1. Reflect back on the objective of the tool you built: did you exceed it, or fall short? If so, why?

Istinomer as a fact-checking media outlet debunks disinformation and propaganda shared in digital space and public speech to provide the audience with verified and quality information and analysis of issues in public interest.

For the last 12 years since Istinomer was established, it has applied the highest professional standards and strict methodology in fact-checking to ensure impartiality and objectivity and preserve credibility. Besides fact-checking, Istinomer became recognized for its in-depth analyses of major developments and issues of public importance, as well as for interviews, podcasts and innovative visual presentations of its findings in the online and digital sphere.

Istinomer influence and audience grew over the years, as well as scope of the Istinomer fact-checking topics. Istinomer was established to provide the audience with an effective fact-checking mechanism for assessing politicians’ and public officials’ accountability based on what they are saying publicly and promising to their constituents and how they actually perform.

With the intensive spread of disinformation and conspiracy theories regarding the Covid-19 pandemic, the Istinomer team introduced fact-checking of disinformation shared on social media and debunked hundreds of them, mostly health and science-related.

As the Istinomer audience becomes larger as well as its influence as it is widely mentioned and cited in other media, we believe that our objective of providing the audience with an effective fact-checking mechanism is being fulfilled. On the other hand, Istinomer was established to hold politicians and public officials accountable for public word and in that area we just can notice that the situation is even worse comparing it to 2009 when Istinomer was established.

2. What are the tools’ metrics for success and what does metric say – how well did the tool do?

According to Google Analytics, content at the Istinomer website on average reaches almost 240.000 unique users monthly. Same tool recorded that over 480.000 pages were opened on the Istinomer website on a monthly level during 2021. Istinomer content is regularly promoted at Istinomer’s Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram pages, which further increase the Istinomer outreach effect. Considering the number of followers on all social platforms, Istinomer is the most successful initiative comparing it to other fact-checking media in Serbia and other Western Balkan countries.

3. Were your assumptions that the tool you built would: increase participation/engagement or tackle an issue/raise awareness correct? Do you think you chose the right approach – and what would you do differently?

As a first fact-checking initiative in the region of Western Balkans, Istinomer introduced this type of content and mechanism to the regional audience to evaluate politicians’ and public officials’ claims in three categories: truthfulness, consistency, and fulfillment of promises. By using its transparent methodology, Istinomer successfully tackled the long lasting problem and raised awareness of the lack of accountability in public speech.

4. What are you hearing from users? What do they enjoy in tool? What do they find challenging?

Istinomer readers often suggest politicians’ statements and promises that should be evaluated. On the other hand, Istinomer became Facebook’s partner within the Third Party Fact-Checking program which further meant that our debunks of disinformation and conspiracy theories shared on this social media platform reached to people who recognized its as censorship which led to online abusing and threatening to the Istinomer members.

5. Did your tool deliver what you were hoping for? Are they useful for your key user audience? Are they being adopted?

According to the feedback from the audience but as well as from other journalists and researchers, Istinomer is an effective tool that can be used to call politicians and public officials to be accountable for public speech. Also, Istinomer fact-checking efforts provided a significant contribution to fight against the wide spread of false information and conspiracy theories, especially those influencing the public health – about COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines and elections.

6. What worked well through the implementation process? What areas have room for improvement?

Istinomer established a comprehensive, precise, and transparent methodology used to evaluate politicians’ and public officials’ claims in three categories: truthfulness, consistency, and fulfillment of promises. It uses uniform standards and methodology for each fact-check, relying on verifiable facts only to ensure the highest level of objectivity and fairness. This process proved to be effective with just fine adjustments over years. To be in line with the media industry trends, Istinomer should improve it video production.