What Counts As Evidence
We treat documents, data and first-hand observations as primary. Copies are flagged as copies. Where a source is second-hand, we state who reported it and when. We keep hearsay in its lane. If a source has an incentive to mislead or a poor recall window, we say that too.
Questions we ask of every source:
Who wrote it, on what date, for which audience, under what pressure, and with what access to the facts.
How An Investigation Moves
- Frame the claim. Define exactly what is in dispute and which facts would change the conclusion.
- Collect the record. Originals first. We request files, chase logs, and recover scans with legible metadata.
- Authenticate. Check provenance, stamps, signatures, redactions and file history. Where needed, we contact the issuing body to confirm scope or amendments.
- Build the timeline. Put every dated item in order, including witness statements and press lines. Contradictions are logged at the point they appear.
- Test for alternate explanations. If two accounts can both fit the record, we show the clash and ask what new evidence would decide it.
- Publish with the working. Matrices, key exhibits and dates are visible. We include a short ‘What we still do not know’ box as standard so readers can see the gaps at a glance.
Handling Documents and Data
- Chain of custody. When we handle physical material, we record where it came from, who held it, and changes in state.
- Redactions. We do not unmask private information without clear public interest.
- Images and maps. Captions state the source, date and any edits. Illustrations are labelled as illustrations.
- Transcription. OCR is checked against the original. Where legibility is poor, we show the passage so readers can judge.
Witness Material
Stress, time and incentives distort memory. We compare statements against records, distances, daylight and logistics. If a witness changed their story, we timestamp the change and ask what shifted the context, pressure, or new facts.
Speculation and Unknowns
Where we infer, we mark the inference. Where we speculate, we say ‘speculation’. Unknowns are logged, not smoothed over. The unknowns box at the foot of each major piece is a feature, not a flourish.
Corrections
If a line changes because a fact changed, we fix the article and add a visible note with date and reason. No quiet swaps, no buried edits. Significant corrections receive a short explainer at the top so readers see them before they read on.
Independence and Funding
Support helps with record fees, hosting and time at the desk. Nobody outside the team has editorial control. When support is ring-fenced for a specific request, we will show a short ledger so readers can see what the money unlocked.
Anonymity
Veriarch is run by a small, anonymous team. We keep our identities private so readers judge the work on the record, not on personalities.
Your Part In This
If you hold a document, a logbook, a photograph, or practical expertise that cuts through a contradiction, get in touch. If you spot an error, tell us where the record beats our reading. We will credit the fix in the article unless doing so would put you at risk.