Every story on our desk passes through five stages: lead intake, source verification, drafting, editorial review, and publish-with-metadata. A typical trend-watch explainer takes 2-4 days from assignment to publish, factoring in at least one independent fact-check pass before it goes live. Nothing publishes on a single, unverified source.
At a glance
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Lead intake | Topic logged with initial source(s) and rationale |
| 2. Source verification | Claims checked against 2+ independent sources |
| 3. Drafting | Article written to the section's structure and quality bar |
| 4. Editorial review | Second-person review for accuracy, tone, balance |
| 5. Publish + metadata | SEO metadata, internal links, sources attached; goes live |
Why a fixed workflow, not ad hoc writing
Automotive facts — prices, incentives, regulations, safety data — change often and carry real consequences if wrong (a reader making a purchase or safety decision on bad information). A repeatable five-stage workflow is how a small team keeps quality consistent without re-inventing the process for every article.
The five stages in detail
- Lead intake
Every topic starts with a logged lead: what's the claim or trend, why does it matter to readers now, and what's the initial source. Topics without at least one credible starting source don't move forward.
- Source verification
Any factual claim that will appear in the published piece is checked against at least two independent sources where possible — a government or regulatory body, a major outlet, or a manufacturer's own published data. Single-source claims are flagged as such or dropped if they can't be corroborated.
- Drafting
The writer follows the section's fixed structure — quick answer, at-a-glance facts, body sections, FAQ, sources, SEO metadata — so every article on the site follows a consistent, scannable format regardless of topic.
- Editorial review
A second reviewer checks the draft against three things: factual accuracy against the cited sources, balanced framing (who a thing suits and who it doesn't), and plain-language tone free of hype or unnecessary jargon.
- Publish and attach metadata
Once approved, the article is published with its full SEO metadata block, internal links to related guides, and a dated 'last updated' line so readers and search engines can see when the facts were last verified.
A fast workflow is not the same as a rushed one. Every stage exists specifically to catch errors before publish, not after.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to publish a news article?
Does one source review count as fact-checking?
Who reviews an article before it goes live?
What happens if a source can't be corroborated?
Does every article include sources readers can check?
Sources & further reading
Figures, prices and policy details were current at the last-updated date above. Automotive pricing, incentives and regulations change frequently — verify time-sensitive details with the linked primary sources. Read our editorial policy and fact-checking standards.
