UAP INTELLIGENCE BRIEF · OPEN SOURCECLEARANCE: PUBLIC
Latest Issue Casefiles Watch Map How We Score New to UAP? Subscribe Free
Editorial Standards

How We Score Every Story

Every story published in The Veil receives a credibility score from 0 to 100. Here is exactly how we calculate it, and why transparency about our methodology matters.

The UAP space has a serious credibility problem. Legitimate government disclosures sit alongside unverified claims, anonymous sourcing, and outright fabrication, often presented with equal weight. The Veil exists to change that. Our scoring system applies a consistent, transparent framework to every story we cover, so you always know how much confidence to place in what you're reading.

Scores are generated by our editorial process and reviewed before publication. No story appears in The Veil without a score and a written rationale.

Score Ranges
85-100
Very High Credibility Official government source, primary document, or story corroborated by three or more independent credible sources. The strongest tier of evidence in the disclosure space.
70-84
High Credibility Named, credentialed sources with strong track records, corroborated by at least two independent outlets, or peer-reviewed scientific findings.
55-69
Moderate Credibility Single credible source with partial documentation, or multiple sources from outlets with limited UAP track records. Worth monitoring for corroboration.
35-54
Low Credibility Anonymous sourcing without documentary support, single-source claims that contradict established record, or reporting from outlets with inconsistent accuracy.
0-34
Unverified / Speculative No sourcing cited, originated from social media without corroboration, or directly contradicts verified official statements. We cover these only when the claim is significant enough to address publicly.
The Five Scoring Dimensions

Every story is evaluated across five dimensions. Each dimension carries a different maximum weight, reflecting its relative importance to overall credibility.

01
Source Tier
Up to 30 points

The single most important factor. Where did the story originate? Primary government documents and named senior officials score highest. Anonymous sources and unverified community posts score lowest.

28-30Official government document (DoD, AARO, congressional record)
22-26Named senior official, on the record
18-22Established investigative outlet (The Debrief, Liberation Times)
18-24Named researcher or academic, peer-reviewed publication
15-20Mainstream national press (NYT, WaPo, DefenseScoop)
8-12Single anonymous source
2-6Blogger, YouTuber, or community forum
0-3Known sensationalist or fabrication-prone outlet
02
Corroboration
Up to 25 points

How many independent sources confirm the same claim? Independent confirmation is the gold standard of journalism. A story confirmed by three separate credible sources is fundamentally different from a single-source report.

22-25Three or more independent credible sources
15-18Two independent credible sources
10-13Single source with documentary evidence
4-7Single source, no supporting documentation
0-2No sourcing cited at all
03
Specificity & Verifiability
Up to 20 points

Can the claim be checked, tested, or falsified? Specific dates, locations, named individuals, and document references allow independent verification. Vague claims that cannot be checked or disproven score significantly lower.

17-20Specific dates, locations, named individuals, document references
10-14Partial specifics with some verifiable details
3-7Vague claim with no checkable anchors
0-2Unfalsifiable by nature
04
Outlet Track Record
Up to 15 points

Has this outlet been accurate on UAP stories before? General journalistic credibility matters, but UAP-specific track record matters more. An outlet that has broken verified disclosure stories earns higher baseline trust.

13-15Strong verified track record on UAP reporting specifically
8-11Reputable generally, limited UAP coverage history
4-6New or unknown outlet
0-3Prior credibility issues on this subject specifically
05
Consistency with Known Record
Up to 10 points

Does this claim fit the established, documented disclosure record, or contradict it without explanation? New claims that build logically on verified prior disclosures are more credible than claims that overturn settled facts without evidence.

8-10Consistent with and builds on verified prior disclosures
5-7Neutral: neither confirmed nor contradicted by prior record
1-3Contradicts established record without supporting explanation
0-1Directly contradicts verified official statements
Hard Rules

Two absolute rules apply regardless of how a story scores on other dimensions.

Score Ceiling: 60

Any story sourced exclusively from social media, regardless of how specific or widely shared, is capped at a maximum score of 60. Viral reach is not evidence.

Score Floor: 0

Any story from an outlet with a documented history of fabrication receives a score of 0, regardless of the specific claim's apparent specificity or sourcing.

Source Tiers

Beyond the numeric score, every source is classified into one of three tiers. This anchors the Source Tier dimension above and is what the credibility ring on each story reflects at a glance.

Tier 1
Official / Major
Government documents, named senior officials, peer-reviewed work, and major national press.
Tier 2
Established Independent
Credentialed UAP investigative outlets and reputable press with a shorter track record on this beat.
Tier 3
Unverified / Social
Anonymous claims, blogs, social posts, and sensational outlets. Capped low until independently corroborated.
Go Straight to the Record

Don't take our word for it. These are the primary, official sources behind UAP disclosure. Hold us to them.

What We Don't Cover

The Veil does not cover personal testimonials without corroboration, alleged contact experiences, channeled or psychic claims, or content from outlets with a documented history of fabrication. Our focus is the documented disclosure record: government actions, scientific research, credentialed reporting, and verified witness accounts from trained observers.

We cover the story of what governments know and what the evidence shows. That is a large enough story on its own.

← Back to the latest issue