Media and presentation

Presentation protects the reporting. A well-structured article helps readers distinguish news from opinion, understand who made an image and find the context needed to assess a claim.

Use the featured image with intent

Select a featured image that supports the story at card size as well as on the article page. Write an accurate caption and credit, and include useful alternative text for readers using assistive technology. Do not rely on text embedded in an image to carry essential information.

Structure for reading

Use a clear headline, standfirst and headings to make the article scannable. Keep paragraphs focused. Embed media near the point it becomes meaningful and explain why it is there. Links should name the destination rather than saying only “read more”.

Check rights and source material

Confirm the right to use every image, video, illustration and externally supplied quote before publication. Preserve attribution in the article and in the media library. When a file may be misleading without context, add that context in the caption or body.

Preview before going live

Review desktop and mobile layouts, especially for image cropping, long names, embedded content and captions. The article should remain useful when an embed fails or a reader has limited bandwidth.