The International Fact-Checking Network allowed its stable of verified fact-checking organizations an extended period to complete their renewal process, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. The normal window for renewal is three months. The IFCN, so far as we are aware, has established no limit on the extended grace period.
The IFCN has, however, invited the public to ask the IFCN which of the expired signatories are receiving the benefit of that extended grace period:
Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the application process is taken longer than usual. Therefore some of the expired signatories could actually be under renewal. Please contact us via factchecknet@poynter.org to confirm which organization is under renewal.
Zebra Fact Check sent an inquiry to that email address on Sept. 22, 2020. As of this date, Oct. 26, 2020, we have yet to receive a reply from the IFCN.
Dear IFCN folks,
In accordance with the invitation on the IFCN page listing signatories to the IFCN Code of Principles, I would like to know which organizations currently listed as “expired” continue in the renewal phase.
In the interest of transparency, I would also like to know why recently published renewals for the Washington Post Fact Checker and Science Feedback make no mention of (so far unresolved) formal complaints about those organizations.
Thanks.
