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The EFCSN promotes the highest standards in fact-checking and information integrity work. An important part of this is our process for assessment of potential new members. We work with external assessors to validate potential members’ adherence to the European Code of Standards for Independent Fact-Checking Organisations. The Code ensures that our members adhere to the highest standards of fact-checking methodology, ethics, and transparency in their operations. 

Our assessors are journalism professors, researchers or media consultants that have an in-depth knowledge of the media and fact-checking ecosystem, and about the political context of the country or region where they work and where the assessed applicants publish their fact checks.

Interested in becoming an assessor?

The Assessment Process

Whether the EFCSN receives an application from a potential member organisation, or a renewal from an existing member, the process is the same. 

  1. First, EFCSN staff review the application primarily for completeness, and work with the applicant to ensure that all necessary information is included within our application system. We also work with our Governance Body to coordinate any exceptions to the process, such as choosing the languages of assessment for organisations publishing in multiple languages, or to approve a safety waiver. 
  2. Next, we assign assessors. We do this by reaching out to external experts with the relevant language and country expertise. 
  3. Two assessors work independently to evaluate each application according to the criteria set out in our Code of Standards and the guidelines for assessors. Assessors have 30 days to complete their assessment.
  4. If any response or clarification is required from the applicant, these are requested through our application platform and must be addressed by the assessors before closing the review process. 
  5. The final step is for our Governance Body to make a decision on the application, based on assessors’ evaluation of the application. 

Expected Time Commitment

Preparatory Work

Individuals interested in assessing for the EFCSN can schedule a call with EFCSN staff of around 30 minutes to speak about the role and the process for assessing; we also provide orientation materials such as overview slide deck and guide for assessors. Review of the orientation materials should take no longer than 1-2 hours. 

Potential assessors must be approved by our Governance Body. Candidates must directly declare to us any potential conflicts of interest, such as those with specific organisations or fact-checking networks in your country. In some cases we may ask specific questions about your experience and in others we can approve candidates based on their CV or recommendations from other assessors. This step is typically completed via email. 

Assessments

When a new assessment is available in your language/region, we reach out to individuals to confirm their availability and any potential conflicts of interest. 

Should you accept, each assessment must be completed within 30 days after being assigned, with some additional time required if clarifications are needed. The actual assessment time may vary depending on the quality of the application and your familiarity with the Code of Standards.

Compensation

The EFCSN pays assessors €350 for each assessment.

Becoming an assessor

Are you interested in finding out more about becoming an assessor? Reach out to us at [email protected].