Real World Wire

Trust

How we verify

We treat announcements as unconfirmed until something ships and gets used. Here's how a story earns its label.

Draft, needs editorial review. Process steps from the research plan; wording to be finalized.

1. We start with the operator

We talk to the person who runs the thing, not the vendor who sold it. Interviews are recorded or noted.

2. We ask to see it

A screenshot, dashboard, invoice, log, photo, video or a site visit. If we saw it, we say so. If we didn't, the label says so.

3. We trace the number

Any outcome number in a Verified story traces to an artefact we saw or to the operator's own records.

4. We disclose relationships

Vendor payments, free hardware, trips or loans tied to a story are disclosed in the story, near the claim.

5. We label it, and keep it current

One label, at the top, with a "How we know" line. See our labels and the corrections log.

  • Verified

    Verified

    We confirmed the deployment and the outcome directly with the operator.

    Evidence required (minimum)

    • A recorded or noted interview with the named operator, not the vendor.
    • At least one artefact we saw: screenshot, dashboard, invoice, log, photo or video, or a site visit.
    • The outcome number traced to that artefact or the operator's own records.
    • Any vendor relationship or payment disclosed.
  • Reported

    Reported

    Credible, on-record sourcing, but we didn't see the evidence ourselves.

    Evidence required (minimum)

    • A named, on-record source at the operator or an independent party, or a primary public record.
    • The claim attributed in the text.
    • A logged attempt to reach the operator.
  • Vendor claim

    Vendor claim

    The claim comes from the builder or vendor: a press release, case study or launch post.

    Evidence required (minimum)

    • A link to the vendor's primary source.
    • The text says "according to [vendor]".
    • No outcome number in the headline.
    • A request for comment to the named customer, if there is one.
  • Unconfirmed

    Unconfirmed

    Early signal. Key facts are not established yet. Developing.

    Evidence required (minimum)

    • What's known and what isn't, stated explicitly.
    • Never used in the newsletter lead slot.
  • Disputed

    Disputed

    Credible evidence contradicts the claim, or the operator disputes the vendor's account.

    Evidence required (minimum)

    • Both accounts, with sources.
    • An editor's note.