News content is a competitive and fast-paced field that requires high standards of accuracy, quality, and ethics. As a content developer, you need to ensure that your news content meets the industry standards and follows the best practices of journalism. In this article, you will learn how to do that by following six steps:
The first step is to familiarize yourself with the guidelines and codes of conduct that apply to your news content. Depending on your media outlet, platform, or audience, you may need to follow different sets of rules and regulations. For example, you may need to adhere to the Associated Press Stylebook, the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics, or the Federal Communications Commission rules. You should also check the policies and procedures of your own organization and consult with your editor or supervisor if you have any questions or doubts.
Ensuring that news content meets industry standards is crucial for maintaining journalistic integrity, credibility, and ethical reporting. Here are some key practices to help ensure news content adheres to industry standards: Verify Information: Double-check the accuracy of information before publishing. Verify facts, cross-reference data from multiple sources, and ensure the reliability of your information. Use credible sources and fact-checking tools. Attribution and Sourcing: Clearly attribute information to its original source. Provide proper citations, links, or references to ensure transparency and allow readers to trace the information back to its origin.
One thing to note here is there is a difference between the use of the words "standards" for journalism and news production, compared to technical fields like engineering, law, architecture, etc. Serious journalism is a process involving techniques, but it is still a cultural occupation. And because news serves a public good, news industry standards are subject to democratization pressures and political controversy over different types of bias. For instance, crime coverage norms have changed in the US. Broadcast and print press' mass-shootings coverage was over-reliant on police perspectives earlier. Now, reporters are expected to scrutinize police sources beyond mere incidental factual claims. It is useful to keep all this mind.
Establish clear editorial guidelines, emphasizing accuracy, fairness, and ethical reporting. Implement fact-checking protocols, verifying information from multiple reliable sources. Create a diverse and unbiased newsroom culture to prevent subjective reporting. Regularly train journalists on industry ethics and evolving standards. Employ thorough editing and review processes, encouraging open dialogue on ethical concerns. Embrace transparency by disclosing sources and potential conflicts of interest. Stay informed about industry updates to adapt and uphold the highest journalistic standards.
It's about striking the right balance between journalistic freedom and responsibility. Navigating through different sets of rules – whether it's the Associated Press Stylebook, the SPJ Code of Ethics, or FCC regulations – can be tricky, but it's a necessary part of the job. I see these guidelines as a roadmap rather than a roadblock. They help ensure that the content we produce is not only engaging and informative but also ethical and responsible. It's like having a trusty compass in the often unpredictable journey of news reporting.
The second step is to verify the sources of your news content. You should always check the credibility, reliability, and validity of your sources, whether they are people, documents, or data. You should also attribute your sources clearly and transparently, and avoid using anonymous, unnamed, or unverified sources unless absolutely necessary. You should also respect the rights and privacy of your sources, and obtain their consent and permission before using their information or material.
The third step is to fact-check the content of your news content. You should always verify the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of your information and data, and correct any errors or mistakes as soon as possible. You should also avoid making any false, misleading, or exaggerated claims, and provide context and background for your content. You should also use multiple and diverse sources to cross-check and corroborate your content, and acknowledge any uncertainties or gaps in your information.
Fact-checking alone is not enough. By the time you are doing fact-checking mode, the story is often already decided. And the "narrative" the story fits into (pathway along with stories are told) is often implicitly decided. I would offer this checklist. 1. Examine power. News reports readily report facts from realities that the powerful, the experts, and in general the elite want to talk about. But everyone does not experience the same reality. Are we quoting people or citing facts from realities seen by the working class and people at the margins? 2. Examine portrayal. Are there people or communities related to the story from historically, socially, or economically marginalized groups? How are they being characterized?
The fourth step is to balance the perspectives of your news content. You should always strive to present your content in a fair, objective, and impartial way, and avoid any bias, prejudice, or distortion. You should also include different and relevant viewpoints, opinions, and experiences that reflect the diversity and complexity of your topic and audience. You should also disclose any conflicts of interest, affiliations, or influences that may affect your content, and separate facts from opinions.
Before you "balance" perspectives, if you are reporting on a controversy, decide whether it is a legitimate controversy at all. A legitimate controversy is one where the facts, law, scientific evidence, or all together are in dispute. E.g. the Colorado Supreme Court deciding to remove Donald Trump from the ballot is a legal dispute on eligibility until it is settled by the Supreme Court or Congress. If the preponderance of scientific evidence has settled the matter, e.g. climate change, then there is no controversy. There is no need to "balance" perspectives between climate change deniers and affirmers. That is allowing illegitimate controversy to be stoked.
The fifth step is to review the quality of your news content. You should always ensure that your content is clear, concise, and coherent, and follows the standards of grammar, spelling, and punctuation. You should also ensure that your content is consistent, coherent, and logical, and follows the structure, format, and style of your media outlet or platform. You should also ensure that your content is engaging, informative, and relevant, and meets the expectations and needs of your audience.
The sixth step is to update the content of your news content. You should always monitor the developments and changes of your topic and audience, and update your content accordingly. You should also respond to any feedback, comments, or questions from your audience or peers, and address any issues or concerns that may arise. You should also evaluate the performance and impact of your content, and learn from your successes and failures.