EDITORIAL / PRACTICAL READING
A claim needs a date as well as a source
Read publication, observation and expiry dates as different pieces of evidence.
· EyeSpyR Editorial
Ask what the date means
The day a page was published is not necessarily the day its evidence was checked. A document can also have an issue date, an effective period and an expiry date. Identify which date is being shown before treating the information as current.
Look at the underlying material
A recent-looking page may quote an older record. Follow the source where possible and read its own dates and scope. A newly uploaded image does not, by itself, establish that the information inside the image is recent.
Do not manufacture freshness
Rebuilding a website or editing its layout does not renew the evidence behind a claim. A meaningful update label should correspond to an actual change or review. Where the status is uncertain, describe the uncertainty instead of assigning a reassuring date.
Make the next check possible
Keep the original source and a short note of what was reviewed. Date labels help readers understand the record and help publishers revisit it. They do not guarantee future performance or replace a new check when a decision depends on current information.