Get familiar with the terms, agencies, and stages involved before building the story.
Map the story before writing it
Identify the institutions, locations, and stages relevant to the story. Build a timeline with a source beside each entry. Keep allegations, procedural events, decisions, and personal accounts clearly distinguished rather than compressing them into one label.
Ask what the record actually establishes
A document may show that something was filed or reported without establishing every claim within it. Read the surrounding context and identify what further confirmation is needed. Ask the responsible source to explain unfamiliar procedural language.
Questions to carry with you
- What event does this record document?
- Which date and jurisdiction matter?
- What remains unconfirmed?
One manageable next step
Take one central claim and trace it back to the original record or attributable account.