Communications teams arrive with binders of “coverage” that turn out to be wire reprints of releases, sponsored native ads, and partner blogs. Those assets help orientation. They do not establish notability.
Independence is the missing ingredient
Wikipedia needs sources that are independent of the subject. If the subject paid for the piece, supplied the copy, or published it, the piece fails that test even when the layout looks like news.
How to tell sponsored from reported
- Labelled “sponsored,” “partner,” “brand story,” or “paid content”
- No identifiable journalist beyond a company spokesperson
- Identical wording to a press release
- Outlet known for pay-to-play features
What to gather instead
Unpaid profiles, investigative or analytical pieces, book chapters, peer-reviewed work, and serious trade reporting where an editor — not a client — controlled the story. Our reliable sources guide and research service start from that sorting method.
