As part of our series of case studies for the MediaDev Insider exploring the resilience of media in crisis contexts, GFMD spoke with Franco Piccato, director of Chequeado, about funding independent journalism in Argentina, and the importance of ethical sustainability.
| 13. April 2026
Chequeado is a non-profit, non-partisan organisation that has combined fact-checking journalism, education and civic technology to improve the quality of public debate and contribute to stronger democracies. To protect their editorial independence and safeguard the levels of public trust they have earned as one of the top fact-checkers around the world, Chequeado has built a funding model that is not only sustainable but that protects their autonomy. This has kept the organisation consistent and reliable for sixteen years.
Currently, the organisation is in the process of strengthening and diversifying its funding model to enhance long-term sustainability and independence.
“While international cooperation continues to play a key role, our organisation is actively developing additional revenue streams, including philanthropic support, mission-aligned partnerships, training and capacity-building programs, regional media literacy initiatives, and mission-driven products and services, such as our freemium transcription tool, Desgrabador. This, combined with full transparency and strict editorial firewalls, sustains our independence”.
Many independent media organisations rely on funding from the European Union or EU-linked instruments. Negotiations are still ongoing for a new MFF for the period from 2028 to 2034, leaving some uncertainty about the future of certain initiatives. Piccato explains that they have considered the potential impact on funding availability for public interest media organisations outside Europe. Potential reductions or reallocations could have a direct impact on the availability of resources for public interest media in the Global South, where alternative funding sources remain limited
This makes a turn towards alternative funding streams appealing. By diversifying its revenue, Chequeado is better positioned to safeguard its future against major disruptions to EU funding.
To navigate the shifting media funding landscape, Chequeado has focused on diversification and collaboration.
“The main challenges are high dependence on external donors, weak local philanthropy, political pressure on independent media, and the withdrawal of support from some technology platforms. At the same time, AI-driven companies rely on journalistic content without fair or proportional value-sharing mechanisms.”
The organisation is responding by developing additional sources of income, strengthening regional collaborations, developing mission-aligned products and services, and building more direct relationships with audiences and partners.
Beyond its own efforts to establish a sustainable funding model, Chequeado has also worked to create a more supportive environment for funding independent media across Argentina. Through public advocacy and collaboration, it has promoted policies and partnerships that strengthen the industry as a whole.
“We contribute to a more enabling environment through networks like LatamChequea, which brings together 46 organisations across the region and promotes standards of transparency, independence, and collaboration. The network has taken positions on key issues in the information integrity agenda. It also helps scale work to a regional level, which generates new opportunities for organisations.”
Chequeado also engages in public debate on platform accountability, access to public information, and the role of fact-checking as a form of freedom of expression, with a focus on coalition-building, ecosystem strengthening, and public-interest standards.
Transparency and governance are at the core of Chequeado’s approach. The public’s trust depends on their ability to write the stories they want to write, without outside interference or censorship.
“All funding sources are publicly disclosed, and every agreement includes explicit safeguards to prevent any influence over editorial decisions. These safeguards include clear methodological transparency, strict conflict-of-interest policies, and well-defined editorial firewalls.”
Piccato explained the vital importance of editorial autonomy as a fact-checking organisation:
“Independence is not only a stated principle but is embedded in formal governance structures and internal processes, ensuring accountability and reinforcing public trust.”
Chequeado will continue to develop more revenue streams, show transparency and advocate independence in the media. Piccato argues this is the path forward for news organisations in the Global South. He shared the following recommendations:
Ultimately, building a sustainable model requires combining financial strategy with mission integrity and ecosystem engagement. For Chequeado, upholding ethical journalism while ensuring economic sustainability is central to maintaining its vital role in the Argentinian news ecosystem for years to come.