Template selector
Match projects to the correct template category. Don't guess—use the decision tree.
Quick reference
| Project type | Template category |
|---|---|
| Newsroom AI tool, fact-checker | editorial-tool |
| Conference, summit, workshop | event-website |
| Newsletter, podcast, blog | publication |
| Investigation, data journalism | research-project |
| CMS workflow, syndication | content-pipeline |
| Historical collection, archive | digital-archive |
Decision tree
Is it for journalism/publishing?
├── Yes →
│ ├── Has specific end date/event? → event-website
│ ├── Ongoing content series? → publication
│ ├── Historical/preservation? → digital-archive
│ ├── Newsroom tool/AI? → editorial-tool
│ ├── CMS/automation? → content-pipeline
│ └── Investigation with scope? → research-project
│
└── No (general software) →
Use general template or another collectionDetailed category descriptions
editorial-tool
Use when: Building newsroom tools, writing assistants, fact-checkers, AI-powered research tools, moderation systems, workflow automation for journalists
Not for: Generic productivity tools, non-journalism software
Signs it's an editorial tool:
- Primary users are journalists, editors, or producers
- Helps with a specific editorial workflow step
- Requires accuracy/trust for publication decisions
event-website
Use when: Building sites for conferences, summits, workshops, or events with specific dates
Not for: Ongoing content, organization websites without events, event management software (that's editorial-tool)
Signs it's an event website:
- Has a specific event date (or date range)
- Registration/attendance is involved
- Content includes speakers, schedule, venue info
publication
Use when: Building newsletters, podcasts, blogs, magazines, or ongoing content series with regular publishing schedule
Not for: One-off articles, static content sites, CMSes that power publications (that's editorial-tool)
Signs it's a publication:
- Regular publishing cadence (daily, weekly, monthly)
- Growing subscriber/reader base
- Consistent voice and format
research-project
Use when: Building investigative journalism projects, data journalism, analysis with defined scope and end date
Not for: Ongoing research operations, general data analysis, tools that support research (that's editorial-tool)
Signs it's a research project:
- Answers a specific question or hypothesis
- Has a defined end point (publication date)
- Involves data collection, analysis, and findings
content-pipeline
Use when: Building CMS workflows, publishing automation, content syndication systems, feed aggregators, cross-posting tools
Not for: Manual publishing workflows, single-site content management, publications themselves
Signs it's a content pipeline:
- Automates content movement between systems
- Transforms content formats
- Handles scheduling and distribution
digital-archive
Use when: Building historical collections, preservation projects, research databases, document repositories
Not for: Active news sites, CMS platforms, search engines
Signs it's a digital archive:
- Primary focus is preservation
- Collection has defined scope (time period, topic)
- Users are researchers, historians, or the public seeking historical content
Common mistakes
| Project | Wrong choice | Right choice | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newsletter dashboard | editorial-tool | publication | It's about the publication, not the tech |
| AI fact-checker | research-project | editorial-tool | It's a tool, not a one-off investigation |
| Event registration system | event-website | editorial-tool | It's a tool that serves events |
| Podcast website | content-pipeline | publication | It's a publication, not automation |
| Document search tool | digital-archive | editorial-tool | It's a tool, not the archive itself |
| FOIA tracking system | research-project | editorial-tool | It's a tool that supports research |
The litmus test
If you're still unsure, ask:
- Is this a tool that helps journalists do X, or is this X itself?
- Tool → editorial-tool - The thing itself → other categories
- Does it have a specific end date?
- Yes, event dates → event-website - Yes, publication date → research-project - No, ongoing → publication, content-pipeline, or digital-archive
- Is preservation the primary goal?
- Yes → digital-archive - No → other categories
Using templates
For project memory (CLAUDE.md)
- Identify project category using decision tree above
- Copy appropriate template from
project-memory/templates/ - Fill in bracketed placeholders with your specifics
- Delete sections that don't apply
- Add project-specific gotchas as you discover them
For retrospectives (LESSONS.md)
- Identify project category
- Copy appropriate template from
project-retrospective/templates/ - Fill in as the project progresses or at completion
- Be specific about failures—that's the valuable part
Template locations
claude-skills-journalism/
├── project-memory/templates/
│ ├── editorial-tool.md
│ ├── event-website.md
│ ├── publication.md
│ ├── research-project.md
│ ├── content-pipeline.md
│ └── digital-archive.md
│
└── project-retrospective/templates/
├── editorial-tool.md
├── event.md
├── publication.md
└── research-project.md*Pick the specific template that fits. "General" is a last resort.*