Three ways to ensure credible content writing

Content writers don’t only have a responsibility of providing well-written news articles, informative short essays and other pieces, but they must also aim to ensure that the information that they base their story on is credible. In an age when the internet offers an information overload and when thousands of blogs are springing up each day, credible content writing can sometimes be easier said than done. But following three key steps can help ensure that what freelancers produce is both well-written and well-researched.

The first and most important step in credible content writing is finding a reliable news source. Google News is a great tool when searching for news stories, but it is important to rely less on press releases—and there are plenty of these on Google—and more on journalistic articles published in prominent journals, or on sites run by major media organizations. For example, if the New York Times, the Ottawa Sun and an anonymous blogger all report on the preponderance of cheap tickets and discount carriers in the commercial airline industry, then it makes most sense for the freelancer to base the article most heavily on the New York Times, which is a reputable, internationally-known publication.

The second pointer to keep in mind when writing online content is to avoid relying solely on press releases whenever possible. Press releases are heavily based on spin and may not be newsworthy or balanced on their own. As such, it is best to use press releases when looking for direct quotes and official statements, or in conjunction with other material, but the core of the given story should come from a reliable news source.

Thirdly, it is always helpful to supplement content gained from news sources with more lexical, background information on the given subject. Any range of reliable websites and online encyclopaedias can serve as useful sources when a freelance writer aims to provide richer and more in-depth content or contextualization.