How we compare coverage

How spectrum labels work

Each source starts in a curated outlet registry, stored internally in sources.yaml. That registry gives each outlet one spectrum label: L, LL, C, LR, or R.

Labels are brokenews's own editorial classifications. They are not licensed third-party ratings and they are not changed automatically by a single article.

The outlets we track

Every source in the comparison, and where we place it. 22 outlets across the five labels. Placement is ours, reviewed against the registry, not a licensed rating.

What we consider

The registry review considers the outlet's stated editorial posture, recurring story selection, headline framing, factuality notes, and how often its coverage aligns with left, center, or right political narratives.

The label is about the outlet's overall political framing pattern, not whether one individual article is accurate or inaccurate.

How a story is analyzed

For each story cluster, brokenews groups coverage from labeled outlets, extracts grounded claims and quotes, compares framing by spectrum, and checks for blindspot patterns where one side covered or omitted material context.

The social post is generated from that structured comparison. Source URLs are shown on the public story page so readers can inspect the original articles directly.

Corrections and disputes

If a fact, quote, source, or spectrum label is wrong, it can be corrected. Public corrections are listed on the corrections page, and label disputes are reviewed against the outlet registry rather than decided from a single comment thread.