01
Three separate systems
A credible reporter can be repeated by a misleading headline. A careful outlet can aggregate instead of break news. One number cannot describe all three.
Evidence supporting one atomic claim at a recorded moment.
Resolved qualifying original reports, scored by category.
Attribution, linking, headlines, labeling, corrections and chains.
02
Rate the claim actually made
“Dallas is trading a second-round pick for Player X and plans a four-year extension” is not one claim. The trade, compensation and extension plan can each resolve differently.
Source sentenceDallas is trading a second-round pick for Player X and plans to sign him to a four-year extension.
To stop one detailed report from dominating a profile, each claim in an n-claim bundle receives weight 1 / √n.
03
Unresolved is not wrong
Strong primary or convergent evidence establishes the proposition as stated.
Strong evidence establishes material falsity, or a dated predicted outcome fails.
Evidence cannot close a private-process or otherwise unknowable claim.
Evidence shows it was accurate when reported, then circumstances changed.
04
Reporter reliability, by category
Trades, contracts, injuries, coaching and draft reporting depend on different access. Category scores are primary; an overall score is secondary and requires at least three publishable categories.
(12 × category baseline + Σ weighted outcomes) / (12 + Σ weights)Claim weight uses a 24-month half-life and bundle dampening. Small samples are pulled toward the disclosed category baseline.
05
Story credibility formula
30%E + 25%R + 20%C + 10%D + 10%S + 5%F − contradictionRecords, named confirmation and sourcing detail.
Adjusted history in the matching category.
Distinct roots, not the number of rewrites.
Distance from the primary record or original root.
Clear subject, action, scope and time window.
Current within the claim’s real decision window.
Contradictory evidence is documented separately and can subtract 0–30 points. A team or agent denial is evidence, but its incentives and direct knowledge must be assessed.
06
Verdicts need gates
Primary confirmation required
Independent support or exceptionally direct sourcing
Clear sourcing; no decisive contradiction
Meaningful support; important uncertainty
Not enough evidence to rely on
Thin sourcing, derivative chain or contradiction
Strong contrary evidence; “False” needs final proof
“False” is intentionally difficult: it requires a final Incorrect resolution supported by Tier A or B evidence. A low score alone is not enough.
07
Outlet integrity is not scoop volume
A careful aggregator can have high integrity. We display original-report rate separately, then evaluate how the outlet handles what it publishes.
08
Corrections stay visible
Material before/after text, timestamps, reasons and score effects remain in an append-only record. Challenges receive a public reference, evidence review and written decision.
Cowboys Review will publish reviewer agreement, overturned challenges, missing-source rates and score-band calibration. The first 50 qualifying pilot claims are double-coded.
See how we’re testing it →