ColombiaCheck - Bias and Credibility

LEFT-CENTER BIAS

These media sources have a slight to moderate liberal bias. They often publish factual information that utilizes loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by appeals to emotion or stereotypes) to favor liberal causes. These sources are generally trustworthy for information but may require further investigation. See all Left-Center sources.

Overall, we rate Colombiacheck as Left-Center biased, reflecting its alignment with fact-checking and human-rights–oriented journalism that often counters right-wing misinformation. We rate it High in factual reporting, supported by transparency in funding, adherence to the IFCN Code of Principles, and consistent evidence-based methodology.

Detailed Report

Bias Rating: LEFT-CENTER (-2.3)
Factual Reporting: HIGH (1.0)
Country: Colombia
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rank: MODERATE FREEDOM
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY

History

Colombiacheck was founded in 2016 by Consejo de Redacción, a Colombian nonprofit organization that unites over 100 journalists to promote investigative reporting and counter disinformation. Initially focused on verifying claims surrounding peace negotiations between the Colombian government and FARC, it later expanded to national politics, elections, and viral social media misinformation. Colombiacheck is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) and participates in the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) led by Reporters Without Borders.

Read our profile on Colombia’s media and government.

Funded by / Ownership

Colombiacheck operates under Consejo de Redacción, a registered nonprofit. It is funded by grants and partnerships with international journalism and tech organizations. According to its transparency report, funders since 2019 include Meta (Facebook Ireland), Google, Microsoft, Poynter Institute, National Endowment for Democracy, Internews Network, and The Carter Center. Colombiacheck also participated in Meta’s Third-Party Fact-Checking Program and regional fact-checking collaborations such as LatamChequea. Its full donor list and annual amounts are publicly posted, showing high transparency and independence from Colombian political or corporate entities.

Analysis / Bias

Colombiacheck applies recognized verification methods to political statements, viral social media claims, and international misinformation affecting Colombian discourse. Its content often addresses political narratives from both left and right but tends to focus on debunking right-wing or populist disinformation, which gives the site a mild Left-Center perception.

A recent fact check, False attribution to China by Petristas: “If Venezuela were a narco-state, the U.S. would be its ally”, debunks a viral claim falsely attributed to Xi Jinping, tracing it to social media users supportive of Colombia’s left-wing government. The report relies on multilingual searches (Google, Yandex, Baidu) and cross-references with Chinese state media (Xinhua, People’s Daily), clearly documenting its findings.

Another example, Attack on Judge Heredia in the Uribe case leads to unfounded speculation that she would be included on the “Clinton List”, dissects social media attacks from right-wing accounts claiming the judge was sanctioned by the U.S. The piece carefully cites U.S. Treasury sources and Colombian media, concluding the theory is baseless.

Colombiacheck’s methodology, published publicly, requires journalists to cite sources, verify quotes, and publish corrections when necessary. Articles feature contextual explanations, relevant background, and cross-referencing with official records. While its tone sometimes mirrors human-rights and democracy-based framing common in international NGO journalism, it does not advocate for any political party.

Overall, the site demonstrates professional neutrality with mild progressive leanings, emphasizing press freedom, institutional accountability, and digital literacy in Colombia’s polarized information landscape.

Failed Fact Checks

None. Colombiacheck maintains an IFCN certification and has not been the subject of credible failed fact checks by third parties.

Overall, we rate Colombiacheck as Left-Center biased, reflecting its alignment with fact-checking and human-rights–oriented journalism that often counters right-wing misinformation. We rate it High in factual reporting, supported by transparency in funding, adherence to the IFCN Code of Principles, and consistent evidence-based methodology. (D. Van Zandt 10/15/2025)

Source: https://colombiacheck.com/

Last Updated on October 15, 2025 by Media Bias Fact Check