Scoring Content Sources

Some articles hit the mark. Others just take up space. Scoring is how you tell Ongage Studio which content signals to trust — and which to quietly move aside.

Whether you're building a Data Streams for deep-dive finance insights or faith-driven parenting advice, source scoring is your tuning fork. It helps you boost credibility, filter fluff, and shape your Agent’s research before a single word gets written.

Why Source Scoring Matters

Data Streams don’t just scan — they judge. But not all sources deserve the same weight. Your scoring tells Studio:

• Prioritize trusted or high-quality journalism
• Penalize low-authority or sensationalist publishers
• Completely exclude domains that conflict with your standards
• Fine-tune tone by elevating sources with a specific editorial voice
• Avoid duplicate, aggregated, or AI-generated content

By tuning your Source Scores, you control the quality and tone of everything your Agents create.

How Scoring Works

Scoring happens inside the Data Streams metadata filters. You’ll find four levels of control:

The more refined your filters, the more refined your output.

Example Use Cases

Actions You Can Apply

When to Boost, Penalize, or Exclude

Boost Sources

Use this when you want to favor articles from respected, well-aligned publishers. Ideal for surfacing deeper analysis, consistent tone, or trusted reporting.

Examples:

• +900 → Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Pew Research
• +800 → Desiring God, Harvard Health, Financial Times
• +700 → The Athletic, Cleveland Clinic, Stateline

Penalize Sources

Apply a soft filter when the outlet sometimes delivers value but often misaligns with your standards. Penalized content is still possible, just less likely.

Examples:

• –700 → BuzzFeed, Barstool Sports, Medium
• –600 → Wellness blogs, Fan blogs, Patch
• –500 → Aggregators, Reddit, anonymous forums

Exclude Sources

Block sources entirely when they consistently misalign with your brand’s tone, credibility threshold, or audience trust.

Examples:

• Exclude → TMZ, Goop, The Onion, Daily Mail
• Exclude → FanDuel Blog, CoinDesk, Distractify
• Exclude → Satirical, tabloid, or heavily partisan domains

Tips for Source Scoring

• Use boosts sparingly — a few highly trusted sources go a long way
• Start with penalties before excluding unless the source is a hard no
• Avoid over-filtering — if you exclude too many sources, your Stream may return few or no results
• Balance source scoring with item filters for nuanced control
• Group your source filters under clearly named filter groups like:
  • Boosted Sources
  • Penalized Sources
  • Excluded Sources
  • Trusted Only Sources (if using Include logic)

Use Case Example: Health & Wellness

Summary

Source scoring lets you go beyond topical relevance and enforce editorial standards, tone, and authority within your Data Streams. Whether you want hard news, medical credibility, spiritual depth, or brand-safe entertainment, fine-tuning your sources ensures your Agents always start with the right foundation.