Editorial Status Workflow
EditorEvery article in the PATHS platform moves through a defined set of statuses. Understanding this workflow helps you make the right decisions about content as it progresses through the pipeline.
Status Definitions
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Draft | Content is being written or revised. Only visible to the author and editors in the admin panel. |
| In Review | The contributor has submitted the article for editorial review. Waiting for an Editor to assess it. |
| Approved | An Editor has confirmed the article meets quality standards. Ready for a Publisher to take it live. |
| Published | The article is live and visible to learners on the frontend. |
| Archived | The article has been removed from active listings but its URL is preserved for existing links. |
Status Transitions
Who can do what
Not every role can make every transition. The workflow enforces separation of duties to maintain content quality.
Contributors
- Draft → In Review — Submit their work for editorial review
Editors
- In Review → Approved — Article passes editorial review
- In Review → Draft — Article needs revisions, sent back to the contributor
- Approved → In Review — Retract approval if issues are discovered before publication
Publishers
- Approved → Published — Take approved content live on the frontend
- Published → Archived — Remove outdated content from active listings
- Archived → Draft — Reopen archived content for a fresh revision cycle
Key Rules
- No skipping steps — Content cannot jump from Draft directly to Published. Every article must pass through editorial review.
- Two-person minimum — The person who writes the content is never the same person who publishes it. This ensures at least two sets of eyes on every piece.
- Archived is not deleted — Archiving removes content from listings and search results but preserves the URL. Learners with existing bookmarks will see an archived notice rather than a broken link.
If you notice an approved article that should not be published, change it back to In Review immediately and add a note explaining the concern. Do not wait for a Publisher to catch the issue.
- Contributor updates a draft after feedback — The article stays in Draft until the contributor resubmits it to In Review.
- Editor finds a minor typo in an approved article — Fix it directly and leave the status as Approved.
- Published article contains outdated information — A Publisher can archive it, or it can be returned to Draft for a full revision.