How we turn a useful question into a publishable Field Note.

Last updated: August 6, 2026

1. Topic selection

Every article starts with one primary reader question, one search intent, and one distinct contribution. We reject duplicate briefs that merely swap a platform name, example, statistic, or keyword. New facts usually update an existing article instead of creating another URL.

2. Source hierarchy

• Platform rules, technical behavior, and eligibility claims use current official documentation.
• Statistics trace back to original research, public datasets, regulators, or clearly described methodology.
• Independent sources help test whether an official claim is complete or representative.
• Merchant emails and sales pages may reveal a claim worth checking, but they are never treated as independent proof.

3. Writing and synthesis

A publishable article must add a framework, a concrete example, limitations, and a next step. We distinguish verified fact, reasonable inference, and editorial judgment. We do not spin or lightly paraphrase source material.

4. AI-assisted work

AI may help organize research, compare explanations, or draft language. A human-directed editorial process remains responsible for source selection, fact checking, originality, commercial disclosures, and the final decision to publish. We do not use automated generation as a reason to create pages that would not otherwise deserve to exist.

5. Quality gate

Each batch is scored for usefulness, evidence, originality, ethics, structure, accessibility, and technical quality. An article fails automatically if it:

• copies or disguises a source;
• uses an unsupported income claim, guarantee, testimonial, or deadline;
• pretends the team personally tested a product when it did not;
• uses an unverified affiliate link or omits a material disclosure;
• duplicates the search purpose of an existing article; or
• offers generalities without a method, example, limitation, and next step.

6. Commercial separation

Informational articles answer the question before presenting any commercial option. Product comparisons require current terms and a stated check date. Affiliate links use the sponsored-link attribute and are explained before the first qualifying link. See our affiliate disclosure and advertising policy.

7. Updates and corrections

Articles show both publication and update dates. Material changes are rechecked against current sources. Substantive mistakes are corrected on the page; significant corrections are described in the correction record.