Mastheads™
Studio
All ten editorial desks
Desk VIII of X

Standards Desk

The Standards Desk applies the same clear house standards to every article.

  • Every article
  • One desk, one job
  • Live
Where it sits
  1. IEditorial Director
  2. IISource Desk
  3. IIIPlanning Desk
  4. IVWriters Desk
  5. VFact Desk
  6. VIQA Desk
  7. VIIEditor-in-Chief
  8. VIIIStandards Desk
  9. IXArt Desk
  10. XProduction Desk

The Standards Desk receives the article from the Editor-in-Chief. The Art Desk's picture joins it here, and both go to the Production Desk.

What it does

The Standards Desk is the Mastheads editorial desk that gives each finished article a production editor's close read. It applies the same fixed rules every time and makes a precise repair when a fault has one correct fix.

It catches incomplete endings, repeated figures, missing currencies, stray writing notes and names that do not appear in fetched sources. Without this close read, reader-visible faults could remain and an article that needs a person's decision could be published. Other measures, including length and how easy the article is to read, are recorded with the article.

One desk, one job. Nothing inside it is split into roles.

What it takes in

The Standards Desk takes in the edited article, the research record and any content-policy finding from the Fact Desk. It checks that the ending is complete, figures are not needlessly repeated, amounts of money include their currency and no writing note has entered the copy. On every researched article it also checks whether each person named appears in the fetched sources. It fixes heading capitalisation, house-style dashes, stray soft hyphens and bare web addresses when those faults have one correct repair.

What it hands on

The Standards Desk hands the Production Desk the repaired article, its measures and a verdict. The measures include length and readability. The verdict says the article is ready to publish or is waiting for a person, with the reason clearly stated. An incomplete ending, money without a currency or an unmatched person's name sends the article for review. An unmatched name is shown to you, and publication waits until a person accepts it. An article awaiting a decision keeps its full text. A high-risk article also waits when the Fact Desk finds a claim the research does not support.

What it guarantees

6 things it holds to, on every article it touches.

  • One house standard applies.

    Every article meets the same fixed rules.

  • Repairs are exact.

    A fault with one correct fix receives the same precise correction in every article.

  • Reader-visible faults are caught.

    An incomplete ending or money without a currency sends the article for review before publication.

  • Every name is traceable.

    Each person named must appear on a page fetched for the article. An unmatched name is shown to you, and publication waits until a person accepts it.

  • Review keeps every word.

    An article awaiting a decision keeps its full text, so you can correct it, publish it or leave it.

  • High-risk articles get another look.

    When a high-risk article contains a claim the Fact Desk finds unsupported, the article waits for a person before publication.

One example

An article names a person who appears on none of its fetched pages. The Standards Desk shows the name on the article's panel and holds publication. Once a person reviews and accepts the name, the article can proceed.

On your article

The article carries its recorded measures and a verdict saying whether it is ready or waiting for a person. An unmatched name appears on the article's panel, and publication stays on hold until a person accepts it.

Live. It works on every article.

Questions

What people ask about the Standards Desk.

What is the Standards Desk in Mastheads?
The Standards Desk is the Mastheads editorial desk that gives each finished article a production editor's close read. It applies the same fixed rules every time, repairs faults that have one correct fix and records a verdict on whether the article is ready or needs a person.
Which editorial standards does the Standards Desk apply?
The Mastheads Standards Desk uses the same fixed rules on every article. It checks the ending, repeated figures, currencies and writing notes, and applies an exact repair where one correct fix exists.
What house style fixes can the Standards Desk make?
The Mastheads Standards Desk fixes heading capitalisation, house-style dashes, stray soft hyphens and bare web addresses. It makes these repairs when a fault has one correct fix, and the same correction applies in every article.
How does the Standards Desk check names on a researched article?
On a researched article, the Mastheads Standards Desk checks that each person named appears on a page fetched for that article. An unmatched name is shown to you, and publication waits until a person accepts it.
Does the Standards Desk check names on every article?
The Mastheads Standards Desk applies its house standard to every article. The name check is made on researched articles, where it compares each person named with the fetched sources.
What does the Standards Desk do about money in an article?
The Mastheads Standards Desk checks that amounts of money include their currency. An article with an amount that has no currency is sent for review before publication.
What sends an article to a person for review?
In Mastheads, the Standards Desk sends an article for review when it finds an incomplete ending, money without a currency or a person's name that appears in no fetched source. A high-risk article also waits when the Fact Desk finds a claim the research does not support.
How are readability and length recorded?
The Mastheads Standards Desk records the article's length and readability. It passes those measures to the Production Desk with the article and its verdict.
What happens to an article waiting for review?
A Mastheads article waiting on the Standards Desk keeps its full text, so you can correct it, publish it or leave it. The reason for the wait is stated clearly.
Does the Standards Desk use AI to make its repairs?
No. The Mastheads Standards Desk makes its repairs in code, with no model call, which is how the same fault gets the same correction every time.
Where does the Standards Desk sit among the Mastheads desks?
The Standards Desk is the eighth of the ten editorial desks at Mastheads. It receives the article from the Editor-in-Chief, the Art Desk's picture joins it there, and both go to the Production Desk.
Does every Mastheads article go through the Standards Desk?
Yes. The Standards Desk applies the house standard to every Mastheads article, and it checks every name on a researched one.
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