How News Works
Grand News Source guiding principles
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel uses Instagram to explain shooting coverage
WITF box explaining late election results
Trust Tip #89: Prepare your audience for what to expect on Election Day (and beyond)
News Tribune editor responds to comments
Tennessean fact-checks local TV station
Fulcrum Voter FAQ
FiveThirtyEight’s disclaimer about polls
CPR’s guide for covering 2020 elections
News Tribune note about election coverage
PEN tip sheet for discussing misinformation
Green Bay Gazette letter to the editor process
Green Bay election guide
WCPO elections basics box
Colorado Sun explains approach to 2020 election coverage
Deseret News explains anonymous sources policy
WCPO explains coverage decisions
Trust Tip #86: Provide support (not anxiety) during elections
Trust Tip #83: Create an FAQ about your elections coverage
Trust Tip 82: If your coverage is nonpartisan, explain and defend that
Trust Tip 81: Help your audience consume polls responsibly
WCPO explains how political advertising works
NPR public editor on election misinformation in interview
Wirecutter explains removing outdated information
Trust Tip 78: Help your users be smarter news consumers
Trust Tip 76: Take extra care when covering conspiracy theories (and tell your audience)
Trust Tips 75: Explain election basics
Trust Tip 74: Explain why a story is being done and encourage audience participation
Coloradoan explains bias toward facts
Community Impact Newspaper explains reporting process
Trust Tip 73: Learn how people perceive your election reporting
Florida Today explains validity of SpaceX photo
News 5 Cleveland explains why station doesn’t report scanner traffic
News 5 Cleveland explains breaking news policy
ProPublica explains decision behind publishing graphic video
PolitiFact explains fact-checking process
WCPO responds to viewer complains on air
Philadelphia inquirer owns up to headline mistake
AJC explains approach to covering big story
AJC explains reporting process, context
WJXT4 explains reporting process, mission
Trust Tip #71: Acknowledge what you don’t know
Philadelphia Inquirer explains newsroom processes
KPRC explains breaking news policy
Trust Tip 68: Do not neglect basic but vital pandemic information
WEWS combats misinformation about COVID-19 deaths
WLNS reporting on suicide
ProPublica transparency around fair news
Trust Tips 67: Demonstrate visual balance in political coverage
Atlanta Journal-Constitution on covering legislature
Guardian signposts older stories
Tennessean editorial board describes decision process
WCPO on using Associated Press content
Atlanta Journal-Constitution on covering Georgia’s Legislature
Atlanta Journal Constitution front page
Herald and Review newsroom handout
USA TODAY policy graphic border photo
WCPO cuts back use of mugshots
Tamp Bay Times how this story was reported
Philadelphia Inquirer shares tips for finding trustworthy news
Day subscription plea during coronavirus
SF Chronicle reporting process explainer
SF Chronicle explain your process boxes, columns
Philadelphia Inquirer highlights breadth of journalism
Trust Tip 65: Help your audience navigate the news
Trust Tip 64: Disclose stimulus funds and explain the ethics involved
WCPO explains how their COVID-19 coverage different from competitors
Spokesman-Review explains newsroom processes, ‘fake news’
WJXT4 explains beach visuals during COVID-19 aren’t altered
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel explains visuals aren’t altered
Trust Tips 63: Demonstrate that your visuals aren’t manipulated
San Fransisco Chronicle uses explain your process boxes
Malheur Enterprise explains reporting process
Malheur Enterprise asks for community support
Salem Reporter explains reporting process
PA Post explains story selection process
Levittown Now explains reporting process
The Oklahoman explains reporting process, story selection
Globe and Mail adds explain your process boxes
Toronto Star explains news vs sponsored content
The Echo addresses possible conflict of interest
Colorado Sun uses credibility indicators to increase transparency
AJC focuses on solution-based opinion content during coronavirus
Trust Tips 62: Tell your audience that COVID-19 information might change
Caller-Times explains coverage
NYTimes explains breaking news during coronavirus pandemic
WEWS coronavirus explainer
Toronto Star adds trust ribbon to bottom of stories
Toronto Star tweets out corrections
Toronto Star creates new labels for opinion content
NPR’s developing story disclaimer
NPR changes design for labeling opinion stories
Globe and Mail’s policy for anonymous sources
Philadelphia Inquirer labeling opinion content
Globe and Mail shares Editorial Code of Conduct
Cronkite Student Media gives users behind-the-scenes look
NPR explains non-pandemic related investigation
Buzzfeed shares mission with coronavirus coverage
Trust Tip 61: Do these four things right now to show you are trustworthy
Atlanta Journal Constitution explains COVID-19 coverage
Atlanta Journal Constitution shares approach to coronavirus coverage
Guardian adds editor’s note about how newsroom covering coronavirus
Bozeman Chronicle explains changes during COVID-19 outbreak
WPCO adapts coverage, production during coronavirus outbreak
Atlanta Journal Constitution explains how coverage adapting during coronavirus outbreak
National Geographic combats spread of “fake news”
Trust Tip: Tell your audience you won’t tolerate misinformation
Bangor Daily News shares mission, goal for coronavius coverage
Columbia Dispatch shares mission surrounding coronavirus coverage
WCPO share goals, mission surrounding coronavirus coverage
The Coloradoan moderation during Coronavirus outbreak
The Day explains why Coronavirus coverage is free
San Fransisco Chronicle talks to subscribers about covering Coronavirus
Coloradoan explains Coronavirus reporting approach
WCPO explains reporting process during Coronavirus pandemic
WCPO explains changes to newsgathering with coronavirus
WMAR explains Coronavirus reporting process, asks for feedback
