AI Prompts for Journalism and News Production

Expert-crafted prompts for journalists, editors, and news organizations using AI for reporting, research, content creation, editorial operations, and audience engagement.

Research and Fact-Checking

Multi-source Verification

I\'m researching a claim that [specific claim]. Help me identify the most reliable sources to verify this, suggest credible databases or public records I should check, and outline potential counterarguments I should investigate.

Misinformation Pattern Detection

Analyze this narrative: [statement or news story]. Identify any narrative patterns commonly associated with misinformation, flag potential logical fallacies, and suggest how I could verify the core claims with primary sources.

Background Research Synthesis

Create a comprehensive background brief on [topic/person/organization]. Include: historical context, key events, major players, controversies, and relevant statistics. Structure it with the most newsworthy elements first.

Quote Verification

I have this quote attributed to [person]: '[quote]'. Help me identify where this quote originally appeared, whether it\'s been misattributed, if it\'s been taken out of context, and suggest how to responsibly report on it.

Data Visualization Planning

I\'m reporting on [dataset/trend]. Suggest the most effective ways to visualize this data for a news audience, identify what data points would be most impactful, and flag any potential ways the data could be misrepresented.

Expert Source Identification

For a story about [topic], suggest 5-7 types of experts I should interview, specify what unique perspectives each could provide, and indicate any potential biases I should account for in their responses.

Story Development and Ideation

Trend Analysis for Story Angles

Based on these trends: [list trends/data points], identify 5-6 underreported story angles that would resonate with our audience. For each angle, suggest the type of reporting (investigative, profile, explainer) that would work best.

Breaking News Context Builder

I\'m covering this breaking news: [news event]. Provide: immediate historical context, key previous events, likely questions audiences will have, and credible sources to contact quickly for comment.

Evergreen Story Pitch Development

Help me develop an evergreen story pitch about [topic]. Structure it with: why it matters now, audience interest potential, key reporting required, estimated timeline, and 3-4 different angles we could pursue.

Local Impact Angle Discovery

National news headline: [headline]. Help me identify 5-6 ways this story affects our local audience in [location], suggest specific local figures to interview, and recommend local data sources that would strengthen this coverage.

Investigation Roadmap

I want to investigate [topic]. Create a detailed roadmap including: key questions to answer, documents to request via FOIA, expert interviews needed, potential obstacles, ethical considerations, and timeline estimates.

Series Development Framework

Create a multi-part series structure for covering [topic]. Suggest individual episode/article focuses, how each piece builds on the previous one, key reporting needed for each part, and how to maintain reader engagement across the series.

Interview Preparation and Execution

Subject Research Brief

Create a research brief for my interview with [person]. Include: professional background, notable statements/positions, past controversies, relevant achievements, potential conflicts of interest, and gaps in their public record I should ask about.

Challenging Question Framework

I\'m interviewing [person/official] about [topic]. Create 5-7 substantive follow-up questions designed to get beyond prepared talking points, including clarifying questions about contradictions in their previous statements.

Source Protection Protocols

I\'m planning to report on [sensitive topic] with anonymous sources. Outline: how to securely communicate with sources, what documentation to collect safely, how to verify information from anonymous sources, and legal considerations I should understand.

Interview Angle Preparation

For an interview with [person about topic], suggest 8-10 different angles I could pursue depending on how the conversation develops. Include follow-up questions for each angle and potential gotcha questions.

Press Conference Strategy

I\'m covering a press conference on [topic]. Prepare: key questions to ask, follow-up questions for likely responses, background context to understand responses, and questions to ask officials afterward in hallway conversations.

Fact-Check During Interview

During an interview about [topic], the subject claimed [statement]. Help me identify what I should verify immediately after the interview, what official records I should check, and how to responsibly report on this claim.

Content Creation and Headline Optimization

Headline Variation Testing

Create 5-6 compelling headline variations for a story about [topic]. For each, include: audience appeal, SEO optimization potential, clarity, accuracy, and which audience segment it would most resonate with.

Story Structure Planning

I have these reporting elements for a story on [topic]: [list key points]. Suggest the most compelling narrative structure, which elements should be in the lede, what should be held for later, and how to maintain reader engagement throughout.

Explainer Article Framework

Create a structure for explaining [complex topic] to a general audience. Include: key concepts to introduce first, analogies that would help clarity, visual elements that could enhance understanding, and common misconceptions to address.

Social Media Angle Development

I\'m publishing a story about [topic]. Create 6-8 different social media snippets optimized for: Twitter/X, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Each should highlight different angles or quote the story in different ways.

Breaking News Update Framework

A story broke at [time] about [topic]. Help me structure how to update our story throughout the day as new information emerges. What should be in the initial report, what information should wait for confirmation, and how to manage updates without creating confusion?

Feature Article Opening

I\'m writing a feature about [subject/story]. Create 3-4 compelling opening approaches (anecdote, scene-setting, surprising statistic, question). For each, explain why it would hook readers and which approach best serves the overall story.

Editorial Operations and Audience Engagement

Editorial Calendar Optimization

Our newsroom covers [topics/beats]. Based on our audience engagement data showing [patterns], suggest how to structure our editorial calendar to maximize impact, balance daily coverage with investigation, and maintain consistent topical coverage.

Audience Engagement Strategy

We published a story about [topic] that received [engagement metrics]. Analyze what elements resonated, suggest follow-up content ideas, identify audience questions we should address, and recommend distribution channels.

Corrections and Updates Management

We need to issue a correction on [story detail]. Help me: draft a transparent correction statement, determine the appropriate prominence for it, suggest what we should add as a correction note, and how to prevent similar errors.

Newsroom Efficiency Workflow

Our newsroom faces [workflow challenge]. Suggest streamlined processes for [task], identify where AI tools could assist reporters (while maintaining editorial standards), and recommend tools that could improve our workflow without compromising quality.

Reader Comment Moderation Framework

We\'re implementing comment moderation for stories about [sensitive topics]. Create guidelines for: what types of comments to remove, how to handle misinformation in comments, how to promote constructive discussion, and how to maintain community standards.

Post-Publication Analysis

Our story about [topic] received [engagement metrics]. Analyze: which elements performed best, what we could improve for similar stories, which audience segments engaged most, and what follow-up content would serve those audiences.

Frequently Asked Questions

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