Last Updated: August 05, 2002
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As part of
ASNE’s Journalism Credibility Project, the San Jose Mercury News asked a group
of editors and reporters to use a short checklist every time they put together
a story. During an eight-month test in 1999-2000, the group had 10 percent fewer
errors than a similar group not using the checklist.
Have we double-checked
all names, titles and places mentioned in this story?
Are the quotes
accurate and properly attributed? Have we fully captured what the person meant?
If there are
phone numbers or Web addresses, have we tried and CQ’d them?
Is the lead
sufficiently supported?
Is the story
fair?
Were all the
stakeholders identified, called and given a chance to talk?
Who will be
annoyed/angry with this story tomorrow? Why? Are we OK with that?
Did we pick
sides? Did we make value judgments about outcomes we want? Will some people
like this story more than they should?
What’s missing
from the story?
