✍️ 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.