Story‑first Evidence Construction

Journalists, advocacy groups, and institutions sometimes pick or reframe statistics to make a desired narrative plausible, then treat the tailored account as neutral evidence. That cycle — choose the story, then assemble/select numbers and anecdotes to fit — systematically warps public understanding and policy debate. — Recognizing 'story‑first' evidence helps citizens and policymakers spot when reporting is narrative‑driven rather than evidence‑led, changing how media accountability and policy decisions should be judged.