How to Create a Checklist
FLOW can set up pre-populated tasks that can be loaded as checklists for the staff member to complete while working on an assignment. These can be created in the settings tab. Click the Settings icon then click the Checklist tab.
Once created and saved, a checklist can be applied by default to a specific assignment type. To do this, click the settings icon, then click the Assignment Types tab.
You can also assign individual tasks as stand-alones or in addition to a checklist within the individual story in the Tasks section.
Sample Checklists
We had some requests for the types of tasks that sites could use for the default assignment types and have provided those below. Feel free to use these as a starting point and make any edits, add extra tasks, or remove tasks that don’t fit your needs.
Sample Writing Checklist:
- Make sure to use at least three sources
- Craft a strong lead that grabs the reader’s attention in the first 25-40 words
- Double check AP style
- Double check name spellings
- Make sure information is properly attributed
- Embed hyperlinks wherever applicable
- Keep paragraphs short (1-4 sentences)
- Always begin a new paragraph after a direct quote
- Conduct at least one substantial interview (10+ questions) with two different sources
- Self edit before submitting (pro tip: read the story aloud or read the story backwards)
Sample Photo Checklist:
- Provide vertical and horizontal photos to give the designer options
- Zoom with your feet, not with the lens (if possible get physically closer to the subject instead of relying on the zoom)
- Shoot multiple different distances and angles
- Follow the rule of thirds
- Make sure the photo is bright enough to clearly see the subject
- Shoot candid (unposed) photos
- Edit the photos for optimal display on the web (3:2 ratio with a max height/width of 2,000 pixels, saved as a .jpg, .png or .gif)
- Edit the photos for optimal color levels
- If shooting sports, the ball, player’s face, and the entire body is in the shot
- Include the subjects’ names and confirmed name spellings in the captions
Sample Video Checklist:
- Shoot at least three different 30 second clips of b-roll
- Conduct at least two interviews in a quiet location
- Shoot room tone in all b-roll environments (natural sound in the environment where you are recording)
- Follow rule of thirds when shooting interviews
- Use a tripod, stabilizer or stand with your elbows in tight to avoid shaky footage
- Use a microphone for interviews
- If using a reporter shot make sure the reporter introduces themself
- Identify all interview subjects with a lower-third graphic
- If using contributed photos make sure to attribute the image source via a text overlay
- Make sure all interview cuts are covered with b-roll to avoid a jump cut change in the subject’s position on camera
- If using background music make sure to note the source (either in a text overlay or in the notes on FLOW so it can be noted in the post text and YouTube description when posted online)
Sample Audio Checklist:
- Shoot 30 seconds of room tone (silence in the room where you are recording)
- Record in a quiet environment - restart question/topic if interrupted
- Make sure all interview subjects have the same equipment and position from equipment for consistent sound levels
- Confirm all audio is understandable following the interview
- Type or use a software to generate a transcript of the episode
- Cut out dead air during editing
- Adjust levels for consistent volume via sound editing software if necessary
- If using background music make sure to note the source (either verbally or in the notes on FLOW so it can be noted in the post text and Spotify description when posted online)