template-selector

Journalism documentation templates are standardized CLAUDE.md and LESSONS.md files that provide consistent frontmatter and structure for project memory and retrospective records across six specific project categories.

To set up a CLAUDE.md file for an investigative research project, follow the decision tree to classify your work under the research-project category, then copy and customize the matching template from the project-memory templates repository.

Use a LESSONS.md retrospective template when conducting retrospective work after project completion, and use CLAUDE.md project memory templates for starting new initiatives or ongoing documentation efforts to maintain consistent structure.

Yes, the templates support digital archive and content pipeline workflows directly. The decision-tree guidance classifies these specific project types and directs you to the exact template locations within the repository for immediate use.

The best way to standardize frontmatter across journalism projects is to apply the decision-tree template selection process, which generates consistent structure by mapping each initiative to a specific category template before documentation begins.