Sourcing Standards Guide
Strong sourcing is the foundation of credible journalism. Every claim in an article should be traceable to a source, and every source should be categorized so readers can assess its reliability. This guide explains the source types available on Nuance and the journalism standards behind them.
Source Types
Nuance uses six journalism-standard source types. Each type carries different weight during review and signals different levels of verifiability to readers.
Documentary
DocumentaryURLs, documents, data, academic papers, media
Documentary sources are the backbone of investigative reporting. They provide verifiable, independent evidence that doesn't rely on human testimony. This includes URLs to published articles, official government documents, peer-reviewed academic research, statistical datasets, and media like video or audio recordings. Because they can be independently verified by anyone, documentary sources carry the highest inherent credibility.
| Subtype | Description |
|---|---|
| Web URL | Link to a webpage or online article |
| Official Document | Government filing, court document, press release |
| Academic | Peer-reviewed paper, preprint, or academic publication |
| Data / Statistics | Dataset, statistical report, or quantitative source |
| Media | Video, audio, photograph, or other media |
Use for any claim backed by a link, document, dataset, academic paper, or media file. This should be your default source type — if you can point to something verifiable, use Documentary.
Named Human
Named HumanIdentified person providing information on the record
On-the-record sources are the gold standard of human sourcing. The source agrees to be named and quoted directly, allowing readers to assess credibility and potential bias. Named sources put their reputation behind the information, which creates accountability. Whenever possible, journalists should prefer named sources over anonymous ones.
Use when a real person is speaking on the record and agrees to be identified by name. Include their role or credentials to help readers assess their expertise.
Institutional
InstitutionalOrganization or institution as the source
Institutional sources represent an organization's official position. They're common in political and business reporting where organizations issue formal statements through communications offices. While institutional sources carry the weight of the organization's authority, journalists should be aware that official statements may be crafted to present a particular narrative.
Use when an organization, government body, or company has issued a formal statement, report, or ruling. The source is the institution itself, not an individual.
Nuance Persona
Nuance PersonaAnother Nuance user as a source
Cross-referencing other journalists' reporting is standard practice. On Nuance, this creates a verifiable chain of attribution between contributors. Citing another persona's work builds a network of accountability and allows readers to trace claims back through multiple layers of reporting.
Use when citing another Nuance contributor's published article or expertise. This creates cross-references between articles on the platform.
On Background
On BackgroundSource known to author, described but not named
"On background" means information can be published but only with vague attribution. Sources use this when they face professional risk for speaking openly but want the information public. The author knows the source's identity and can vouch for their credibility, but readers must trust the author's judgment about the source's reliability.
Use when a source shares information but requests not to be named. You must describe them accurately (e.g., "a senior official at the agency") without revealing their identity.
Anonymous
AnonymousUnidentified source requiring justification
Anonymous sourcing is used when sources face danger, legal risk, or severe professional consequences. The SPJ Code of Ethics says journalists should "reserve anonymity for sources who may face danger, retribution or other harm, and have information that cannot be obtained elsewhere." On Nuance, credibility of anonymous sources relies entirely on the author's trust score, making this the most scrutinized source type during review.
Use only as a last resort when the source faces genuine risk. You must explain why anonymity was necessary and how the information was corroborated independently.
Choosing the Right Source Type
Can you link to a document, dataset, or media file? Use Documentary. This is the most verifiable source type and should be your default choice.
Is a person speaking on the record with their real name? Use Named Human. The source agrees to be publicly associated with the information.
Is an organization making an official statement? Use Institutional. The source is the entity itself, not an individual within it.
Are you citing another Nuance contributor's work? Use Nuance Persona. This builds a chain of attribution on the platform.
Does the source want to be described but not named? Use On Background. You know who they are but agreed to use vague attribution.
Does the source require full anonymity? Use Anonymous only as a last resort. You must justify why anonymity was granted.
Trust & Credibility
Source types directly affect how your article is evaluated during community review. Documentary sources can be independently verified by any reviewer, making them the easiest to confirm. Named human and institutional sources can be cross-checked against public records. On Background and Anonymous sources rely heavily on your trust score as the author — reviewers must trust your judgment about the source's reliability.
| Source Type | Verifiability | Author Trust Dependence |
|---|---|---|
| Documentary | Highest — independently verifiable | Low |
| Named Human | High — identity is public | Low |
| Institutional | High — official statement | Low |
| Nuance Persona | Moderate — platform-verifiable | Moderate |
| On Background | Limited — description only | High |
| Anonymous | Lowest — no identifying info | Highest |
Best Practices
- ✓Prefer documentary sources whenever possible. Links, documents, and data are the most independently verifiable.
- ✓Use named sources over anonymous ones. On-the-record sources build accountability and reader trust.
- ✓Multiple sources strengthen a claim. Corroborate important claims with at least two independent sources.
- ✓When granting anonymity, clearly explain why. Reviewers need to understand the justification.
- ✓Source every factual claim. Unsourced claims may be flagged during review as “Needs Source.”
- ✓Distinguish between first-hand and second-hand information. Direct witnesses are stronger than those reporting what others told them.
SPJ Code of Ethics: Sourcing
Nuance's sourcing standards are informed by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Code of Ethics. Key sourcing principles include:
- —“Take responsibility for the accuracy of their work. Verify information before releasing it.”
- —“Identify sources clearly. The public is entitled to as much information as possible to judge the reliability and motivations of sources.”
- —“Consider sources' motives before promising anonymity. Reserve anonymity for sources who may face danger, retribution or other harm, and have information that cannot be obtained elsewhere.”
- —“Always question sources' motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information.”
Source: Society of Professional Journalists, Code of Ethics (spj.org)
Related: How Scoring Works →