Before the headline, ask a better question.

The shape of a question can change the shape of a story.

A headline arrives at the end of a reporting process, not the beginning. The first task is to work out what actually happened and what a reader needs in order to understand it.

Who is affected? What evidence can be checked? Which parts of the account are still uncertain? These questions make room for reporting that is more useful than a race to be first.

Clarity is an editorial choice. It means showing the path from the original question to the facts that can be supported, while leaving visible the questions that remain open.