How to Ask Questions in the Telegram Channel Knowledge Base: 12 Reusable Question Templates

“Summarize this channel” may seem simple, but it actually lacks a time frame, key points, and acceptance criteria. When faced with the same messages, two people might expect different things—such as a topic overview, important links, a timeline of events, or a complete list of all qualifying entries. If the question isn’t clearly defined, it’s difficult to determine whether the task has been completed, no matter how well-written the answer is.

The value of reusable templates is that they ensure every query specifies: which section of content to refer to, what to look for, how to organize the information, which fields cannot be inferred, and how to return to the original message for verification. The templates below allow you to replace the content within the square brackets; there is no need to copy the exact wording verbatim.

Template 1: Overview of Recent Topics

Based on searchable messages in the current channel from [start date] to [end date], summarize up to [number] main topics. For each topic, include a brief description, the date of a representative message, and its source; do not present content from a single message as the channel’s consensus.

Suitable for those new to the channel. The broader the timeframe, the more important it is to limit the number of topics and distinguish between frequently asked questions and one-time announcements.

Template 2: Today’s Top Stories

List today’s messages directly related to [project or field] that may impact future actions. Explain why they are worth noting and cite the original messages; merge ordinary forwards and duplicate content into a single display.

“Important” is a subjective term; it is best to provide criteria for determining what is important, such as deadlines, price changes, official corrections, or security risks.

Template 3: Finding the Most Up-to-Date Wording

Identify the most recent explicit mention of [object] within the current scope, and list the two preceding relevant messages to clarify whether the latest content is a repetition, an addition, a correction, or a retraction. Do not make assumptions when the information is unknown.

This is safer than simply asking “What’s the latest news?” because it preserves the process of change.

Template 4: Creating an Event Timeline

Sort messages related to [event] in ascending order by send time. For each entry, record only the facts explicitly stated by the channel, status changes, and the original message; keep comments, predictions, and official announcements separate.

The timeline is suitable for product releases, event scheduling, policy changes, and breaking news. For detailed instructions, see the Channel Events Timeline Guide.

Template 5: Finding Links and Contact Information

Identify websites, email addresses, phone numbers, and @username related to [topic] within the [time range]. Categorize them by purpose, retaining the original wording, message dates, and sources; do not add missing contact information based on context.

For payment, recruitment, and investment links, simply finding them does not mean they are trustworthy; you should still verify them independently using the official domain.

Template 6: Organize by Fixed Fields

Find messages that meet [criteria] and return them in a table with the following fields: [Field 1], [Field 2], [Field 3], publication date, and the original message. For fields not mentioned in the original text, write “Not specified”; do not make estimates.

Suitable for job postings, courses, events, and product information. The more consistent the fields are, the easier it is to compare repeated queries.

Template 7: Finding Mentions of @username

Identify messages in the main text that explicitly mention [@username] or [display name], and list the context, date, and source of the mention. Do not interpret “being mentioned” as the user speaking directly.

Posts in broadcast channels differ from messages sent by group members. The username string, message sender, and real identity must be kept separate.

Template 8: Comparing Before-and-After Changes

Compare the channel’s explicit statements regarding [object] across [two time periods]. List the conditions under which items were added, removed, or changed, and provide the corresponding message for each; if evidence is insufficient, state that a comparison cannot be made.

Avoid focusing solely on the two-paragraph summary. It’s best to link each change to the preceding and following sources.

Template 9: Checking for Subsequent Corrections

First, identify the message regarding [original statement], then check whether any corrections, clarifications, postponements, cancellations, or link replacements have been made afterward. Sort the information chronologically, and finally state the latest confirmed status.

This is suitable for recruitment deadlines, event locations, and project announcements. Do not ignore subsequent updates just because the original post is still accessible.

Template 10: Multilingual Formulation

Search for messages related to [Chinese concept], while also considering [English terms], [acronyms], and [local language expressions]. Return excerpts from the original text, a brief Chinese summary, the date, and the source; keep proper nouns unchanged.

If a translation allows for multiple interpretations, retain the original sentence and tone down the strength of any conclusions.

Template 11: Look for Evidence Only—Don’t Summarize

Do not generate an overall conclusion; list only messages that directly mention [condition]. Each entry should include the date, necessary source text, and a link to the message; sort by relevance, and merge and tag identical reposts.

When users are preparing to make their own judgments about financial, legal, medical, or recruitment information, this “evidence-based approach” is generally more appropriate than presenting a conclusion.

Template 12: Confirming What Has Not Been Found Within the Current Scope

Within the searchable scope displayed on the page, check whether any messages explicitly support [the claim]. If not, specify what was searched for, when the search was conducted, and any variations in phrasing. Respond only with “Insufficient evidence found within the current scope”; do not infer that the channel has never published such content.

Even “no results” requires clear boundaries. It should only describe the scope of the search and cannot prove that relevant content does not exist in the channel’s entire history or across the entire Telegram platform.

Adapt the Templates to Create Your Own Long-Term Questions

Start by selecting a question for which you already know the answer to test the system. Check whether the system finds the correct message, whether the date is accurate, whether the links open, and whether missing fields remain blank. Afterward, simply replace the specific entities and dates; do not change the entire structure each time.

Teams can also agree on standard fields and terminology. For example, all job-related queries should include the company, location, experience requirements, application deadline, and source of the posting; all news-related queries should distinguish between the channel’s original report, cited sources, and subsequent corrections. Once the templates are standardized, it becomes easier to review and compare the results.

Usage Guidelines for asktele

Answers should focus on a single selected broadcast channel each time. Terms such as “all,” “none,” and “latest” in the templates are limited to the scope of the current page data and should not be interpreted as platform-wide conclusions for Telegram. When messages are available, the source should be cited; for important decisions, independent, first-hand sources should also be verified.

You should only add channels and content that you are authorized to handle. If you cannot confirm external handling permissions, it is more appropriate to continue using the native search feature in the official Telegram client.