WEWS explains Coronavirus coverage
NPR adds ownership disclosure
Caller-Times shares mission, goals, process
Trust Tip 55: Use a survey to solicit questions and feedback
Trust Tips 53: Share your ethics and corrections policies
Trust Tip 52: Share your history, mission and values
Trust Tip 51: Let’s create an effective “About Us” page
Trust Tip 50: Use research to persuade colleagues to invest in earning trust
Burlington Free Press explains anonymous sources
Corpus Christi Caller-Times uses editor’s note for transparency with opinion piece
Trust Tip 46: Build transparency into investigative pieces
KPCC/LAIST ‘How we’re reporting on this’
The Day newsroom process
Michigan Daily’s anonymous source policy
Science News newsroom process
Gazette content removal policy
Annenberg Media’s full disclosure series explains newsroom processes
Annenberg Media explains anonymous sources
EIND explains Associated Press content
The State shares guide when reporting on suicide
Caller Times explains opinion vs. news content
WCPO explains its coverage of presidential candidates
Caller Times labels opinion, watchdog content
Trust Tip 40: Explain where opinion content comes from
Trust Tip 39: Use plain English in your disclosure statements
Trust Tip 34: Explain your role as a watchdog
Trust Tip 33: If you get something wrong, explain yourself
Trust Tip 32: Transparency sidebars can be quick and easy
Trust Tip 31: When you’re right and other news outlets are wrong, tell your audience
Trust Tip 28: Explain who writes an editorial (and who doesn’t)
Trust Tip 26: Reporters, explain your purpose
Trust Tip 25: Explain how you tried to reach a source
Trust Tip 23: Create an Ethics Landing Page
Trust Tip 22: If you publish a graphic image, explain why
Trust Tip 20: Explain your word choices
Trust Tip 19: Use labels for investigations, fact-checks and feature stories
Today’s trust tip: Clearly label opinion content
Today’s trust tip: Make it clear that you report on solutions, not just problems
Trust Tip 13: Don’t talk about the boring parts of your work
Trust Tip 12: Get started with these three questions
Trust Tip 11: Explain how breaking news works
CALMatters Discusses Why News Matters
Labeling Opinion Content on Facebook
Label Your Content: Entertainment Coverage
The Coloradoan Addresses Paywall
Trust Tip 8: Explain how you cover suicide
Trust Tip 6: Explain your use of anonymous sources
Trust Tip 5: Show the breadth of your journalism
Trust Tips 4: Use Direct Language
Trust Tips 3: Be ready to discuss content you don’t produce
Trust Tips 2: Explain how you decide which stories to cover
Responding to Negative Comments on Twitter
Explaining Word Choice and Asking for User Feedback
Updating an About Section
Asking Facebook Users What They Want to Read
Breaking Down a Story by Sharing Who You Talked To
Explaining the Editorial Page
Linking Opposing Viewpoints Online
Highlighting Variety of Coverage Online
Creating Story Pages Online to Link Coverage
Always Looking for Different Perspectives
Sharing Mission and Explaining Journalism with Tweets
Explaining Crime Coverage Decisions
Explaining Coverage Decisions with Editors Note
Responding to Critical Comments on Facebook
Explaining Coverage on Divisive Issues Jefferson City
Using Facebook to Answer Questions About News Process
Discussing Your Core Beliefs
Explaining How you Put Together a Newscast
Highlight Community Connection
Explaining News Coverage Decisions: School Threats
Sharing Your Ethics Policy
Inviting Users to Weigh-in on Coverage Decisions
Explaining your Ethics Policy
Responding to Criticism and Explaining Breaking News
Talking about Journalism
Correcting a Mistake Involving National News
Inviting Users to Participate in the Story
Ask Users: What Questions do you Have?
Responding to User Criticism by Adding an Editor’s Note
Explaining Your Reporting Process
Explaining How you Find Sources
Explaining Story Selection in a Newsletter
Explaining Reporting Process in TV PKG
Explaining Reporting Process During Breaking News
Adding Context to Reporting Using Pull-Out Box
Explaining News Coverage: Guns
Explaining Olympics “spoilers” at USA Today
Explaining News Vs. Opinion
Explaining How Headlines are Written
Explaining FOIA to Build Credibility
Explaining Use of Anonymous Sources
Explaining Letters to the Editor
Clarifying the comments section at The Virginian-Pilot
Explaining news terms at the Virginian-Pilot
Sharing social strategy at WITF
Handling a sensitive story at WITF
Explaining the editing process at WITF
Addressing concerns over breaking news at WITF
Using Instagram to go behind-the-scenes at Discourse Media
Taking pride in local coverage at The Coloradoan
Hashtagging story types at The Virginian Pilot
Defining story types at The Virginian-Pilot
Labeling fact-check stories at The Coloradoan
Instagram introductions at The Christian Science Monitor
Asking: What Needs More Follow-Up?
Follow-up Stories Based off User Questions
Asking Users Who you Should Use as Sources
Asking for Feedback Using Twitter
Explaining Journalism and Your News Values Through Facebook Live
What are we Missing? Asking for Story Ideas
Showing depth of coverage at Community Impact Newspaper
Opening up about reporting at Discourse
Crowdsourcing Story Ideas at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Inviting Feedback at the Christian Science Monitor
Fresno bee advocate
What do you stand for? Can you boil it down? And do you share it with your community (in ways other than hoping they’ll find it on your website)?
Fresno watchdog story
Remind your community about your mission and purpose. Tell them you work on behalf of the public. Use specific language and strong words, like watchdog and investigation, rather than hoping those concepts are clear.
Ogden behind the scenes pornography
Ogden newsroom tour
Ogden behind the scenes football photos
Newsy Trump coverage
Look for chances to tie individual coverage to your organization’s mission. In this case, Newsy didn’t just share a fact check. They used the words “fact check” to make sure the point came across, and they reinforced their core principles.