The Pentagon released its UFO videos – so I went to the US to chase aliens. This is what I found
The Guardian
Overall Assessment
The article blends investigative reporting with personal narrative, using credible sources to explore the UFO disclosure movement while framing the topic through the author’s evolving skepticism. It provides context on official investigations but leans into storytelling and subjective tone, occasionally at the expense of neutrality. The piece informs but reads more like narrative journalism than detached news reporting.
"The Pentagon released its UFO videos – so I went to the US to chase aliens. This is what I found"
Sensationalism
Headline & Lead 55/100
The headline and lead emphasize personal narrative and curiosity over neutral reporting, leaning into entertainment value rather than straightforward news delivery.
✕ Sensationalism: The headline uses a personal, first-person narrative framed as an alien chase, which sensationalizes the topic and positions it more as entertainment than serious journalism.
"The Pentagon released its UFO videos – so I went to the US to chase aliens. This is what I found"
✕ Narrative Framing: The lead frames the story as a personal journey from skepticism to investigation, which prioritizes storytelling over objective reporting.
"I never gave much thought to aliens beyond Star Wars. I put extraterrestrials and their flying saucers in a box marked “nonsense” long ago..."
Language & Tone 60/100
The tone leans subjective, with the author's personal skepticism and journey taking center stage, occasionally undermining objectivity with mocking or dramatic language.
✕ Loaded Language: Phrases like 'straw-chewing rancher' and 'nonsense box' mock certain stereotypes, introducing a dismissive tone toward believers in UFOs.
"the kind of straw-chewing rancher you would see in a sci-fi film"
✕ Editorializing: The author inserts personal judgment about UFOs early on, framing them alongside 'Black Friday' and 'fairies' as absurd, which undermines neutrality.
"I put extraterrestrials and their flying saucers in a box marked “nonsense” long ago, along with political manifestos, loyalty cards, Black Friday, fairies, pixies, elves, ghosts and ghouls."
✕ Appeal To Emotion: The author dramatizes their personal transformation and quest, using emotional language to engage readers rather than inform dispassionately.
"So, much to the surprise of my close friends and family, in the autumn of 2023023, I dropped everything and headed to the US to chase aliens."
Balance 70/100
While the article draws on credible, diverse sources and properly attributes claims, it lacks direct input from central figures in the UFO disclosure community, slightly weakening balance.
✓ Proper Attribution: The article cites specific individuals and official sources like the Pentagon, Obama, and congressional testimony, providing clear attribution for key claims.
"In June 2021, the Pentagon released a report confirming that it could not explain more than 140 incidents of flying objects reported by navy officers over the previous two decades."
✓ Comprehensive Sourcing: The author references multiple sources including military personnel, government reports, media appearances, and whistleblowers, showing a range of inputs.
"a former US intelligence officer, David Grusch, told a packed congressional hearing that secret government programmes were hoarding crashed spaceships and “non‑human biologics”."
✕ Omission: The article does not include responses from key figures like Elizondo or DeLonge, despite attempts, which limits balance in representing the 'disclosure movement' perspective.
Completeness 75/100
The article offers substantial background on UAP disclosures but could better clarify conflicting claims about program names and leadership early on to avoid confusion.
✓ Comprehensive Sourcing: The article provides historical context, from the 2017 New York Times report to the 2023 congressional testimony, giving readers a timeline of official disclosures.
"In July 2023, a former US intelligence officer, David Grusch, told a packed congressional hearing that secret government programmes were hoarding crashed spaceships and “non‑human biologics”."
✕ Misleading Context: The article initially presents AATIP as a real Pentagon program but later claims it didn’t exist under that name, which may confuse readers about the factual status of the program without clear early clarification.
"It was true that the Pentagon had a UFO programme, but it wasn’t called AATIP and, according to the Pentagon, Elizondo had nothing to do with it."
✕ Framing By Emphasis: The focus on the absurdity of the Skinwalker Ranch origin story may downplay ongoing serious government investigations into UAPs.
"The story of how AAWSAP came about is convoluted and absurd, but it all started because a spook saw a ghost on a ranch."
Framed as socially marginal and associated with absurdity
[loaded_language], [editorializing]
"I put extraterrestrials and their flying saucers in a box marked “nonsense” long ago, along with political manifestos, loyalty cards, Black Friday, fairies, pixies, elves, ghosts and ghouls."
Framed as lacking credibility and transparency
[omission], [loaded_language], [narrative_framing]
"I don’t know what I was expecting, but I fantasised about having a Woodward and Bernstein moment on my trip. In a dusty diner in the American south-west, a source would hand me a brown envelope containing indisputable proof of the alien invasion. However, none of the major players in the disclosure movement – those who have been lobbying the government to declassify the UFO evidence – replied to my emails or calls."
Framed as inconsistent and potentially misleading about UAP programs
[misleading_context], [proper_attribution]
"It was true that the Pentagon had a UFO programme, but it wasn’t called AATIP and, according to the Pentagon, Elizondo had nothing to do with it. The programme that was concerned with UFOs – or unexplained anomalous phenomena (UAPs) – was called the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP)."
Framed as potentially threatening but with skepticism
[sensationalism], [appeal_to_emotion], [loaded_language]
"There’s a whole fleet of them; look at the SA,” came the first voice on the video, referring to the multifunctional cockpit display. “My gosh!” a second voice replied. “They’re all going against the wind. The wind is 120 knots [138 miles an hour] out of the west,” chimed in a third voice. “Look at that thing, dude. Look at that thing … It’s rotating!”"
Slight framing of presidential figures as amplifying unverified claims
[editorializing], [framing_by_emphasis]
"In June 2021, the Pentagon released a report confirming that it could not explain more than 140 incidents of flying objects reported by navy officers over the previous two decades. A month before, on The Late Late Show With James Corden, Barack Obama had confirmed that things were happening in the sky that could not be explained. (In February, he went further and told a podcast host that aliens were “real”.)"
The article blends investigative reporting with personal narrative, using credible sources to explore the UFO disclosure movement while framing the topic through the author’s evolving skepticism. It provides context on official investigations but leans into storytelling and subjective tone, occasionally at the expense of neutrality. The piece informs but reads more like narrative journalism than detached news reporting.
A journalist investigates the Pentagon's release of UFO footage and claims by former officials about unexplained aerial phenomena, examining the credibility of programs like AAWSAP and whistleblower accounts. The report reviews official statements, media coverage, and congressional testimony while noting discrepancies in program names and leadership roles. The article highlights ongoing government interest in UAPs despite skepticism and unanswered questions.
The Guardian — Culture - Other
Based on the last 60 days of articles
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