Editorial workflow

A dependable workflow makes a fast newsroom calmer. Use WordPress statuses and clear handoffs to show where a story is, who owns the next decision and whether it is ready for readers.

From assignment to draft

Give each assignment one accountable editor. Capture the working angle, source plan and expected deadline in the team routine you already use. In WordPress, prepare the headline, standfirst, body, section and featured media early; this reveals missing information before the final minutes of a shift.

Edit before publishing

Review the story as a reader will see it. Check names, numbers, quotes, links, captions, rights and accessibility text. Confirm the article answers the headline and that updates are clearly attributed. A second editor should review high-impact stories when your editorial policy requires it.

Publish, place, revisit

Publishing makes an article available; it does not automatically settle its editorial importance. Set its front-page placement, confirm section presentation and monitor the first reader-facing version. When facts change, update the article, state what changed where appropriate, and reconsider the front-page framing.

Shift handover

At handover, list live developing stories, scheduled work, homepage changes and unresolved verification. The next editor should never have to infer whether a story is merely drafted, waiting for review or deliberately held.