2024 in review

This year, as the question in Argentina "Está chequeado?" (“Is it fact-checked?”) became central to our society during the rapid spread of disinformation and the challenges of a complex information ecosystem, we want to tell you: Sí, Chequeado está. (Yes, Chequeado is here). We are here through fact checking, media literacy programs, the development and use of technology, and research on the phenomenon of disinformation. We continue to expand our value contribution to building stronger democracies, thanks to the participation and support of our community, our allies, and those who join us on this journey.

Innovation Community Collaboration Impact

Innovation

Community Collaboration Impact

Innovation Lab

To explore more efficient ways of leveraging technology and share our outcomes with the fact checking and journalism communities, we created an interdisciplinary team focused on researching and experimenting with generative AI. This year, we concluded the phase of working with text production and made progress in researching technology for audio and data-related tasks.

El Chequeador

To assist journalists, fact checkers, and trainers in the process of verifying content, as well as our own Education team in their task of teaching fact checking, we have launched a community-oriented application that organizes the main strategies and tools to combat viral disinformation. Based on Chequeado's methodology, it serves as a step-by-step guide that takes users from the beginning of the process to drafting the journalistic article.

Expansion of Chequeabot

To enable more fact checkers and media outlets to access tools that streamline and support the daily task of fact checking, we have upgraded the capabilities of our suite of applications to provide access to 39 new organizations, joining those already using it across Latin America.

39

new organizations

Periscopio

To strengthen the ability to monitor disinformation on social media, we have begun developing a tool that enables narrative tracking, categorization by topics or events, and data downloading. Still in its beta phase, it is already being used by six organizations in Latin America, which are providing valuable feedback to improve its features.

Evolution of Rent calculator

To simplify calculations related to rent price adjustments, we revamped the tool that helps users determine rental increases based on five different indexes. It also allows the inclusion of update periods in line with the specific terms of each contract.

Evolution of Journalist resources hub

To make it easier for journalists and communication professionals to access useful digital tools, we updated the web space that compiles and organizes resources and applications. It now features over 100 tools, including several newly added AI-based options, and an improved search experience through the addition of a new filter for selecting artificial intelligence tools.

+100

tools

El Explorador

To expand the range of responses to our community's inquiries, we developed and experimentally launched our conversational chatbot, trained to answer audience questions based on articles and information available on our website.

Evolution of Data Hub

To promote access to information and data openness, we created 100 new datasets for Data Hub and published several articles based on them. These efforts generated impact and helped shape our own editorial agenda.

100

new datasets

Community

Innovation Collaboration Impact

Participation in local events

To engage more with the community, learn, and connect with new audiences, we took part in various events featuring interactive activities, talks, and meaningful exchanges about concerns and ideas related to disinformation. These events included “Espíritu Verde” space at Lollapalooza Argentina, Festival of innovation and social technology (FITS), Girls in tech leadership festival, Media Party, Media Party University and Nerdearla.

A voice in local and global conversations

To share concerns and challenges brought by the era of disinformation, learn from others,land foster networking, we took part in conferences and events both locally and internationally. Highlights included Annual Assembly of the SIP (Córdoba, Argentina), Africa Facts (Ghana), Megáfono (Colombia), SIP Connect (Miami), Global Fact (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Digital Democracy Initiative (Colombia), 2024 International Journalism Festival (Italy), Institutional strengthening workshop organized by the OAS (Ecuador), International conference "Countering Disinformation, Strengthening Democracy" (Germany), 20th International Journalists’ Meeting at the 38th Guadalajara International Book Fair (Mexico), “Verifica 360: Regional Networks Against Disinformation” (Chile), ARIJ Forum – Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (Jordan), and AMMX Forum on Journalism in Latin America and Mexico (Mexico).

Collaboration

Innovation Community Impact

LatamChequea

To continue consolidating the regional fact checking network and collaboratively building knowledge and actions against disinformation, we organized a meeting in São Paulo attended by over 50 organizations from Latin America, Spain, and United States. Additionally, eight organizations joined the network this year. We worked to foster the fact checking ecosystem in the region by supporting organizations in strengthening their initiatives and expanding their impact. To reinforce our role in the global conversation, we also advanced efforts to institutionalize this network, which marked its 10th anniversary.

MediaFact Latam

To support 50 media outlets in the region in the fight against disinformation, we launched a fact checking accelerator program for over 100 journalists from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. This program includes training sessions, tools, technology transfer and mentoring aimed at strengthening their ability to verify information quickly and effectively. The initiative was developed in collaboration with Colombia Check, Mala Espina, Ojo Público, and Verificado MX.

50

medios

100

periodistas

Journalism and innovation network

To collaborate on public interest journalism with local media outlets and other strategic partners, we created a network focused on verifying public discourse, publishing stories aimed at younger audiences, and conducting investigative journalism. This network includes ADN Sur (Chubut), Ruido (Córdoba), Aire (Santa Fe), Todo Jujuy, and Corrientes al Día.

