Digital journalism: publish a story that can be checked and updated
The web lets a story grow and be corrected. That advantage matters only if readers can see what changed and where each claim came from.
Choose a form for the question
An alert, timeline and deep explainer serve different needs. Put the verified answer to the main question near the start. Add data, audio or video only when it explains something the text cannot. Plan a stable URL and a structure that can support later updates without erasing context.
Document the reporting
Attribute records and interviews, keep a verification time and distinguish known facts from open questions. When a material fact changes, explain the correction on the page. Reuters emphasizes transparent correction. Quietly replacing a version can make an error harder to understand.
Test the reading experience
Open the piece on a phone with a slow connection. Check headings, alternatives for images, captions and links. Do not make a graphic the only way to understand a number. Google says Article data can identify author and dates, but markup cannot replace accessible, well-sourced reporting.
Practice pathway
- User questionRecord the decision and keep a version you can review.
- Source sheetRecord the decision and keep a version you can review.
- Information hierarchyRecord the decision and keep a version you can review.
- Mobile layoutRecord the decision and keep a version you can review.
- Accessibility and rightsRecord the decision and keep a version you can review.
- Visible correctionsRecord the decision and keep a version you can review.
A piece with clear limits
Fictional library explainer: a short answer, a timetable with a dated source, then instructions for checking exceptions. Test it on a phone without zooming. The reader should find the answer and its source without opening a carousel or watching a compulsory video.
Try it
Publish a short explanation of one public dataset with source, date and an accessible table. Simulate a correction and check that a new reader can understand the sequence of changes.
Project deliverable
A reviewed piece, its source sheet and a note explaining what changed.
Download a working template
A pathway, worked example and six checks in an editable file. No account.
Download TXT ↓Review before publishing
The ability to edit quickly is no excuse to hide mistakes, versions or weak sourcing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I enroll through this page?
The 2024–25 catalog informs today’s self-directed guides. No enrollment or accredited qualifications are offered.
What do I need to practise?
Start with this guide’s exercise and template. Use a document for sources and, for audio or video, a device that can record a test you can review. Choose material you have permission to use.
How do I review the result?
Publish a short explanation of one public dataset with source, date and an accessible table. Simulate a correction and check that a new reader can understand the sequence of changes.
Sources and provenance
- Reuters Journalistic Standards
- Google Search Central: Article structured data
- W3C WAI: Making Audio and Video Media Accessible
- Catalog · 2025
The example and pathway are new work; historical sources document the former topic, not a current offer.