Headlines
A Headline Changes the Verb, and the Claim Changes with It
See how headline verbs shift allegations into apparent facts, and compare each claim with the report’s sourcing…
The briefing file
All stories
Browse explanations and close readings of headlines, sources, context, verification and uncertainty. Each piece focuses on a distinct way to read a news claim more carefully.
Sources
Witness, Document, or Repost: Three Routes a Claim Can Take
Learn how witness accounts, documents, and reposts support different claims, so you can trace what a story establishes…
Context
Before the News Ticker, There Was the Printed Broadside
Printed broadsides made public news easy to post, read, and pass along; see how their uses differed and what their…
Verification
The Number That Looks Complete but Has No Denominator
A count without a denominator can mislead. Learn to identify the group, period, and total behind a news figure before…
Uncertainty
Reading a Developing Story Before You Share It
Reading a developing story carefully helps you share what is confirmed, leave open questions open, and return to the…
Our point of view
A sharp reader asks what the story can support
A vivid headline is not a substitute for a clear source, relevant context or an honest account of what remains unknown.