Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Develop a production brief and pre-production plan
2 weeks
Select a media format — short documentary (5–10 min), audio documentary or podcast episode, or video essay — and develop a full production brief: editorial purpose, target audience, format rationale, production plan with timeline and milestones, research and source plan, and an ethical checklist covering subject consent, representation, and harm. Write the brief before production begins.
Proof required
Production brief and pre-production plan (500+ words) covering: editorial purpose, target audience, format rationale, production timeline with specific milestones, research and source plan, and ethical checklist specific to this project. Must be prospective.
What gets checked
- Editorial purpose is specific enough to guide all production decisions
- Production timeline includes specific milestones — not just 'shoot in week 3'
- Ethical checklist addresses consent, representation, and harm for this specific project
Common mistakes
- Writing the brief retrospectively after production — must be prospective
- Format rationale that does not connect the format to the editorial purpose
- Ethical checklist that is generic rather than project-specific
Resources
Foundationstart here
What a verifier looks for
- Confirm brief is prospective — check for future tense and planned actions
- Review production timeline — confirm specific milestones are present
- Check ethical checklist — confirm it addresses the specific project's subjects and context
Produce the media project and document production decisions
8 weeks
Produce the media project: shoot or record, edit to planned format and duration, and publish or submit the finished piece on a public platform (YouTube, Vimeo, podcast host, or equivalent). Document production decisions: what changed from the brief and why, key editorial decisions during editing (what was cut and why), and how the ethical checklist was applied in practice.
Proof required
Finished media piece with public link, plus a production decision log (500+ words) covering: changes from the brief with reasoning, at least three key editorial decisions made during production or editing, and a specific account of how the ethical checklist was applied.
What gets checked
- Finished piece is publicly accessible via a link — not private or draft
- Production decision log documents at least three key editorial decisions with reasoning
- Ethical checklist application is documented specifically — not just 'ethics were observed'
Common mistakes
- Finished piece not publicly accessible — the work must exist where others can see it
- Production decision log that describes what was done without explaining editorial reasoning
- No account of how the ethical checklist was applied in practice
Resources
What a verifier looks for
- Access the finished piece via the public link — confirm it is publicly accessible
- Review production decision log — confirm at least three key editorial decisions are documented with reasoning
- Check ethical checklist application — confirm specific application is documented
Submit finished piece for editorial and ethical review by an experienced practitioner
1 week
Present the finished media piece and decision log to an experienced journalist, documentary maker, or broadcast producer for structured editorial review. The reviewer must challenge specific decisions — 'you cut this subject's strongest statement — why?', 'your framing of this subject — does it do justice to their position?', 'was your consent process sufficient for how you used the footage?'. This Q&A satisfies the ADVERSARIAL VERIFICATION RULE.
Proof required
Editorial review notes (250+ words) documenting the reviewer's media production credentials, at least three specific editorial or ethical challenges with responses, and any revisions or acknowledgments committed to.
What gets checked
- Reviewer has 5+ years of experience in journalism, documentary, or broadcast production
- At least three specific editorial or ethical challenges are documented
- At least one revision or editorial acknowledgment is committed to
Common mistakes
- Choosing a reviewer who only comments on technical quality — must include editorial and ethical challenge
- Not being able to justify specific editorial cuts or framing decisions under challenge
- No revisions after a genuine editorial challenge
Resources
What a verifier looks for
- Confirm reviewer has 5+ years in journalism, documentary, or broadcast production
- Review Q&A notes — confirm at least three editorial or ethical challenges are documented
- Check that at least one revision or acknowledgment is committed to