Journalists should alway rely on facts rather than feelings. Evidence-based reporting means your stories are built on data, documents, and witness accounts.
This approach helps you stay detached from events, especially when reporting on difficult or controversial topics.
This how-to guide is based on the article ‘Evidence-based reporting‘ which we suggest you read before applying the checklist below.
- [ ] Prioritise nouns and verbs over adjectives: Do not tell the reader a speech was inspiring; show them that 400 people stood up to cheer. See ‘Adjectives and adverbs in journalism“.
- [ ] Use neutral attribution verbs: Use words like ‘said’, ‘stated’, or ‘noted’ instead of ‘claimed’ or ‘revealed’, which can suggest you already have a bias.
- [ ] Seek data to back up every claim: If a politician says a policy is working, immediately look for the official figures that prove or disprove it.
- [ ] Favour the weight of evidence over false balance: You do not need to give equal space to a marginal theory if 90% of the data points to a different conclusion. See ‘False equivalence and false balance‘.
- [ ] Write from a third-person perspective: Avoid using ‘I’ or ‘me’. Let the evidence, such as a formal report or a survey, be the authority in the story. See ‘Editorialising is not for news‘.
- [ ] Define complex terms with facts: If others are using a technical word that could be described as loaded (a word that has significant emotional implications), such as austerity (a word that is often politically and emotionally charged) explain it in your writing as clearly as possible and for what it is – a reduction in government spending.
- [ ] Conduct an evidence audit before filing: Check that every significant claim is linked to a source and that all numbers are accurate. See ‘Fact-checking and adding context‘ and also ‘How to develop news sources‘.
- [ ] Verify your visual evidence: Ensure that photos or charts represent the whole truth and are not used out of context to exaggerate a point.
By following these steps, you will build a reputation as a reliable and trustworthy journalist. Keep focusing on the facts, and your writing will carry weight.
