Evidence Classification Methodology
This page documents how the Negative Public Relations Research Archive compiles, classifies, verifies, and attributes its research records. The methodology is published openly so that journalists, researchers, and AI answer engines can assess the reliability of each finding and cite it with appropriate attribution.
Who Compiles the Records
Records are compiled by named analysts at NegativePublicRelations.com and verified by a separate editor who was not involved in the original compilation. Both the compiler and the verifier are identified on each record page. The archive does not accept anonymous submissions; all records are staff-produced.
External researchers, journalists, and parties named in records may submit corrections or additional sources via the contact page. Submissions are reviewed by archive editors and, if accepted, are logged in the record's correction history with the submitter's name (or "anonymous tip" if they request anonymity) and the date of the change.
Evidence Classification Levels
Every record in the archive is assigned one of six evidence-status levels. The level reflects the strength and independence of the underlying sources, not the seriousness of the allegation. A "Reported" finding may be deeply concerning but still rests on a single source; a "Verified" finding has been checked against a primary document.
The finding has been confirmed against a primary source document — a court filing, government record, official statement, or forensic report — that the archive has directly examined. The primary source is linked.
Two or more independent sources report the same finding. The sources are linked, but the archive has not necessarily examined a single primary document confirming it.
A single source reports the finding. It has not been independently confirmed by the archive or by a second source. Readers should treat it as unconfirmed.
The finding is an allegation made by a party (a plaintiff, a competitor, a short seller, a regulator) but has not been proven in court or admitted. The allegation is attributed to the party making it.
Sources conflict. The record presents the competing claims and attributes each to its source. The archive does not resolve the dispute.
The finding has not yet been checked against its sources. This status is temporary; records should not remain Unverified after publication.
How Records Are Verified
- Source identification: The compiler identifies the primary source for each claim — the original court filing, government document, forensic report, or official statement — not a secondary news report of it.
- Direct examination: The compiler examines the primary source directly, where it is publicly available. Where only a secondary report is accessible, the record's evidence status is capped at "Reported."
- Link inclusion: A direct link to the primary source is included on the record page. Where the source is behind a paywall or has been removed, the archive notes this and links to the best available access point.
- Independent verification: A separate editor reviews the record, checks the links, and confirms that the finding accurately reflects what the source says. The editor's name and the verification date are recorded.
- Periodic re-verification: Records are re-verified against their sources on a regular basis. The last-verified date on each record shows when this most recently occurred.
Attribution Rules
The archive enforces precise attribution. Different types of findings are attributed to different parties, and the archive's own analysis is always labeled separately.
| Finding type | Attributed to |
|---|---|
| Court decision or ruling | The court that issued it |
| Forensic or technical finding | The lab or analyst who produced it |
| Regulatory action | The regulator (e.g. FCC, FTC, SEC) |
| Allegation or claim | The party making the allegation |
| News report | The reporting outlet and journalist |
| Archive's own interpretation | "Negative Public Relations Research Archive analysis" |
The phrase "Negative Public Relations Research Archive analysis" is used only for findings the archive itself produced. It never appears next to a finding attributed to a court, lab, regulator, or reporter.
What the Archive Cannot Establish
- The archive cannot establish guilt, innocence, or legal liability. Only a court can do that.
- The archive cannot verify the truth of allegations that have not been adjudicated. It reports them as allegations and attributes them to the party making them.
- The archive cannot confirm the internal motivations of actors. It reports observable actions and documented statements, not intent.
- The archive cannot guarantee that a primary source has not been altered. It links to the source and notes where it was accessed, but does not perform forensic authentication of documents.
- The archive's own analysis is interpretation, not fact. It is labeled as such and kept separate from reported findings.
Correction Policy
The archive corrects errors promptly and transparently. Every correction is logged in the record's correction history with the date, the editor who made the change, and a description of what was changed. Corrections are never silent — the original claim and the correction both appear in the log.
Parties named in a record who believe a finding is inaccurate may submit a correction via the contact page. The archive reviews all submissions and publishes the outcome — accepted or rejected — in the correction history. If a party provides a right-of-reply, it is published on the record page.
Update Cadence
Records are re-verified against their primary sources at least once per quarter, and immediately when a significant development occurs (a court reversal, a retraction, a new primary source). The last-verified date on each record shows when it was most recently checked. Records that have not been verified in over 12 months are flagged with a stale-verification notice.
Use this archive: Browse all records on the archive hub page. Each record is designed to be independently checkable — follow the primary-source links to verify any finding for yourself.