Methodology & Standards
How we track power, measure influence, and ensure accuracy across all our civic intelligence platforms.
Our Research Foundation
The Sesay Brief's civic intelligence platforms are built on rigorous, transparent data methodologies. We acknowledge the challenge of tracking secretive influence networks and have designed our systems to ensure maximum accuracy, completeness, and verifiability.
Our research combines public records, expert analysis, and advanced data science to create a comprehensive picture of how power moves through American democracy. Every finding is backed by multiple sources and subjected to a stringent verification protocol.
Impact Score Calculation
The Impact Score measures an entity's effective political influence across multiple dimensions. Rather than relying solely on financial metrics, our methodology captures both direct and indirect forms of influence.
Impact Score Components:
- Direct Financial Influence: Campaign contributions, PAC funding, foundation grants
- Network Reach: Connections to legislators, think tanks, and media outlets
- Policy Outcomes: Measurable impacts on legislation and regulation
- Public Narrative Control: Ability to shape public discourse on key issues
- Institutional Longevity: Sustained presence and stability of influence infrastructure
Each component is weighted based on empirical evidence of effectiveness, with adjustments made quarterly as new data becomes available. All scoring parameters are publicly documented and published in our changelog.
Data Sources & Verification
We combine multiple data sources to ensure accuracy and capture the full scope of influence operations. Our primary sources include:
Public Records
- Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings
- IRS 990 forms for nonprofit organizations
- Congressional lobbying disclosure reports
- SEC filings for publicly traded companies
- State-level campaign finance databases
Specialized Databases
- OpenSecrets.org campaign finance data
- ProPublica Congress API
- GovTrack legislative data
- Comparative Agendas Project
- Foundation Directory Online
All data undergoes a three-stage verification process before publication:
- Initial Collection & Validation: Data is gathered from primary sources and checked for completeness.
- Cross-Reference Verification: Information is cross-checked against at least two independent sources.
- Expert Review: Findings are reviewed by domain experts before public release.
Credibility Matrix Framework
Our Credibility Matrix evaluates news sources across three critical dimensions:
Evaluation Criteria:
- Factual Accuracy: Adherence to facts, correction policies, and verification standards
- Independence: Freedom from undue influence by corporate, political, or special interests
- Transparency: Disclosure of ownership, funding sources, and potential conflicts of interest
Sources are scored on a scale of 1-10 for each dimension, with composite ratings updated quarterly. The methodology draws on established media credibility research, content analysis, and expert assessments from journalism professionals.
System Status Monitoring
We maintain strict data integrity standards across all platforms:
- Automatic Refreshes: Data is automatically updated at scheduled intervals.
- Staleness Detection: Systems flag data that hasn't been updated within expected timeframes.
- Integrity Checks: Validation tests ensure data consistency across platforms.
- Public Status Page: Current system status and data freshness are publicly visible.
All data pipelines and verification systems are documented in our system status page, where you can monitor the health and timeliness of our data in real-time.
Data Policy
The Sesay Brief never fabricates or manipulates data to fit predetermined narratives. All content is sourced from verifiable public records, and we maintain strict controls against misrepresentation or decontextualization.
When information is incomplete, we clearly note the limitations rather than filling gaps with speculation. Our goal is to provide the most accurate picture possible of how power operates in American democracy, even when that picture remains partial.