Direct Evidence, which gives us a direct line to the story through the use of photos, video, audio, documents, physical evidence, eye-witnesess and journalist observations is better than Indirect Evidence, which is a step or two removed from the events that form the story. Indirect Evidence includes the statements of spokespersons briefed by participants, hearsay evidence from people who talked to witnesses and inferential statements and models constructed by experts who did not witness events, but who reconstruct methodically.
