Editorial Allegation & Attribution Auditor

Audit breaking reports, political workplace claims, and controversial denials against AP/Reuters standards. Guard against unhedged defamation per se and ensure right-of-reply proportionality.

Load Case Presets:

Draft Editorial Copy

88 words

Proposed Headline Check for explicit attribution and immediate denial pairing in title. Subhead / Social Copy Must qualify allegations and note direct denial in social distributions. Lead Paragraph & Body Text Include attribution sourcing, documentation level, and right of reply timing.

Primary Accuser Source Accused Subject's Reply

Audit Clearance & Legal Exposure

Real-Time Mode

Guarded Risk

Defamation & Ethical Exposure Index 38 / 100

Needs Hedging

Attribution Hedge

85%

2 of 2 claims hedged

Reply Placement

Headline

Denial in hed & lead

Defamation Per Se Risk

Active

Sexual/professional conduct

Annotated Copy Inspection

Allegation Clause Direct Denial / Rebuttal Defamation Per Se Trigger Source Attribution

Editorial Safeguard Checklist

Audit active. Copy meets guarded standards.

Sullivan v. New York Times & Actual Malice

Public figures (such as elected officials) must prove actual malice—knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard of truth. However, relying on unverified third-party blogs without independent verification or ignoring an immediate denial dramatically increases reckless disregard findings.

Defamation Per Se Danger Zones

Statements that falsely allege criminal behavior, workplace sexual impropriety, professional incompetence, or infectious diseases do not require plaintiffs to prove specific monetary damages. Extreme hedge care and explicit denial pairing are mandatory.

AP & Reuters Attribution Standard

Always attribute unverified claims directly to their originator (e.g. "according to reports published by..." rather than stating facts in newsroom voice). If the subject issues a denial, it must be featured in the headline or within the top two sentences.