Vera Files

Vera Files was established in 2008 by six prominent Philippine journalists who all specialized in investigative reporting: Ellen Tordesillas, Jennifer Santillan-Santiago, Booma Cruz, Luz Rimban, Yvonne Chua, and Chit Estella.

Tordesillas and Santillan-Santiago had started out as reporters during the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos and then moved on to Ang Pahayagang Malaya and the Philippine Daily Inquirer, respectively.{{cite web | url=https://cmfr-phil.org/media-ethics-responsibility/ethics/being-a-reporter-during-martial-law/ | title=Being a reporter during martial law | date=September 2007 }} Booma Cruz was a writer for Newsbreak and program manager of the TV program Probe Team.{{cite web | url=https://cmfr-phil.org/press-freedom-protection/press-freedom/newsbreak-staff-posts-bail-for-arroyo-libel-charge/ | title=Newsbreak staff posts bail for Arroyo libel charge | date=23 December 2006 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/205904/probe-after-24-years | title=Probe after 24 years | website=SunStar | date=25 July 2010 }} GMA and ABS CBN reporter Luz Rimban, Malaya reporter Yvonne Chua, and Pinoy Times editor in chief Chit Estella had all previously also held senior posts at the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.{{cite web | url=https://old.pcij.org/awards/ | title=A blessed, bountiful harvest - Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism | date=20 July 2009 }} Estella's exposés with the Pinoy Times were noted to have played a role in the ouster of Philippine President Joseph Estrada.{{cite web | url=https://alum.up.edu.ph/tag/chit-estella/ | title=Chit Estella – UP Alumni Website }}

The original idea of Vera Files founding members was to establish a newsmagazine in the style of George, a New York-based politics-as-lifestyle glossy which was active from 1995 to 2001. However, they decided to publish as a website instead, choosing the name “Vera Files” because they wanted the word “Truth” to be part of the organization's name.

Vera Files released its first story—an exposé on a controversial agreement involving disputed territory—on March 9, 2008. The story was written by Yvonne T. Chua and Ellen Tordesillas and published by GMA News Online and Malaya.{{Cite news|url=http://verafiles.org/articles/vera-files-10-6-philippine-occupied-islands-covered-spratly|title=VERA FILES AT 10: 6 Philippine-occupied islands covered in Spratly agreements - Vera Files|work=Vera Files|access-date=2018-04-05|language=en}}

Interested in investigative and in-depth reporting, the founding journalists of Vera Files felt that accepting advertisements, which was the usual way Philippine media organizations earned their income, would result in a conflict of interest. Initially, they pooled their own money to pay for the new outfit's registration with the Philippines’ Securities and Exchange Commission, and then operated without a headquarters, meeting in restaurants and coffeeshops instead. Eventually, they decided to start looking for grants which fund press organizations.

Vera Files' early projects multiyear project on reporting on Persons with Disabilities, sponsored by The Asia Foundation with additional support from the Australian Embassy to the Philippines; American news organization Internews funded reporting to promote Environmental Protection Reporters Without Borders later took Vera Files on as its Philippine partner for a media ownership project which sought to determine who were the owners of media in various countries. The British Embassy in Manila also released a grant for VeraFiles to conduct training on Investigative Journalism for Philippine Non-Government Organizations.

An investigative report on the links between poverty and corruption by Diosa Labiste, Luz Rimban, and Chua for Vera Files was co-winner of the 20th Jaime V. Ongpin Awards for Excellence in Journalism in 2009.{{Cite web |date=June 25, 2009 |title=PCIJ, Vera Files win top honors in JVO awards |url=https://old.pcij.org/latest/pcij-vera-files-win-top-honors-in-jvo-awards/ |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism |language=en-US}} Labiste was also awarded the Marshall McLuhan Fellowship by the Canadian Embassy.{{Cite web |title=Marshall McLuhan Fellowships |url=https://marshallmcluhan.org/mcluhan-fellows/ |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=The Estate of Marshall McLuhan}}

In 2011, VeraFiles founder Chit Estella was killed in a traffic accident in Quezon City near the University of the Philippines Diliman where she was teaching. The incident led Vera Files to take on a road safety promotion project, which was partly funded by the World Health Organization.

