How explainers are made

One reader question, answered with research and data

Length: 1,200–1,800 words
Figures: 3–6
Steps: 15
Editor approvals: 3

Question
1. Step 1: Frame
  The question and every premise it takes for granted
2. Step 2: Scout
  Quick archive search and reality-check data
  - Archive
  - Statistics
3. Step 3: Critical review
  Premises tested, vague words defined, missing angles added
4. Editor approves the question
Research
1. Step 4: Read the research
  8–15 papers read in depth; every quote checked word for word
2. Step 5: Map mechanisms
  What explains it, where studies disagree, what to measure
Data
1. Step 6: Fetch data
  Only the series readers need, each validated
  - ECB · Eurostat
  - FRED
  - Bank of Korea
2. Step 7: Compute facts
  Every number computed once, by a script
Writing
1. Step 8: Plan
  The answer, the sections, the figures
2. Editor approves the plan
3. Step 9: Draft EN · KO
  Plain language; numbers only from computed facts
4. Step 10: Charts
  Built from the data, rendered and inspected
Review
1. Step 11: Review and fact-check
  Checks plus an independent fact-checker; fixes go back
  Fixes go back · 2 automatic rounds, then the editor
Publish
1. Step 12: Cover image
  A small picture of the subject for the article lists, drawn from the final text and checked in both themes
2. Step 13: PDF edition
  Each edition set as a journal-style PDF for download, checked page by page
3. Editor approves the article
4. Step 14: Publish
  Committed, deployed, checked live
  Run by the editor
5. Step 15: Video on YouTube
  The published article as a narrated video in English and Korean, on the datasteg YouTube channel

Step
Runs in parallel
Editor approval
Review loop

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