Support
Frequently Asked Questions
How are scores calculated?
PressGrade uses AI-powered web research to evaluate media entities across five weighted criteria: Factual Accuracy (highest weight), Correction Culture (high weight), Source Transparency (medium weight), Content Integrity (medium weight), and Editorial Independence (lower weight). Each criterion is scored 1-5, then converted to a weighted percentage score out of 100.
How often are scores updated?
Scores are cached on a monthly basis. When you search for an entity, you'll receive the most recent score generated that month. On the first of each month, caches are cleared and new searches will generate fresh assessments based on the latest available information.
Is PressGrade politically biased?
No. PressGrade's methodology is deliberately non-partisan. It evaluates journalistic practices — factual accuracy, source quality, transparency, correction behavior — not political positions or ideology. A conservative outlet with strong sourcing will score higher than a progressive outlet with poor sourcing, and vice versa. The criteria measure the craft, not the viewpoint.
Why did a specific figure or outlet score lower (or higher) than I expected?
Scores are based on observable, documented behavior over the past 12 months, not reputation or popular perception. An entity you trust might score lower if they have poor correction practices or lack transparency. An entity you distrust might score higher if they cite primary sources and clearly label opinion content. Review the criterion breakdown to understand which specific areas drove the score.
What is the confidence rating?
The confidence rating (20-100%) reflects how much verifiable evidence was available for the assessment. Well-known entities with extensive public coverage will have higher confidence scores. Lesser-known figures or niche outlets may have lower confidence, meaning the score is based on less data. Confidence is not the same as trust — you can have high trust with low confidence or vice versa.
Can I request a rescore?
Scores are regenerated automatically each month with the latest available information. You don't need to request a rescore — simply search for the entity after the monthly cache reset and you'll receive a fresh assessment. If you believe a score contains a factual error, contact us at dmhalp@gmail.com.
What's the difference between Free and Pro?
Free users (with an account) can see the overall score, trust tier, key finding, summary, and scores across all 5 criteria. Pro users additionally see evidence citations for each criterion, confidence ratings, red flags, strengths, search history, and have unlimited searches. Guest users (no account) can see the overall score, trust tier, key finding, and summary.
How do I cancel my subscription?
Go to your Account page and click "Manage Billing." This opens the Stripe billing portal where you can cancel your subscription immediately. Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period — you'll retain Pro access until then.
What data do you store?
We store your email, search history (entity names and scores), and Stripe customer/subscription IDs. We never store credit card details — payments are handled entirely by Stripe. You can delete your account and all associated data permanently from the Account page.
Still have questions?
dmhalp@gmail.com