The editorial decision

Before publishing a quotation, locate the original recording, transcript, document or message that supports it. Confirm the speaker, date and context. A sentence taken from a hypothetical discussion should not be presented as a commitment, and a private message should not be reproduced merely because it is useful to the article. Decide whether the quote is public, permissioned or unsuitable for publication. Keep the exact wording distinct from an editorial paraphrase.

A working method

Read the material immediately before and after the quoted passage. Check whether shortening it removes an important condition or changes the subject. If you translate the quotation, label that fact and review the meaning with an appropriate language reviewer. Link to a public original where possible, and retain the supporting record through the publication’s approved process. If the original cannot be verified, describe the claim cautiously or omit it rather than attaching invented certainty to a memorable line.

Imagine this

Hypothetical example

A partner interview includes a statement about a possible launch after approval. The editor keeps the approval condition in the quote and headline context. The article does not turn an exploratory statement into a confirmed launch announcement, even though a shorter version would sound more dramatic.

Make it practical.

Use this checklist as you read. Checks are not stored.

References & further reading

Further reading: Google people-first content guidance ↗

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