BBC Verify Live Editorial Practices Analysis 2025

511 posts from BBC Verify Live's launch period were systematically coded to analyze transparency in live journalism. The dataset captures the evaluation of 544 claims across variables like topic selection, sourcing, and visual verification. This content analysis was conducted by researcher Stephen Cushion and covers posts from June 3 to July 31, 2025.

Use Cases

• Analyze patterns in topic_selection and geographical_focus to understand editorial priorities in live verification.
• Measure the reliance_on_institutional_sources versus other source types across different thematic_focus categories.
• Evaluate the relationship between the use_of_visual_verification_techniques and whether claims were explicitly challenged_or_upheld.
• Assess the frequency and role of hyperlinks_and_images in the sourcing_practices of live verification posts.

Strengths

• Comprehensive coverage of all 511 posts published during the two-month study period.
• Captures evaluation details for 544 distinct claims, allowing for claim-level analysis.

Limitations

• Small sample size of 511 posts limits generalizability and statistical power for some analyses.
• Temporal coverage is limited to a specific 2-month launch window in 2025, not representative of long-term trends.
• Analysis is confined to a single news organization's output, introducing source bias.

Provenance

Source

BBC Verify Live platform.

Collection Method

Systematic content analysis and coding of all published posts.

Time Range

June 3, 2025 to July 31, 2025.

Freshness

Data is from mid-2025, with metadata updated in March 2026.

Geography

Coverage includes international and domestic focuses, but specific geographic scope is not detailed.