News, feature story editing checklist ✅
Handy checklist of items to look over before considering a story done.
I edited about 1,000 stories this year (so far), and have made six corrections. For those who aren't journalists, that last confession is a big deal. What's most annoying is that I could have avoided most of those corrections by pausing to check the work. This is mostly a reminder to myself to slow down. And for those interested in knowing what my editing process looks like, I compiled a checklist.
This is more of a “do as I say, not as I do” type of situation. I certainly don't follow this checklist for every single story, but I really should.
Here’s a news editing checklist from someone who didn't go to JSchool:
Content & Structure 🫙
Do a first read and mark all the moments that, as a reader, made you pause.
Does the story make sense with the assigned brief?
Is the reader walking away having learned something?
Does it grab attention immediately? (You’re only as good as your last sentence.)
Does the intro/lede summarize the key point(s) the story will be touching on?
Does the nut graf effectively communicate why this story now?
Are paragraphs logically sequenced and transitions smooth?
Is the pacing appropriate for the story type?
Is the main point clear throughout? This one is especially important for complex subjects that can go in many different directions. There’s always space for additional stories, but trying to cram everything into one won’t have readers finishing this story and certainly not wanting to come back.
Clarity & Flow 🌊
Is the language simple and direct? For a general audience, I would stick to high school-level language.
Have jargon or technical terms been explained?
Are there any ambiguous sentences? Oftentimes, compounded sentences need a period instead of an “and” or “but.”
Style & Consistency 💅
Does the story adhere to your publication’s style guide (e.g., AP Style)?
Are abbreviations and acronyms spelled out on first mention?
Are numbers, dates and times formatted correctly?
Did you vary sentence and paragraph lengths?
Is there unnecessary repetition? This often happens when quotes repeat what was stated prior or vice versa.
Accuracy & Fairness 👀
Did you double-check with sources that their names, titles, dates, and statistics are correct?
Have quotes been accurately transcribed and attributed?
Are any claims backed by reliable sources?
Are there any unnecessary adverbs or adjectives? (Most are unnecessary.)
Are dissenting viewpoints included (if relevant)?
Are sources’ conflicts of interest disclosed?
Grammar, Spelling & Punctuation 📝
Are verb tenses consistent? This is more of a “me” thing, but news stories/features should never be in the present tense, e.g. “So and so says” instead of “said.” (Unless it’s a breaking news situation.)
Are there any dangling modifiers or misplaced commas?
Did you double-check the names of institutions and proper nouns?
Have you used a spell-check and proofreading software?
Visual & Multimedia 📸
Are images relevant and properly credited? Do you have the rights to use and publish them?
Do captions accurately describe the image without restating the article? Did you include alt-text for the visually impaired?
Are charts, graphs and infographics clear, accurate, and easy to interpret?
Headlines & SEO 📲
Are the headlines clear, concise and engaging?
Does it reflect the story’s focus?
Have keywords been included for SEO?
Are all hyperlinks functional and relevant? Do they open in new tabs?
Is the meta description accurate and enticing? (You can usually tweak the nut graf for this.)
Are appropriate tags, categories, or keywords assigned?
Does the story format work well on mobile devices? Try to hover around 300-600 words for brevity.
Final Check ✅
Have you taken a break before the final proofread? (Doesn’t work on deadline, of course.)
Have you asked a colleague to review it?
Does the story meet the tone and expectations of your publication/audience?
Are legal or ethical considerations addressed?
Have you previewed the story as it will appear to readers?
Is the byline, timestamp, and category displayed correctly?
