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Virtual Assistant Editorial Review Handoff
A clean handoff packet for giving editors the context they need without burying key decisions.
Key takeaways
- Use a written brief and definition of done.
- Keep approvals and escalation rules visible.
- Review quality before expanding the workflow.
# Virtual Assistant Editorial Review Handoff
Published September 1, 2026. Editorial review moves faster when the handoff distinguishes required decisions from general background. Use the [content calendar workflow](/blog/virtual-assistant-content-calendar-workflow) to place this control in the daily sequence, the [editorial quality checklist](/blog/virtual-assistant-editorial-quality-checklist) for adjacent review steps, and [NIST small business cybersecurity guidance](https://www.nist.gov/itl/smallbusinesscyber) when the routine handles business information.
Virtual Assistant Editorial Review Handoff: operating steps
State the article, version, deadline, and exact review needed. Identify whether the editor is approving structure, claims, voice, compliance, or final publication. Do not use a generic request such as “please review.”
Summarize known exceptions
List unresolved source conflicts, scope departures, placeholders, and intentional deviations from the brief. Link each note to the relevant section so the reviewer does not have to rediscover the issue.
Preserve one authoritative version
Name the review copy and restrict parallel editing when the tool cannot merge changes safely. Record who has the edit lock and when it expires. Old drafts should remain identifiable but not appear current.
Capture the response in structured form
Separate required corrections, optional suggestions, questions, and approval. Assign correction owners and due times, then retain the final disposition alongside the released article.
Frequently asked questions
### Can chat approval be sufficient? Only if the workflow records the approver, version, decision, and time in the durable article record. ### Who resolves contradictory comments? Escalate them to the accountable editor rather than asking the assistant to infer which reviewer outranks another.