Framing
The Headline Is a Doorway, Not a Summary
See how a headline frames a news story, then use its opening paragraphs to spot the detail, qualification or wider…
Browse the work
All pieces
Browse explanations of news framing, evidence, context, language and uncertainty. Each piece takes one question at a time and makes room for what its answer cannot establish.
Evidence
A Quote Is Not the Whole Source
A quote is not the whole source: learn what quotations and paraphrases preserve, what they leave out and how to check…
Context
How a News Background Paragraph Changes the Scale
Learn how a news background paragraph gives a new event useful context, where to place it and how to keep a short…
Language
When a Strong Verb Overstates the Record
Strong verbs in news can imply more than the record supports. Learn how a focused verb audit can sharpen copy without…
Uncertainty
A Five-Minute Read of a Developing Story
A five-minute read of a developing story gives you a dated record to compare with later updates, so you can spot what…
Our point of view
A story is more than its headline.
We look at the choices behind news accounts so readers can distinguish what is known, what is argued and what remains open.