Editorial & Brand Guidelines
These guidelines ensure consistency, integrity, and trust across all The Daily Pulse content. Whether you are a journalist, editor, designer, or contributor, this document serves as the source of truth for our standards.
1. Mission & Core Values
The Daily Pulse is dedicated to delivering timely, accurate, and unbiased news to a global audience. We believe in the power of journalism to inform, educate, and empower.
🎯 Accuracy First
Every fact must be verified. We prioritize truth over speed without sacrificing timeliness.
⚖️ Independence
We report without fear or favor, free from political or corporate influence.
🤝 Accountability
We correct errors transparently and hold power accountable, including ourselves.
🌍 Inclusivity
We strive to represent diverse voices and perspectives in every story.
2. Voice & Tone
Our writing should reflect the character of The Daily Pulse: authoritative yet approachable, serious yet engaging.
Voice Attributes
- Clear: Avoid jargon. Write for a general audience.
- Concise: Respect the reader's time. Get to the point.
- Empathetic: Show compassion in human interest stories.
- Objective: Separate facts from opinion clearly.
3. Editorial Standards
Headlines
Headlines must accurately reflect the story content. Use Sentence case for headlines unless referencing a title that requires capitalization.
Sourcing
• Attribute all claims to primary sources whenever possible.
• Use anonymous sources only when necessary and approved by senior editors.
• Clearly identify conflicts of interest.
Corrections
4. Style Guide
We follow a modified version of the AP Stylebook. Below are our specific house rules.
| Element | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | Use numerals for day and year. Spell out months. | Dec. 15, 2024 |
| Times | Use a.m./p.m. in lower case with periods. 12-hour format. | 2:45 p.m. |
| Numbers | Spell out one through nine. Use numerals for 10 and above. | three candidates, 15 voters |
| Currency | Use $ for USD. Spell out other currencies. | $500, 500 euros |
| Quotes | Double quotes for primary text. Single for nested. | She said, "He was 'amazing'." |
| Titles | Capitalize first, last, and important words in titles. | The Daily Pulse |
Abbreviations
Spell out organizations and agencies on first reference. Use abbreviations thereafter (e.g., United Nations (U.N.). Do not use abbreviations for generic terms like "street" or "avenue" unless part of a proper address.
5. Brand Identity
Color Palette
Our brand colors evoke urgency, trust, and professionalism.
Typography
Headings: Georgia or Playfair Display (Serif) — Conveys tradition and authority.
Body Text: Segoe UI, Roboto, or Helvetica Neue (Sans-serif) — Ensures readability on all devices.
Logo Usage
Sufficient white space. High contrast background. Standard colors.
Do not stretch, rotate, or alter colors. Maintain clear space around the logo.
6. Accessibility Standards
The Daily Pulse is committed to making content accessible to all readers, including those using assistive technologies.
- Alt Text: All images must include descriptive alt text. Decorative images should have empty alt attributes.
- Contrast: Text must meet WCAG AA standards (minimum 4.5:1 contrast ratio).
- Headings: Use semantic heading hierarchy (H1 → H2 → H3). Do not skip levels.
- Links: Link text must be descriptive. Avoid "Click here".
- Captions: All video content must include captions or transcripts.