✍️ Editorial Standards Skill
Purpose
Provides expertise in maintaining the highest editorial quality standards for political journalism. Covers fact-checking protocols, OSINT/INTOP political intelligence editorial standards, editorial ethics, and quality assurance processes for professional news production.
Core Principles
- Accuracy First - Every fact must be verifiable and verified
- Clarity Always - Complex ideas explained simply and precisely
- Balance Required - Multiple perspectives fairly represented
- Attribution Clear - Sources properly cited and credited
- Style Consistent - Follow established guidelines rigorously
This Skill Enforces
- Fact-checking protocols - Two-source rule, primary source verification
- OSINT/INTOP intelligence style - Analytical, data-driven, concise, contextual
- AP/Reuters standards - Accuracy, fairness, transparency
- Copy editing - Grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax
- Editorial review - Multi-stage quality checks before publication
- Error correction - Transparent, prompt, prominent corrections
- Legal compliance - Defamation avoidance, privacy protection
Political Intelligence Editorial Standards
Writing Principles
- Clarity - Short sentences, simple words, active voice
- Precision - Exact meaning, no ambiguity
- Brevity - No unnecessary words, tight prose
- Elegance - Sophisticated vocabulary without pretension
- Engagement - Compelling narratives, reader focus
Prohibited Practices
- ❌ Jargon and buzzwords (unless explained)
- ❌ Clichés and overused phrases
- ❌ Hyperbole and sensationalism
- ❌ Passive voice (except when appropriate)
- ❌ Acronyms without definition
Preferred Style
- ✅ Use "said" not "stated" or "claimed"
- ✅ Prefer "but" to "however" at sentence start
- ✅ Use "will" not "shall" for future tense
- ✅ Spell out numbers one to nine, use numerals for 10+
- ✅ Use Oxford comma in lists
Fact-Checking Protocol
Pre-Publication Checks
Level 1: Writer Self-Check
- All facts from authoritative sources
- Two independent sources for major claims
- Direct quotes verbatim and in context
- Statistics from original source documents
- Names, titles, dates verified
- Links/citations functional
Level 2: Copy Editor Review
- Grammar, spelling, punctuation correct
- Style guide compliance verified
- Logical flow and structure sound
- Technical accuracy confirmed
- Headlines/subheads accurate
- Photo captions correct
Level 3: Fact-Checker Verification
- All statistics traced to original sources
- Expert claims verified with credentials check
- Historical facts cross-referenced
- Legal claims reviewed by legal expert
- Scientific/technical claims expert-verified
- Potentially controversial claims extra-verified
Level 4: Editorial Review
- Balanced presentation confirmed
- Ethical standards met
- Legal risk assessed
- Public interest justified
- Headline doesn't overstate
- Final approval for publication
Source Hierarchy
Primary Sources (Most Authoritative):
- Official government documents
- Legislative records
- Court filings and judgments
- Academic peer-reviewed research
- Statistical agencies (SCB, Eurostat)
Secondary Sources (Require Verification): 6. News reports from reputable outlets 7. Think tank reports 8. Expert interviews 9. NGO reports 10. Press releases (treated skeptically)
Tertiary Sources (Generally Avoid): 11. Blog posts 12. Social media posts 13. Wikipedia (useful for leads, not citations) 14. Unverified online sources
Style Guide Quick Reference
Editorial Conventions
Dates: February 6th 2026 (not Feb 6, 2026) Numbers: Spell one to nine, use numerals 10+ Currency: SEK, euros, dollars (spell out, no symbols in body text) Percentages: 10% (use symbol, no space) Titles: Lowercase unless part of name (prime minister, but Prime Minister Andersson) Quotes: Double quotes "standard", single quotes 'for quotes within quotes'
Commonly Misused Terms:
- Use "which" for non-essential clauses, "that" for essential
- "Different from" not "different to" or "different than"
- "Between" for two things, "among" for more
- "Fewer" for countable, "less" for uncountable
- "More than" for numbers, "over" for physical position
Swedish Political Terminology
Correct Usage:
- Riksdag (not Parliament, except in explanatory context)
- Regeringen (Government, not Cabinet)
- Myndigheter (Agencies, plural)
- Folkpartiet liberalerna (Liberals) → L
- Socialdemokraterna (Social Democrats) → S
- Moderaterna (Moderates) → M
Editorial Review Process
Daily News Cycle
Morning (08:00-12:00):
- News gathering and source development
- Initial research and fact-checking
- Story assignments and planning
Afternoon (12:00-17:00):
- Writing and initial editing
- Fact-checking and verification
- Copy editing and style review
Evening (17:00-20:00):
- Editorial review and final approval
- Legal review if needed
- Multi-language adaptation
- Publication scheduling
Quality Gates
Gate 1: Story Pitch - Concept approved by editor Gate 2: Draft Review - Structure and facts sound Gate 3: Copy Edit - Grammar and style correct Gate 4: Fact Check - All facts verified Gate 5: Legal Review - No defamation/privacy issues Gate 6: Editorial Approval - Final green light Gate 7: Publication - Multi-language simultaneous release
Error Correction Protocol
When Errors Occur
Minor Errors (spelling, grammar, formatting):
- Correct immediately in article
- Note in revision history: "Updated: [timestamp] - Minor correction"
Factual Errors (incorrect data, misattributions):
- Correct prominently in article
- Add editor's note at top: "Correction: [explanation]"
- Update social media posts if shared
Significant Errors (major facts wrong, unfair representation):
- Publish separate correction article
- Link from original article prominently
- Notify affected parties
- Review editorial process to prevent recurrence
Remember
- Accuracy is non-negotiable - No compromise for speed
- Style serves clarity - Rules aid understanding, not hinder
- Political intelligence standard - Analytical, data-driven, precise
- Multiple checks - Four-level review process mandatory
- Transparent corrections - Acknowledge errors promptly, prominently
- Legal awareness - Defamation, privacy, GDPR compliance
- Source hierarchy - Primary sources preferred, secondary verified
- Attribution clear - Readers must know source of every claim
- Balance required - Multiple perspectives fairly represented
- Copy editing matters - Grammar errors undermine credibility
References
- OSINT Framework - Open Source Intelligence Tools
- AP Stylebook Online
- Reuters Handbook of Journalism
- Poynter Institute - Fact-Checking Standards
- International Fact-Checking Network Code of Principles
- Swedish Press Ombudsman Editorial Guidelines
- European Journalism Centre
Use this skill when: Writing political news articles, editing submissions for quality and style, fact-checking claims before publication, training journalists on editorial standards, or establishing quality assurance processes for news operations.