Photo Credit: Olivia Blinn/IRC
To assist in development of content, here is a list of guiding questions:
- Who does it most directly affect? We cover information for crisis-affected people, not about them. Consider targeting content to reach those who need it most, but be careful not to appear biased.
- Who asked for this content? Or, if no one did, why do you think your audience wants to know about it? Responsive information services should consider the needs of all users, even those who don't actively engage with the service. Sometimes we know information is important to our audience even if they haven’t asked. This is where to use your editorial judgment. Avoid listening only to the loudest voices.
- Is this in our coverage area?. As the editorial team, you are best positioned to determine which subjects fit into these categories. Please note that we do not cover news about users' countries of origin or refugee policies in other countries. Additionally, topics unrelated to our users' refugee or asylum-seeker status, such as Premier League scores, are not within our coverage area. However, we do welcome engagement posts about refugees playing in the Premier League, especially if they are from countries of origin that many of our users come from or if the player is receiving heightened media attention.
- Is this information public? When it comes to sharing information, it's better to err on the side of caution and share publicly available information with context. This will help to prevent rumors and misinformation from spreading. Share verifiable information sources.
- Can we verify the facts? When verifying information, it is important to have at least two credible sources. You share information from sources that are not only verified but also verifiable.
- How will posting this information affect the trust between your information service and your audience? Maintaining your users’ trust is a top priority. The best way to do this is by demonstrating that you have no agenda other than to help your users get the information they need.
- Can you provide context? You might see some very compelling statistics or other facts that may be of interest to your users, but your job is to provide proper context to those facts. For example, it may be interesting to share that asylum case approvals have decreased by 45% this month compared to six months ago. But what does it mean? Do we know why? We need to try to find out why and carefully articulate that context before we publish that number.
- How can we update the information? If you decide to cover something that happens regularly (for example, dates the Asylum Service is closed for holidays or a change of service locations and dates), make sure you can realistically keep it updated. Otherwise, you may create unrealistic expectations and disappoint your audience.