- Consider the audience – write clearly, keep sentences and paragraphs relatively short, don’t use a long word when a shorter one will do.
- Check your facts and state qualifiers (alleged, reportedly, according to) if you are not using a primary source
- Do not use press a release as a sole source
- Distinguish between your opinion and fact
- Question your own assumptions and objectivity
- When a report or study, press release or article is referenced, trace back to original documents wherever possible
- Always attribute source material with citations and links
- Part of the value NPQ brings is in its ability to contextualize information. Try to present information with its “back story.” Remember, especially, that you are generally adding to a story being covered in a series of articles on our site. Look back at what NPQ has previously published so you can reference it for your work.