Vera Files co-founder Chua began the Vera Files' fact-checking project during the national elections in 2016. It started as a project by her students at the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communications, where Chua teaches as an associate professor.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2020-02-18 |title=Journalist/educator Yvonne Chua honored with UP award |url=https://tulay.ph/2020/02/18/journalist-educator-yvonne-chua-honored-with-up-award/ |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=Tulay 橋 |language=en-US}} The articles were then published on the Vera Files website under the "Is That So?" section.

In 2020, Chua was given the Gawad Tsanselor para sa Natatanging Guro by the University of the Philippines Diliman for excellence in teaching, research, and public service.{{Cite web |last=Samson |first=Celine Isabelle |date=February 7, 2020 |title=Vera Files co-founder is UP's 2020 Gawad Tsanselor sa Natatanging Guro awardee |url=https://www.philstar.com/campus/2020/02/07/1991175/vera-files-co-founder-ups-2020-gawad-tsanselor-sa-natatanging-guro-awardee |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=Philippine Star}}

In 2020, Vera Files, Center for International Law, Lyceum of the Philippines University College of Law professors, Foundation for Media Alternatives, and Democracy.Net.Ph filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to declare the Anti-Terror Law unconstitutional.{{Cite web |last=Patag |first=Kristine Joy |date=August 10, 2020 |title=CenterLaw, VERA files and Lyceum law profs assail anti-terrorism law |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/08/10/2034221/centerlaw-vera-files-and-lyceum-law-profs-assail-anti-terrorism-law |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=Philippine Star}} The petitioners contended that the law "infringes on the right to freedom of speech by making mere possession of objects and collecting or making of documents as acts of terrorism".

In January 2018, Vera Files was hit by a prolonged Internet Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) cyber attack 30 minutes after it published an article about then president Rodrigo Duterte and mayor Sara Duterte's financials.{{cite web |last1=Shahbaz |first1=Adrian |title=Freedom on the Net 2018: The Rise of Digital Authoritarianism |url=https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/2018/rise-digital-authoritarianism |publisher=Freedom House |access-date=December 18, 2022}}{{cite book |last1=Jamil |first1=Sadia |title=Handbook of Research on Combating Threats to Media Freedom and Journalist Safety |date=December 2019 |publisher=Khalifa University |location=United Arab Emirates |isbn=9781799812982 |pages=9–10 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=85bIDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22vera+files%22&pg=PA9}} Malacañang condemned the cyber attack on Vera Files afterward.{{cite news |title=Filtered By: Topstories NEWS Palace condemns cyberattack vs. VERA Files |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/640797/palace-condemns-cyberattack-vs-vera-files/story/ |publisher=GMA News Online |date=January 23, 2018}}

After the announcement by Facebook that it became a fact-checking partner was made in April 2018, Vera Files, along with Rappler, became the target of attacks by Diehard Duterte Supporters, digital influencers, and internet trolls aligned with the administration of Rodrigo Duterte.{{cite news |last1=Chua |first1=Yvonne T. |title=Fact-checking under pressure: How Vera Files has dealt with the Duterte regime |url=https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2018/fact-checking-under-pressure-how-vera-files-has-dealt-with-the-duterte-regime/ |publisher=Poynter Institute |date=December 17, 2018}}

In December 2021, Vera Files, along with ABS-CBN News and Rappler experienced additional DDoS cyberattacks that appeared to have been politically motivated and possibly related to the upcoming national elections.{{cite news |title=NUJP condemns cyberattacks on media |url=https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/17/nujp-condemns-cyber-attacks-on-media/ |publisher=Manila Bulletin |date=December 17, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Salazar |first1=Cherry |title=Press freedom alarm over treatment of Philippine media in 2022 elections |url=https://pcij.org/article/7921/press-freedom-alarm-treatment-philippine-media-elections |publisher=Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism |date=March 15, 2022}} Unusual traffic on Vera Files' website was detected by website security service Deflect.ca on pages relating to electronic cigarettes and social media fact-checks relating to then presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos.{{cite news |title=Three Philippine media outlets face latest in a string of cyberattacks |url=https://cpj.org/2022/02/three-philippine-media-outlets-string-of-cyberattacks/ |publisher=Committee to Protect Journalists |date=February 1, 2022}} The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines called on the government to investigate the attacks.{{Cite web |last=Clarin |first=Alyssa Mae |date=2021-12-18 |title=As elections loom, cyberattacks plague PH media |url=https://www.bulatlat.com/2021/12/18/as-elections-loom-cyber-attacks-plague-ph-media/ |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=Bulatlat |language=en-US}}

