Launch edition: No real people or outlets are graded here. This article establishes the template and scoring questions.

Strong reporting

  • Primary material linked or embedded
  • Uncertainty stated with appropriate precision
  • Affected parties and credible counterevidence included
  • Headline supported by the reported facts

Weak framing

  • Loaded language without evidentiary purpose
  • A single anecdote presented as a trend
  • Process story presented as policy outcome
  • Correction made without a visible note

Pundit certainty tax

The more certain the prediction, the easier it should be to archive and revisit. Vague forecasts do not become brilliant because the speaker later circles a nearby sentence in red.

Final grades

Future editions will show the reviewed sample, scoring period, source list, and reasoning. The score is an audit trail, not a mood ring.