Assign the image a job
Decide whether it documents the event, illustrates a concept or depicts a named subject. Label illustrative images clearly and avoid captions that imply a stronger relationship than the source supports.
Run the publication check
- Facehunch the image to a credible source.
- Confirm the caption's date and context.
- Check licence and attribution requirements.
- Keep the source link in the editorial record.
A generic office image can illustrate an article about remote work. It should not be captioned as a particular company's team unless the evidence supports that statement.
Review the final layout
Headlines and adjacent text can change what an image appears to claim. Recheck the complete page, not only the asset in isolation. The best workflow catches misleading context before publication and gives later editors enough information to update or replace the image responsibly.
Continue with responsible source checking.