Each story on this site is based on several reports from different publishers. Under the story summary we show what those sources agree on, where they differ and what was later not confirmed. We describe how sources agree with each other. We do not declare what is true or false.
Key claims
When a story is prepared, the language model that drafts the text also lists 3–8 key claims — a number, an event, a statement or a cause — and names the sources in which each claim appears. Our software checks that each cited source belongs to the story and that the claim numbers and dates appear in its text. These checks do not determine whether the source semantically supports the complete wording; that still requires editorial review.
- A source must exist in the story’s source list.
- Every number and date in the claim must appear in the text of each source it is linked to (different formats such as 1,250 / 1 250 / 1.250 are recognised). If it does not, the link is removed.
- A claim with no remaining links is not shown.
Statuses
The status of each claim is calculated by our software, not by the language model, using these rules in order — the first that applies wins:
- Not confirmed — later reports contradicted the claim, or its source withdrew it. We show what changed and where.
- Corrected — later reports corrected the claim. We show the earlier and the current wording.
- Sources disagree — the claim is part of a disagreement between sources, however many publishers support one side.
- Statement by … — someone said it. Many publishers can confirm that a statement was made; that does not confirm that what was said is true.
- Media report — the claim relies on unnamed sources. It does not become “confirmed” however often it is reprinted.
- Preliminary — early or incomplete figures.
- Assessment by … — an estimate or forecast, with the name of whoever made it.
- Confirmed — a fact reported by at least two independent publishers (the classic two-source rule of journalism).
- According to … — a fact reported by one publisher, which we name.
“Not confirmed” and “Corrected” stay in place: a later analysis cannot quietly return such a claim to “Confirmed”. Only a new claim based on new reports, or a decision by an editor, can do that, and the decision is recorded.
The badge next to a story describes its main claims by the weakest of them: “Some details not confirmed”, “Sources differ”, “Based on a statement”, “Media reports”, “Preliminary information” or “Confirmed by several publishers”.
Where sources differ
If sources give different numbers, versions of events or explanations, we show the positions side by side with links to the publishers that hold them. We do not choose between them.
What was not confirmed
When a story is updated with new reports, earlier claims that were not confirmed by other publishers, were contradicted by later reports or were withdrawn or corrected by their source are shown crossed out in the story’s timeline, with the time of the change and links to the reports that show it. Earlier statuses are kept, not overwritten.
Limits
A status measures agreement between publishers, not the accuracy of events: several publishers can repeat the same mistake, and a single publisher can be the first to report something correct. Automated checks are limited to source membership, numbers and dates; they do not establish that the complete claim is supported, and can miss errors. If you notice one, please use the “Found a mistake?” link under the story.