Aside from Vera Files, other news sites involved in fact-checking initiatives were also hit by DDoS attacks, such as Mindanao Gold Star Daily, Interaksyon, PressOne.PH, and ABS-CBN News.{{cite news |last1=Subingsubing |first1=Krixia |title=3 more news sites under cyberattack – NUJP |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1569602/3-more-news-sites-under-cyberattack-nujp |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=March 17, 2022}} GMA News Online, CNN Philippines, Bulatlat, Kodao Productions, and Pinoy Media Center were also the targets of similar attacks.{{cite web |last1=Chua |first1=Yvonne T. |title=2022 Digital News Report: Philippines |url=https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news-report/2022/philippines |website=Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism |publisher=University of Oxford |access-date=December 18, 2022}}

Members of the Philippine Congress called for an investigation over the increasing cyberattacks on the media outfits.{{cite news |title=House probe sought into cyberattacks on media sites |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/02/22/2162620/house-probe-sought-cyberattacks-media-sites |publisher=Philippine Star |date=February 22, 2022}} The International Federation of Journalists also condemned and demanded an investigation of the cyberattacks.{{cite news |title=Philippines: CNN Philippines hit by cyberattack during presidential debate |url=https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/news/detail/category/press-releases/article/philippines-cnn-philippines-hit-by-cyberattack-during-presidential-debate.html |publisher=International Federation of Journalists |date=March 4, 2022}}

In 2017, Vera Files became the first news organization in the Philippines to be a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network at Poynter.{{cite web |title=Verified signatories of the IFCN code of principles |url=https://ifcncodeofprinciples.poynter.org/signatories |website=International Fact Checking Network |publisher=Poynter Institute |access-date=December 15, 2022}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/628291/nujp-to-thinking-pinoy-s-rj-nieto-no-place-in-gov-t-for-barefaced-liars/story/|title=NUJP to Thinking Pinoy's RJ Nieto: No place in gov't for barefaced liars|last=Bartolome|first=Jessica|date=October 4, 2017|access-date=November 11, 2017|publisher=GMA News and Public Affairs|language=en-US}}{{cite web |title=Verafiles Incorporated from Philippines, IFCN compliance checks |url=https://ifcncodeofprinciples.poynter.org/profile/verafiles-incorporated/applications |website=International Fact Checking Network |publisher=Poynter Institute |access-date=December 15, 2022}} To be a verified signatory of the IFCN, an organization is required to be non-partisan and fair, transparent about their sources, funding and organization, methodology, and have an open and honest corrections policy.{{cite web |title=ICFN commitments of code of principles |url=https://ifcncodeofprinciples.poynter.org/know-more/the-commitments-of-the-code-of-principles |website=International Fact Checking Network |publisher=Poynter Institute |access-date=December 15, 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Morallo |first1=Audrey |title=Vera Files, Rappler highlight membership in International Fact Checking Network |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/04/16/1806532/vera-files-rappler-highlight-membership-international-fact-checking-network |publisher=Philippine Star |date=April 16, 2018}}

In April 2018, social media company Facebook tapped Vera Files and news website Rappler to be part of its third-party fact-checking program in the Philippines.{{cite web |title=Meta/Facebook list of independent fact-checking partners, by country |url=https://www.facebook.com/formedia/mjp/programs/third-party-fact-checking/partner-map |website=Meta for Media |publisher=Facebook |access-date=December 15, 2022}}{{Cite news|url=http://verafiles.org/articles/vera-files-joins-facebooks-third-party-fact-checking-program|title=Vera Files joins Facebook's third-party fact-checking program in PH|date=April 13, 2018|work=Vera Files|access-date=2018-04-13|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.rappler.com/technology/social-media/200060-facebook-partnership-fact-checking-program|title=Facebook partners with Rappler, Vera Files for fact-checking program|last=Magsambol|first=Bonz|date=April 12, 2018|work=Rappler|access-date=2018-04-13|language=en}} The program aims to help Facebook flag or identify false news stories shared by people on its social media platform. Facebook Pages that share false news stories repeatedly will also be seen less on people's news feeds. The program, according to Vera File's announcement, "is in line with Facebook’s three-part framework to improve the quality and authenticity of stories in the News Feed." Journalism professor Luis V. Teodoro explained the timing and context of the program, noting how the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte had been antagonistic toward Vera Files and Rappler for fact-checking lies made by Duterte and other government officials.{{Cite web |last=Teodoro |first=Luis |date=2018-04-24 |title=Why fact check—and why Rappler and VERA Files |url=https://cmfr-phil.org/in-context/why-fact-check-and-why-rappler-and-vera-files/ |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility |language=en}} Rodrigo Duterte and members of his government like then Presidential Communications Operations Office undersecretary Lorraine Badoy-Partosa accused the two Philippine-based fact-checkers of Facebook of being biased.{{cite news |last1=Mogato |first1=Manuel |title=Philippines complains Facebook fact-checkers are biased |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-facebook-idUSKBN1HN1EN |publisher=Reuters |date=April 16, 2018}}{{cite news |title=PCOO protests Facebook partnership with Rappler, Vera Files |url=https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/04/16/pcoo-lorraine-badoy-rappler-vera-files-facebook.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419061046/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/04/16/pcoo-lorraine-badoy-rappler-vera-files-facebook.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 19, 2018 |publisher=CNN Philippines |date=April 16, 2018}}

