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NewsGuard is a company developing a browser add-on that rates news sources on their credibility; the purpose is to fight misinformation and fake news. It was founded in 2018 by Steven Brill and L. Gordon Crovitz, who both also serve as the company's CEOs. NewsGuard is also available as a mobile app. The site is staffed by professional journalists who evaluate news sources with a set of nine criteria that rate the trustworthiness of sites based on various factors of credibility and transparency.
NewsGuard gives credibility ratings to news sources based on a score out of 100, as well as a color rating of either green (credible) or red (not credible). Its ratings are based on a set of nine criteria, which fall under two categories of credibility and transparency.
Credibility
1. Does not repeatedly publish false content (22 points)
2. Gathers and presents information responsibly (18 points)
3. Regularly corrects or clarifies errors (12.5 points)
4. Handles the difference between news and opinion responsibly (12.5 points)
5. Avoids deceptive headlines (10 points)
Transparency
6. Website discloses ownership and financing (7.5 points)
7. Clearly labels advertising (7.5 points)
8. Reveals who’s in charge, including possible conflicts of interest (5 points)
9. The site provides the names of content creators, along with either contact or biographical information (5 points)
Ratings are first assigned by journalists, who then create a written analysis of each criteria and why it received its rating. If a news source fails to sufficiently meet one of the criteria, NewsGuard contacts the company to seek any comments before publishing the rating. The rating is sent to a NewsGuard editor and one of the company's CEOs for final approval. Ratings are reviewed and updated periodically.
NewsGuard's browser add-on automatically displays a website's color rating next to its link in search engines as well as on major social media platforms. A summary of the rating and a link to its full explanation, are viewable when the cursor is held over the color tab next to the news link.
