The Discipline of Citing Method as Well as Fact
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Citing a source establishes where a specific fact came from, but citing method, briefly explaining how a conclusion was actually reached, particularly when it involved comparing several sources or resolving a genuine disagreement between them, gives a reader a far fuller picture of the underlying work.
This kind of methodological transparency does not require a lengthy academic style disclosure inside a narrative piece, even a single well placed sentence explaining how a disputed detail was ultimately resolved can meaningfully strengthen a reader's overall trust in that finished, fully published account overall.
Writers who build this habit find it also improves their own thinking during research, since explaining a method clearly enough for a reader to follow often exposes a gap in reasoning the writer had not fully noticed before writing it down. This habit is especially valuable in collaborative newsrooms, where a shared understanding of how conclusions were reached helps colleagues trust and build on each other's published work.