Style Guide

1. Top matter

Headline: Title-style with strong verbs; placed at top. Example: Israel Intercepts Global Sumud Flotilla, Detaining Hundreds.
Byline: By Firstname Lastname, italicized, on its own line below the date. Use full name.
Topics/tags nav: Include 3-6 topic tags in metadata of article.

Lead length: 1–3 short paragraphs (often a strong factual statement that answers who/what/when/where/why). Keep the very first paragraph concise and factual. Example leads in the set open immediately with a framing fact or update.
Nut graf: If background/context is needed, place a second short para that explains why the story matters (e.g., legal stakes, humanitarian context). Use one or two sentences of context; then proceed to details and quotes.

Updates & developing story flags: If the story is ongoing, include a top note like: ### This is a developing story. All claims made ... or an UPDATE: block near the top. Use ## UPDATE: heading. Examples present in multiple pieces.
Section headings: Use short H2/H3 headings (e.g., ## Accounts, ## Israel’s official response) to group eyewitness accounts, official responses, and analysis. This keeps long stories skimmable.
Order: Facts → Eyewitness accounts (labeled) → Official responses (labeled) → Legal/analytical context → Sources.

Tone: Straightforward, assertive reporting language with an editorially critical or advocative tilt in choice of included context (e.g., referencing humanitarian metrics, legal findings). Keep sentence-level neutrality in attributions — but include critical context (reports, NGOs) as sourced claims.
Attribution: Attribute contentious claims to sources or witnesses inside the text or with blockquotes. Always make clear when a claim is denied (e.g., “Israel denies…”), and include the denying source verbatim if available.

Blockquotes: Use blockquote formatting for notable direct quotes (short or long). Place the speaker's affiliation either on a new line preceded by an em dash or within the preceding/following sentence.
Inline quotes: Short attributions follow AP style: “text,” said NAME, title.

Source block: At the end of the article include a Sources list with full citations and links (publication, date, URL). Stateline Press lists multiple external sources in a short bibliography-style block. Use Chicago author-date 17th edition.
Inline sourcing for claims with legal/technical heft: When asserting legal findings or technical metrics (e.g., famine classification, court rulings), include the primary source or a trusted major outlet as parenthetical or subsequent sentence. Example: references to UN/HRW or court citations appear close to the claim.

Capitalization: Use Title Case for headlines. Internal headings use Title Case.
Numbers: Use Arabic numerals for all numbers 10 and above; numerals for counts, casualties, troop counts, dates, and percentages.
Dates & timestamps: Put dates as DD Mon, YYYY. When referencing deadlines or “today,” include the absolute date in parentheses for clarity (recommended best practice).

Correction note: If an article is updated/corrected, add a short line near the top or bottom: Updated [time] to correct… — include what changed. Stateline Press adds a short correction line with a timestamp. Use transparent language.