking
        • Includes funding from consulting on fact-checking activities, teaching media literacy, training fact-checkers/students or others, or speaking.
    • Third-party/Tech-industry Funded Fact-checking Initiatives
        • Funding from tech-industry funded fact-checking initiatives such as Facebook’s Third-Party Fact-Checking Program or Google Digital News Initiative.
    • Other/Miscellaneous
      • If ‘other,’ please tell us how your fact-checking organization is funded.

Language The primary language the fact-checking organization or group publishes or distributes its fact-checks in. 

Secondary Languages – The secondary languages the fact-checking organization or group publishes or distributes its fact-checks in. N/A if no secondary language.

Topic/Scope of Debunking Work – Topic or theme the fact-checking organization focuses on (select all applicable choices):

      •  
    • Politics
        • Focusing on the accuracy of claims by politicians, political  party leaders and their platforms, in major speeches, debates, and daily life. May also include foreign policy, governance.
    • Public Figures
        • Focusing on verifying the accuracy of statements made by elected officials, celebrities, and other public figures of note.
    • Viral Claims or Content
        • Focusing on fact-checking viral claims circulating on social media.
    • Economy
        • The fact-checking organization focuses on verifying claims about the economy, about economic issues, about a regional or national economy, about the global economy.
    • Science and Technology
        • The fact-checking organization focuses on verifying claims about science and science-related matters, issues or topics. Includes climate change.
    • Education
      • The fact-checking organization focuses on verifying claims in the field of education, about local, national or international education.
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Twitter – The Twitter handle for the fact-checking organization or group. (if available)

Facebook The  Facebook page of the fact-checking organization or group. (if available)

IFCN Signatories? – Denotes whether fact-checker is a member of the International Fact-Checking Network (ICFN) with either “Y” for yes, or “N” for no.