In February 2019, Vera Files joined Tsek.ph, the pioneering collaborative fact-checking journalist and academic consortium spearheaded by the University of the Philippines to combat disinformation.{{cite news |last1=Camba |first1=Meeko Angela |title=Media groups, academe join forces in election fact-checking initiative |url=https://verafiles.org/articles/media-groups-academe-join-forces-election-fact-checking-init |publisher=Vera Files |date=February 12, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Manalang |first1=Bryan |title=Tsek.ph expands alliance, underscores fact checking crucial ahead of May polls |url=https://verafiles.org/articles/tsekph-expands-alliance-underscores-fact-checking-crucial-ah |publisher=Vera Files |date=January 24, 2022}} The partnership also included Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, ABS-CBN, Interaksyon, Philippine Star, Probe Productions, Radio World Broadcasting, and Rappler.{{Cite web |last=Lontoc |first=Jo Florendo B. |date=2019-02-13 |title=UP partners with universities and media orgs for 2019 elections fact-checking |url=https://up.edu.ph/up-partners-with-universities-and-media-orgs-for-2019-elections-fact-checking/ |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=University of the Philippines |language=en-US}}

Vera Files is a member of the Global Investigative Journalism Network.{{cite web |title=VERA Files (Philippines) |url=https://gijn.org/member/vera-files-philippines/ |website=Global Investigative Journalism Network |access-date=December 15, 2022}}

It is also used by Google as a trusted source of information to fact check claims on its platforms.{{cite web |title=Google Fact Check Explorer: Vera Files |url=https://toolbox.google.com/factcheck/explorer/search/VERA%20Files;hl= |website=Google Fact Check Tools |access-date=December 15, 2022}}

In 2021, Vera Files and more than 40 other media groups and 300 journalists launched an election pledge to provide accurate and reliable information to Philippine voters ahead of the 2022 national elections.{{Cite web |last=Sandoval |first=Luisa |date=2021-07-17 |title=Filipino journalists, newsrooms unite to ensure integrity of 2022 election coverage |url=https://www.bulatlat.com/2021/07/17/filipino-journalists-newsrooms-unite-to-ensure-integrity-of-2022-election-coverage/ |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=Bulatlat |language=en-US}} Signatories to the pledge included community and independent journalists, as well as Rappler head Maria Ressa and ABS-CBN News senior vice president Ma. Regina Reyes.{{Cite web |last= |date=2021-07-17 |title=Philippine Media's Pledge for the 2022 Elections |url=https://www.mindanews.com/statements/2021/07/philippine-medias-pledge-for-the-2022-elections/ |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=MindaNews |language=en-US}}

In September 2022, Vera Files and Taiwan FactCheck Center announced a collaborative initiative to address misinformation across countries.{{cite news |last1=Joshi |first1=Shalini |title=Addressing misinformation across countries: A pioneering collaboration between Taiwan FactCheck Center & VERA Files |url=https://meedan.com/post/addressing-misinformation-across-countries-a-pioneering-collaboration-between-taiwan-factcheck-center-vera-files |publisher=Meedan |date=September 20, 2022}}

