Back to AI For Journalists
    19 May 2026

    ⚖️ The "Two Sides" Prompt

    Two press releases land. Both claim opposite truths. Most journalists quote both and move on. But what if AI could help you spot which version actually holds up?

    How it works

    Feed both accounts into the AI and ask it to compare them — not summarise each separately, but hold them up against each other and surface the real gaps.

    Copy/paste this:

    You are a forensic editor. I am covering [story]. Below are two competing accounts: [paste Account A] and [paste Account B].

    Do not add outside information. Work only from what I have given you.

    Produce:

    1. A claim-by-claim comparison table

    2. The 3 biggest factual contradictions

    3. What each side conveniently ignores or evades

    4. The specific documents that would settle each disputed point

    5. The 5 best follow-up questions to ask each side

    When to use it

    • Police statement vs eyewitness video
    • Government press release vs opposition rebuttal
    • Ministerial claim vs auditor-general finding
    • Company denial vs leaked documents

    Why it works

    Most "he said / she said" reporting is lazy. This forces the AI to map exactly where the two accounts diverge — and what evidence would prove who is right. You get a concrete list of documents to chase and questions to ask, not just a pile of quotes.

    The catch

    The output is a map of the dispute, not a verdict. You still need to go and chase the documents it flags.