A newsroom can lose a full production day when an editorial draft has the wrong structure. A pitch arrives, a writer files a draft, an editor sends it back, and the rewrite changes the lead. That loop is normal, but it should not consume the entire publishing calendar. The checklist below separates reporting from composition so each stage has a single owner and a clear exit point.
Use the checklist as a gate. If a draft does not pass one stage, it does not move to the next. This is not a feature-writing template. It is a route for news and analysis posts that need to publish while the event is still relevant. The steps work in WordPress and in any content management system that lets you define statuses, excerpts, SEO metadata, and media fields.
Define the news peg in one sentence
Write the answer to “why now?” before drafting any paragraph. For example: “The city council approved the 2026 budget on 12 May, and the new property tax rate starts on 1 July.” That sentence contains the event, the date, and the practical effect. If you cannot compress the reason for publication into one sentence, the editorial draft is not ready for reporting.
Separate the news peg from the background. Background explains why readers should care. The news peg tells readers why this story is appearing today. When the peg is clear, the headline and the first paragraph become easier to write. The writer should also add the peg to the WordPress excerpt field, because that field often becomes the search result snippet.
Choose the article type before the headline
News, analysis, explainer, interview, and review all carry different reader expectations. A news post needs a direct lead, a source trail, and a clear update if details change. An explainer needs definitions, examples, and a neutral answer to the central question. An interview needs a full quote and the question that produced it.
Assign one article type in the post settings before writing the headline. This prevents the draft from switching halfway from a breaking news brief into a long analysis piece. Keep the category as “news” if that is your site’s main section, but use a custom taxonomy or editorial note to record the article type. The distinction affects the length, the voice, and the number of sources you need.
Use five body blocks that force a sequence
A predictable order helps both the reader and the editor. The structure below is not a rigid content template. It is a route that keeps every section connected to the news peg.
The decision or event in the first two paragraphs.
The named source or document that supports the central claim.
3. The context that makes the development significant.
4. The counter-read and the limits of the reporting.
5. The practical next step for the reader.
This sequence makes the draft easier to fact-check because every claim sits near its supporting source. It also stops the writer from burying the news inside background material. If a paragraph does not serve one of those five functions, it should be cut or moved up.
The table below is a working gate for each editorial draft stage. It is sized for a small newsroom where one person may wear multiple hats.
| Draft stage | Minimum check | Approver | Time target |
|---|---|---|---|
| News peg | Event, date, and effect in one sentence | Editor | 10 minutes |
| Article type | News, analysis, or explainer selected in the CMS | Writer | 5 minutes |
| Body blocks | Claim, source, context, limitation, action | Editor | 15 minutes |
| Fact pass | Names, dates, numbers, and quotes verified | Writer and researcher | 30 minutes |
| Metadata | Title, excerpt, SEO title, links, and alt text set | SEO lead | 10 minutes |
Use the table at the start of an edit meeting. Read the draft, assign the stage, and move through the checklist in the order shown. Do not start the SEO work until the fact pass is complete.
Check facts in a separate pass
Fact-checking is not the same as revising. When you revise, you change sentences. When you fact-check, you verify claims. Use a separate pass for names, dates, numbers, quotations, and legal statuses. Check the spelling of a public official’s name in the original city document, not only in another news article. Verify the budget number against the official table. Confirm the date on the council agenda.
Keep the source URL in the post metadata or in a private editorial note. If you cite a document and cannot verify that it says what the draft claims, remove the claim or mark it as unconfirmed. A published correction costs more than a delayed post.
For naming conventions and punctuation, follow a style reference such as the [AP