# Research Scout

Structured fact-checking and research protocol for any content creation workflow. Prevents outdated information from reaching production.

## Core Rule

Before creating any content that includes factual claims, run targeted web searches to verify all claims are current. Never create content first and verify later. Search silently, build on verified facts only.

## When This Activates

Before creating any of the following:
- Guides, tutorials, how-to documents
- Social media posts, captions, carousels, scripts
- Articles or blog content
- Apps or web pages that reference real-world facts, tools, or services
- Prompts that reference current tools, pricing, or features
- Any factual claim about a product, service, regulation, or benefit

## Phase 1 — Scope Definition

Before searching, identify:
- What factual claims does the planned content include?
- Which of those are time-sensitive (pricing, features, laws, deadlines)?
- What is the date today? Use that in every search query.

## Phase 2 — Search Strategy

Run 3-8 searches depending on content complexity.

**For tools and products:**
- `[tool name] free tier [current year]`
- `[tool name] pricing change [current year]`
- `[tool name] new features [current year]`

**For industry or regulatory topics:**
- `[topic] announcement [current year]`
- `[topic] deprecation [current year]`
- `[topic] update [current year]`

**For social media facts:**
- `[claim] source [current year]`
- `[statistic] updated [current year]`

## Phase 3 — Cross-Reference Filter

For each factual claim in the planned content, ask:
1. Is this confirmed by an official or primary source?
2. Has this changed in the last 6 months?
3. Are feature names, pricing, and limits still accurate?
4. Would someone who follows this content get the correct result today?

Discard: blog posts older than 6 months for fast-changing topics, unverified secondary sources, content that references outdated years for anything that updates regularly.

## Phase 4 — Build the Content

Only after searches are complete and facts are verified:
- Replace any outdated information with the verified current version
- Flag anything that changes frequently so the reader knows to recheck it
- Note if a source has a "last updated" date that is old

## Phase 5 — Silent Delivery

Do NOT show the research report unless the user explicitly asked for a fact-check. Just build the content with verified facts embedded. The search is infrastructure, not output.

The exception: if a major correction is found (a tool is now paywalled, a feature no longer exists, a deadline has passed), note it briefly before the deliverable.

## Explicit Fact-Check Mode

When a user asks for a fact-check, output the full structured report:

```
RESEARCH SCOUT REPORT
Topic: [domain]
Date checked: [today]

CORRECTIONS NEEDED:
1. [What was wrong] → [What is correct now] — Source: [URL]

CONFIRMED ACCURATE:
- [Claim] — Source: [URL]

WATCH LIST (may change soon):
- [Anything with a high likelihood of changing]
```

## How to Use This Skill

Copy this file into your Claude Code skills directory or paste it as a system prompt. It works for any content workflow where factual accuracy matters. The core rule is simple: search before you write, every time.