cos.io

Key factors

• + Established nonprofit with mission alignment — COS is a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a clear, measurable mission in research integrity and open science—not a for-profit news entity.
• + Academic institutional affiliation — Housed within University of Virginia framework with peer-reviewed research outputs and academic credibility.
• + Transparency and open methodology — The organization's core mission centers on transparency and reproducibility; its own practices reflect these values through open data and preregistration.
• • Not a news source — COS produces research, tools, and commentary on open science—not breaking news journalism. Credibility assessment should account for this category difference.
• • Limited mass-media scrutiny — As a research nonprofit, COS has not been extensively fact-checked by third-party media monitors like MBFC or Ad Fontes, which focus on news outlets.

Editorial standards

COS operates under academic research standards rather than journalism editorial standards. Research outputs are preregistered where applicable, use open methodologies, and are subject to peer review. Communications are transparent about funding, governance, and limitations. The organization maintains clear separation between its research findings and advocacy for open science practices.

Fact-checking

Not applicable in traditional sense—COS publishes research and tools rather than news claims. Its empirical studies on replication and open science are subject to peer review and have been cited extensively in academic literature without major retraction or credibility issues.