A live blog is not an article in pieces. It is read while something is happening, often on a phone, often only briefly. Good live blogs are therefore concise, clearly structured and honest about what is settled and what is not. Here are the key rules, from preparation to the last entry. How to set up a live blog technically is covered in our guide How to create a live blog.
Before you start
- Write the summary: Two or three sentences at the very top explain what it is about and what readers can expect. You update this text at every major turn.
- Prepare background: One or two prepared entries with context (schedule, people involved, key figures) bring readers up to speed before it starts.
- Agree on the basics: Who writes what? Who checks? How are names spelled? Five minutes of agreement save a lot of corrections on the night.
Good entries
- One entry, one thing. Three short entries beat one long paragraph. Readers scan, they do not read from top to bottom.
- Lead with what matters. The first sentence says what happened. Explanation and context come after.
- Headlines for the big moments. Results, decisions and turning points get a headline, so readers who only skim still find what matters.
- Quotes verbatim and with a name. A good quote takes readers closer to the event than any summary.
- Pictures that say something. A photo from the scene, a chart with figures. And always an alt text, so screen reader users know what is shown.
- Embeds with purpose. A post or video from the stage can say a lot. Too many embeds make the live blog restless and slow.
The right rhythm
There is no set number of entries per hour. What matters is that readers are never left wondering for long. If nothing happens for a while, say so: “The session is adjourned and resumes at around 3 pm.” Use quiet phases for background, such as an explainer, a chart or a look back.
Sources and unconfirmed reports
With breaking news especially, the temptation is to pass everything on at once. Always name the source and mark what is not yet confirmed. As soon as there is a confirmation or a denial, it gets its own entry. That keeps the course of events traceable.
Correcting mistakes
Mistakes happen under time pressure. Fix typos quietly. Errors of fact are corrected openly, with a short note in the entry or a new entry. Facts that change without a word get noticed and cost trust.
Writing as a team
When several people write at once, clear roles help: one person on site for impressions, quotes and photos, one at the desk for background, figures and context. On sensitive topics a third person checks an entry before it goes out. Live blog software that everyone can write into at the same time is the precondition for this. What to look for is on our page about live blog software.
The finish
A live blog does not just stop, it is closed. The last entry sums up the key points and points to the full report or the rest of your coverage. Then update the summary at the top to the final state. That way the live blog remains a good archive days later.