Content
- Maintain brevity. Ask whether the article communicates its ideas in as few words as possible. Strong reporting does not hide behind ornate language.
- Stay up to date. Verify information and check source credibility carefully.
Mechanics
- Make sure the headline is present, succinct, and well written.
- Make sure the byline is present.
- Downstyle article titles. Capitalize the first word and proper nouns only, except after a colon.
- Use past tense.
- When reporting quotes or dialogue, use the verbs said and added.
- Attribute sourced information, whether quoted directly or not.
- Use AP style for details such as abbreviations, ages, books, dates and time, numerals, locations, addresses, titles, and names.
- Maintain accepted grammar conventions throughout.
Final workflow
Once the revision process with the writer is finished, send the article to the editor in chief and wait for approval.
Editors-in-chief note
Bring forward uncertainties or problems as soon as they appear. Editorial judgment is collaborative, and unresolved questions should be surfaced early.