How Do You Ensure Content Aligns With a Publication's Mission and Values?
In the world of publishing, maintaining alignment with a publication's mission and values is paramount. We've gathered insights from Editors and Managing Editors on how to ensure content integrity. From implementing a strong review process to moderating posts to uphold editorial policy, discover the four key strategies these editing professionals employ.
- Implement a Strong Review Process
- Prioritize Local Authenticity and Relevance
- Adhere to Content Guidelines and Monitor Engagement
- Moderate Posts to Uphold Editorial Policy
Implement a Strong Review Process
A strong reviewing process is necessary to keep content in line with the purpose of a website, and reviewing doesn't have to wait until the end of the creative process. Start by reviewing the content pitch, then review the outline, and follow by reviewing the drafts until it is ready for publishing. The more a team's editors and writers repeat this process, the better aligned their content becomes with a website's core goals.
Prioritize Local Authenticity and Relevance
Across the nation, City Lifestyle proves itself to be a brand that goes beyond information delivery. Instead, it offers an inclusive space to celebrate local living by amplifying the voices of residents in the communities where our publication can be found.
Working at a hyper-local magazine as an editor means spending my day-to-day cultivating stories that truly capture what Cedar Park, Texas, is all about. Before even getting to the writing stage, I stay in tune with our mission and values by planning out businesses, non-profits, individuals, and experiences that are genuine reflections of our city's character. With every article, I have to maintain a keen eye for both thematic relevance and authenticity while being cognizant that readers receive our publication for free in their mailbox.
My advice for editing professionals is to understand who your audience is and draw inspiration from them. In my case, content creation involves fostering a sense of belonging in our readers, whether they are relative newcomers or have lived here for several years. But in any type of publication, it's in your best interest to prioritize storytelling that, ultimately, has the potential to resonate with anyone who picks it up.
Adhere to Content Guidelines and Monitor Engagement
When I'm curating content for social media, I ensure that what I share aligns with our platform's mission and values in a few key ways. First, I deeply understand our platform's purpose and the interests of our followers. Then, I stick to our content guidelines to keep our feed cohesive and engaging. Before posting anything, I thoroughly review it to ensure it meets our standards and resonates with our audience. After posting, I monitor engagement to ensure our content continues to reflect our platform's mission and values. By following these steps, I ensure that our social media presence remains authentic and impactful.
Moderate Posts to Uphold Editorial Policy
Loyalty Alliance Achieve Beyond has a very strict editorial policy. We seek to be an oasis from the hatred and vitriol that is overwhelming communities like ours. To keep our blogs and features on policy, we moderate every post and comment. This is currently done by humans. To enable platform growth, we are developing an AI review engine to keep our standards in place as we grow.
