Methodology
How we cut through the noise.
Every story published on Gen Us goes through a rigorous editorial process. Here's what we look for and how we score it.
Propaganda Scoring
Every external article we analyze receives a Propaganda Score from 0-100. The score measures how many manipulation techniques are present and how aggressively they're used. Learn about all 12 propaganda techniques we track →
- •Loaded Language — emotionally manipulative words designed to trigger rather than inform
- •Ownership & Funding — who owns the outlet, their corporate parent, shareholders, political ties
- •Narrative Framing — what the story emphasizes, what it omits, who the framing serves
- •Source Diversity — single-perspective reporting vs. multiple viewpoints
- •Who Benefits — which entities benefit from the story's angle
- •Missing Context — relevant information the original article left out
Fact-Checking
Major claims in every story are verified against multiple independent sources. Each claim gets one of three statuses:
- •Verified — supported by multiple independent sources or public records
- •Unverified — cannot be independently confirmed, but not contradicted by evidence
- •Disputed — contradicted by credible sources or contains factual errors
Stories that fail fact-checking are not published. Stories with unverified claims are published with caveats.
Ownership Mapping
For every story we analyze, we trace the ownership chain of the publishing outlet:
- •Corporate parent company and subsidiary relationships
- •Major shareholders and board members with political ties
- •Known funding sources and advertising relationships
- •Cross-ownership with other media properties
Quality Standards
Every story is scored across five dimensions before publication. Stories that don't meet our threshold are rejected.
- •Factual Accuracy — 35% weight. Are claims properly sourced and verified?
- •Writing Quality — 25% weight. Is the prose clear, engaging, and professional?
- •Value Add — 20% weight. Does this add context beyond the original source?
- •Ethical Standards — 10% weight. Is the reporting fair and responsible?
- •Readability — 10% weight. Is it accessible to a general audience?
Propaganda Score Scale
Straightforward reporting with little detectable spin
Minor framing issues or slight omissions
Notable loaded language, missing context, or ownership bias
Significant propaganda techniques across multiple dimensions
Heavy manipulation — loaded language, omissions, and clear beneficiary alignment
Most mainstream outlet articles score between 20-60. The score reflects propaganda technique density, not political alignment — both left-leaning and right-leaning outlets can score high or low.
Source Monitoring
We monitor 39 outlets across the political spectrum. We apply the same methodology and scoring to all sources, regardless of their political leaning. Want to sharpen your own skills? Read our Media Literacy Guide.
Wire: Reuters, AP
Western Left: CNN, Guardian, BBC, NPR, MSNBC
Western Right: Fox News, NY Post, Daily Mail
Global South: Al Jazeera, SCMP, Middle East Eye, Deutsche Welle, France 24, Times of India, Japan Times, The Africa Report, TRT World
Investigative: The Intercept, ProPublica, Democracy Now, OCCRP, Bellingcat
Alternative: Grayzone, MintPress, ZeroHedge, Common Dreams, Jacobin, Mother Jones, Reason
Tech: The Verge, Ars Technica, TechCrunch, Wired, 404 Media
Finance: CoinDesk, Financial Times