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.socialmedialab.ca/

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.