✍️ 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

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.

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