I've been working on this idea of a news site that presents the events of the world in two columns. In the first column is a dry, wikipedia like list of events and facts, with references to how those facts were established, or who testified to the fact. (with lots of links thorough to related events)
Then in the second column is the commentary. Its where "journalists" and the community discuss the event.
A clear separation of "reality" and our interpretation of that reality.
How do you order the column with dry information in it? How do you choose what gets included in that column and what doesn't? Where is the information for that column even coming from, are all sources of info equally trustworthy?
It's going to need editing no matter what, and any process of editing introduces bias.
I'm thinking chronologically. I didn't mention that the chronological list of events is drawn from a database filtered by time, location, person ect. (but yes, what is in the database? And if there is too much in the database, how do you filter it so it can be digested.)
Data goes into database by trusted people of some sort with something to lose if the data is misleading or inaccurate. Employees for a start, them something larger once the system is working. (Wikipedia / Wikidata is not perfect, but it mostly works. )
There are other challenges like identifying interesting events of the day, and promoting them to be headlines.
I don't think there is a perfect solution, but I'm interested in exploring possible solutions.
When you get the dry fact that the capital was stormed by right-wing extremists, alongside the "dry fact" that it was actually an anti-fa false flag, how do you choose which to run, how to order them, etc...?
The right in the US right now sees "dry facts" as biased. Thinking there is a middle ground in them right now is missing what is going on.
Your solution either leads to giving conspiracy theory and lies legitimacy, or having to make calls that will be seen as biased anyway.
Then in the second column is the commentary. Its where "journalists" and the community discuss the event.
A clear separation of "reality" and our interpretation of that reality.