Not all sources carry the same weight, and readers deserve to know which kind of source a claim rests on. We tag sources by tier so the strength of the evidence is visible, not hidden inside the prose.
How we rank sources
- Primary / official document: An official document, dataset, gazette notice, judgment, or contract — the strongest basis, because the reader can check it.
- On the record: A named person speaking on the record, accountable for what they say.
- Named expert: A named specialist offering informed analysis rather than first-hand fact.
- Background / anonymous: Someone with direct knowledge who we have agreed not to name because they face real risk for speaking. Used only when the information matters and cannot be had on the record, and corroborated wherever possible.
- Unverified: A claim we are reporting the existence of but have not been able to confirm — always labelled as such.
How this shows up in a story
On significant stories, the sources list and the "Basis of reporting" box show what we drew on and how solid each source is. A single anonymous source is not enough to assert a contested fact; we seek corroboration and are explicit when we could not find it. Our aim is that a careful reader can always tell the difference between what is documented, what is attributed, and what is still uncertain.