I think solution for tough to verify info would be for journalists to include something like a methodology section in their reporting.

Due to the vagaries of journalism compared to e.g. chemistry or physics I'm not sure what this would look like in every situation.

Here is an article I came across recently that is a good example of the concept I am trying to explain. I don't think there's any information presented that you have to take the writer's word for: https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2017/05/17/hendricks-not-paying-p...