Sources
Every brief on TrueNorthBrief is built from sources I can verify and, where possible, cross-check. I’m Sarah Mitchell, a research librarian and fact-checker, and I started this site because I was tired of seeing misinformation spread online. My goal is to give you a quick, reliable answer without the fluff—and that starts with knowing exactly where the facts come from.
Source hierarchy
When I research a topic, I work through sources in a specific order, from most to least reliable:
- Primary documents – official records, court filings, government databases, and original interviews. These are the ground truth.
- Peer-reviewed research – academic studies and journals, especially for health, science, and history topics.
- Established news organizations – major wire services (AP, Reuters) and reputable outlets with editorial standards. I use these for current events and context.
- Reference works – encyclopedias, dictionaries, and specialized databases, but only as a starting point, not the final word.
- Specialist websites and books – for niche topics like Gundam Wing or Frances Farmer, I rely on fan archives, biographies, and expert commentary, but I always verify against primary sources when possible.
This hierarchy ensures that the briefs on topics like Jack Reacher or Daredevil: Born Again are grounded in verifiable facts, not speculation.
What I exclude
Some sources never make it into a brief, no matter how popular they are:
- Anonymous blogs or social media posts – unless they are the subject of the brief itself (e.g., a viral claim I’m fact-checking).
- Clickbait or tabloid content – sites that prioritize sensationalism over accuracy.
- User-generated content – Wikipedia, Reddit, or fan wikis can be useful for leads, but they are not citable as sources.
- Content with clear bias – I avoid outlets that consistently distort facts to fit a narrative, regardless of their political leaning.
Why? Because my job is to give you a straight answer, not to amplify noise. If a source can’t be verified, it doesn’t make the cut.
How outbound links work
Every brief includes links to the sources I used, so you can check my work. I link directly to the original document, article, or study whenever possible. I do not use link shorteners or redirects, and I never link to paywalled content without noting it. If a source is behind a paywall, I’ll say so and give you the citation details so you can find it through a library.
I also link to other briefs on this site when they add context. For example, a brief on Sonic 3 might link to People or History if the topic overlaps. These internal links help you explore related facts without leaving the site.
If you ever spot a broken link or a source that doesn’t check out, please tell me at sarah@truenorthbrief.com. I update and correct briefs regularly, and I take every correction seriously. You can read more about my process on the about page or see how I handle mistakes in my corrections policy.