In 2011, Vera Files announced that it was going to establish the Chit Estella Journalism Awards{{Cite web |last=Chua |first=Yvonne |date=June 24, 2011 |title=Chit Estella Awards for Journalism launched |url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/the-inbox/chit-estella-awards-journalism-launched-172259084.html |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-SG}} to help uphold "ideals of excellent and principled journalism".{{Cite news |date=September 5, 2012 |title=Chit Estella journalism awards open |work=ABS-CBN News |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/09/05/12/chit-estella-journalism-awards-open |access-date=December 19, 2022}}{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2011-06-25 |title=Chit Estella awards for journalism |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/17830/chit-estella-awards-for-journalism |access-date=2022-12-19 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |language=en}} The announcement coincided with the opening of a photo exhibit to honor Estella at the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication. Father Robert Reyes, Roland Simbulan, friends, relatives, and students also participated in a fun run called "Run for Road Safety, Justice for Chit Estella-Simbulan", held on the same day.

Nominations for the first Chit Estella Journalism Awards were opened in September 2012. Ina Alleco Silverio of Bulatlat and Elizabeth Lolarga of the Philippine Daily Inquirer received the First Chit Estella Journalism Awards, which were announced in December 2012.{{Cite news |date=2013-01-15 |title=PDI, Bulatlat reporters win 1st Chit Estella Journalism Awards |url=https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/85495/pdi-bulatlat-reporters-win-1st-chit-estella-journalism-awards/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Ellao |first=Janess Ann J. |date=2012-12-14 |title=Bulatlat.com wins big in Chit Estella journalism award |url=https://www.bulatlat.com/2012/12/14/bulatlat-com-bags-chit-estella-journalism-award-online-category/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=Bulatlat |language=en-US}} The trophy given to the winners was designed by University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts' former dean Neil Doloricon. Former Congress representative Satur Ocampo delivered the Chit Estella memorial lecture on human rights and journalism following the awarding ceremony.

In 2021, Vera Files published Tatlong Kuwento para sa Batang Pilipino (Three Stories for Filipino Children) by Vera Files co-founder Chit Estella.{{Cite news |last=Lolarga |first=Babeth |date=August 12, 2021 |title=Chit Estella as children's storyteller |work=ABS-CBN News |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/08/12/21/chit-estella-as-childrens-storyteller |access-date=December 19, 2022}}{{Cite news |date=August 15, 2021 |title=Late journo still coming up with gripping tales – for kids |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1473731/late-journo-still-coming-up-with-gripping-tales-for-kids |access-date=2022-12-19 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |language=en-US}} Book illustrations were made by Jeanet Herbosana-Simbulan while the book cover was designed by Fidel L. dela Torre.

In February 2022, Vera Files published a comic book that aimed to counter misinformation on health issues in the Philippines.{{Cite news |last=Manalang |first=Bryan |date=February 25, 2022 |title=VERA Files Komiks handbook to address worsening health disinformation in PH |work=ABS-CBN News |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/02/25/22/vera-files-komiks-handbook-to-address-worsening-health-disinformation-in-ph |access-date=December 18, 2022}}

In 2020, Vera Files co-founder Yvonne Chua was given the University of the Philippines Diliman's 2020 Gawad Tsanselor para sa Natatanging Guro (Chancellor Award for Outstanding Teacher).{{Cite web |last=Samson |first=Celine Isabelle |date=February 7, 2020 |title=Vera Files co-founder is UP’s 2020 Gawad Tsanselor sa Natatanging Guro awardee |url=https://www.philstar.com/other-sections/campus/2020/02/07/1991175/vera-files-co-founder-ups-2020-gawad-tsanselor-sa-natatanging-guro-awardee |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Philippine Star}}

In 2009, the Vera Files report "Quedancor swine program another fertilizer scam" by Diosa Labiste, Luz Rimban, and Yvonne Chua was given the top prize at the 20th Jaime V. Ongpin Awards for Excellence in Journalism. The report, published in the BusinessMirror, Malaya, The Manila Times, and Philippines Graphic in 2008, was cited for investigating the link between poverty and corruption in the Philippines. Diosa Labiste was given the Marshall McLuhan Prize.

• Fact-checking
• International Fact Checking Network
• Fake news in the Philippines

• [http://verafiles.org/ Official website]

Category:News agencies based in the Philippines

Category:Internet properties established in 2008

Category:Organizations established in 2008

Category:2008 establishments in the Philippines