Reusable habits
Field toolkit
Four short checklists drawn from the manual’s methods. Print, adapt and discuss them in your newsroom.
Before reporting
- Write down your angle and unanswered questions.
- Identify documents and people to interview.
- Prepare equipment, contacts and safety arrangements.
- Plan what you will observe, record and verify.
Before publication
- Check names, numbers, dates and locations.
- Attribute claims and retrieve the supporting evidence.
- Document the right of reply.
- Review the headline, image and caption together.
Before an interview
- Agree how the conversation will be used and attributed.
- Prepare short questions, one at a time.
- Listen and ask for specific examples.
- Confirm names, contact details and points to follow up.
Before using AI
- Define the task and the output you need.
- Keep sensitive information out.
- Plan how to check the result.
- Retain human editorial decisions and responsibility.