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WHAT IS THE EFCSN
PROJECT?

The European Fact-Checking Standards Network Project is an effort to bring together independent fact-checking organisations to discuss and define the standards of independence, transparency and methodological and journalistic quality that must guide our efforts to combat disinformation.

This discussion has been translated into a Code of Professional Integrity for European fact-checkers approved by 44 European organisations.

The Code has the full legitimacy that it needs to be recognised and implemented. As a community, in the following months we will appoint a Governance Body to evaluate compliance with the Code and help organisations uphold its standards.

In the coming months, the EFCSN will support Europe’s open source investigation community in developing a separate set of guidelines tailored to their work and mission.

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EFCSN-

* This is the project website. If you want to know about the EFCSN and its activities, please go to efcsn.com

HOW DOES IT WORK?

PHASE 1: Writing the Code of Professional Integrity for Independent European fact-checking organisations. COMPLETED

A Wide Group consisting of European fact-checking organisations has been at the heart of this project, amending and approving each step of the process, from the Code to its Governance, in order to lend legitimacy to the results.

Given the size of the Wide Group, a Working Committee was appointed to give advice and support the Consortium, approve the mechanisms to moderate the open consultation, receive its results as well as those of the previous research, and take part in the debating, discussing and drafting of the articles of the Code. This Working Committee was elected among the Wide group and it included fact-checkers from every region of Europe.

From June to August 2022, the Wide Group amended and approved the final Code of Professional Integrity for European fact-checkers.

In addition, in the coming months, the EFCSN will support Europe’s open source investigation community in developing a separate set of guidelines tailored to their work and mission.

PHASE 2: Launching the Code, its governance and its implementation

The Consortium will undertake research on best practices and after discussion among the Wide Group in a meeting in Madrid in September 2022, the Governance of the Code will be approved by the European fact-checking organisations represented. In November 2022 a Governance Body will be appointed by the Wide Group and the procedure to adhere to the Code will be launched in January 2023. Being part of the Wide Group will not automatically make organisations signatories: they will have to adhere to its standards through a verification procedure.

Between October 2022 and June 2023 communication and advocacy of the Code and training activities will be undertaken by the Consortium in close collaboration with the Governance Body. During this period, next steps for the sustainability of the Code will be defined.

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