How We Grade
This archive holds the press to the standard it applies to everyone else: show the evidence. That only works if the archive is honest about what each file does and doesn't prove, so every file gets exactly one of four grades.
RETRACTED
The outlet itself retracted, corrected, or settled.
DEBUNKED
Shown false by evidence or official findings, whether or not the outlet corrected it.
UNPROVEN
Reported as established fact but never corroborated. Not proven false, either.
BAD CALL
A confident prediction or dismissal that turned out wrong. Not a lie, but on the record.
What counts as proof
- The outlet's own retraction, correction, or editor's note
- A legal settlement or court verdict
- Findings from inspectors general, special counsels, or other official investigations
- Trial evidence and sworn testimony
- Certified election results, for forecasts
What we don't do
We don't call something a lie because we dislike it, and we don't upgrade an unproven claim to "false." A missed forecast is labeled a bad call, not a fabrication. Blurring those lines would hand critics an easy way to dismiss the cases that are airtight.
Who it helped
Every file carries a ribbon showing which party the false or slanted version served: red for Republicans, blue for Democrats, gray when it served neither. This judges the narrative the error advanced, not the motives of the reporter. Each ribbon gives its reason in one line, so you can disagree with the call.
Exhibits
Each file includes a capture of the story as published. When the publisher's page is paywalled, blocked, or deleted, the capture comes from the Internet Archive's copy, and the caption says so.
Corrections
If a file is wrong, incomplete, or a link has died, tell us. We fix it and note the change.