Media and Information Literacy (MIL)

To promote critical thinking, strengthen the fight against disinformation in classrooms, and support the work of the educational community, we launched MIL in Action, a digital platform featuring over 30 media and information literacy resources developed by 20 organizations from Argentina.

Fact checking trainers network

To contribute to the fight against disinformation in the region, we trained journalism and communication professors on teaching fact checking and continued strengthening the network for the third consecutive year. We expanded to two new countries, Bolivia and Chile, with 37 professors implementing their training in 24 universities, reaching 894 students. Additionally, we carried out activities with Argentina’s local network, collaborating with 12 public and private universities across the country.

24

universities

894

students

IDEA colloquium

To enhance the quality of public discourse through our fact checking process, we collaborated for the second consecutive year with Argentine Institute for Business Development (IDEA) to verify content from its annual colloquium. Additionally, within this context, we produced explanatory content on topics such as informality, poverty and its impact on young people, the labor market, formal employment, and non-wage labor costs.

The science of disinformation

To foster collaboration among specialists from various disciplines in the search for evidence-based strategies to counter disinformation, we organized an interdisciplinary gathering. The event brought together experts who research this phenomenon from different perspectives.

Disinformation: research and dynamics in the region

To encourage investigative journalism on disinformation, understand emerging narratives, and shed light on country-specific issues, we mentored 10 groups across the region. Together, they published a total of 20 investigative reports on disinformation.

Impact

Innovation Community Collaboration

Promesas Chequeadas

To provide the community with verified information and track the President's progress on campaign promises, we conducted an analysis—continuing a tradition since 2016—on the fulfillment of commitments made by Javier Milei during his candidacy. This included fact checking the degree of compliance with his electoral promises.

Mileipedia

To better understand a government with unprecedented characteristics in many aspects and to provide the community with verified information about its development, we continued expanding Mileipedia this year. This special project compiles information on its relationship with Congress, appointments, fact-checked data on key public policies, explanations of terms used in its public discourse, fact-checks on statements, and debunks of disinformation, among other topics.

Research

To understand the dynamics and common patterns of disinformation across different countries in the region, we conducted a series of studies focused on the spread of gender-related false content during the recent presidential campaign.

Journalism training

To provide resources and fact checking tools and share experiences in combating disinformation, we trained 958 journalists and 1.619 journalism students from Argentina and the region through 45 training sessions. Additionally, we conducted workshops for NGOs, including an in-person event attended by 35 colleagues.

958

journalists

1619

students

45

teaching instances

Training for electoral authorities

To strengthen the skills of key actors in building public trust in the electoral process and provide resources to counter disinformation, we collaborated with various regional organizations to enhance the capabilities of electoral authorities and their communication teams in combating electoral disinformation.

Content for new audiences

To expand our reach, we focused on engaging young adults as a specific audience and adapted our communication spaces to connect with them. This year, we started creating content on topics relevant to their interests, producing videos tailored for Instagram and TikTok, and participating in streaming channels, among other jouarnlistic and communication strategies.

Expanded newsletters offering

To share what we learn and engage more with our community, we launched ChequIAdo, a new newsletter focused on technology and innovation. Additionally, we developed a new section on our website to make the full range of newsletters more accessible and visible to the community.

Especial hub on scams + chatbot

To provide practical information to the community, we developed a special feature with guidance on how to prevent, respond to, and report online fraud. Additionally, we added a dedicated menu to our chatbot, enabling users to make specific inquiries about this topic.

Fact-checked dashboards

To encourage personal interaction and face-to-face conversations about the issue of disinformation, we designed an activation campaign using "paddle signs." Through a dynamic of questions and answers, we invited people to determine whether certain statements were true or false. Additionally, with a QR code system, participants could access detailed fact-checks, fostering a deeper engagement with verified information.

Team

And thank you for these awards!

Botletín Oficial

Our BOTletín Oficial project was honored with first prize at the Media Party hackathon and received support to continue its development.

Campaign against disinformation

We won the Gold Eikon Award in the category of Best Mobile Digital Campaign for our communication initiative aimed at raising awareness about the risks of electoral disinformation during the 2023 presidential elections.

Argentina in 10 key facts

Our work received several notable accolades this year, showcasing the quality and impact of our efforts in data visualization, innovative formats, and combating disinformation.

The impact of President Milei's policies

Our special feature on the impact of the President’s measures received a Special Mention in the "Infographics and Visual Journalism" category at the ADEPA Journalism Awards.

Reverso: information against disinformation

The journalist consortium we organized, involving over 100 media outlets nationwide to combat electoral disinformation, was recognized among the Top 10 in the "High Impact in Fact Checking" category at the Global Fact Awards.

Public space activation: Fact-checked dashboards

This educational activation was recognized among the Top 10 at the Global Fact Awards in the category of "Most Creative Fact Checking Format”.