Transcript 1. editingintronew

Editing Is Changing Quickly
• Copy editors morphing into production editors.
• Prepare news packages for print and online.
• Web is prime, print secondary.
• Social media more important.
• Taking on other duties, like managing
reporters, defining news priorities.
• Copy editing is prime, others secondary.
• Text—copy—leads audience everywhere.
• Thinking and writing are more important than
software skills.
Opportunities in Editing
• Demand moderating as industry retrenches.
• More accessible internships.
• More entry-level jobs at major media.
• Fast track for management.
• Jobs at newspapers, trade pubs, magazines,
wire services, the Web, etc.
• High mobility, including international.
• Translation skills a definite plus!
What All Copy Editors Do
• Write headlines, other points of entry.
• Correct grammar, spelling, puncuation, style.
• Rewrite for clarity, flow, focus.
• Challenge factual accuracy, adequacy.
• Write cutlines, captions; size, edit art.
• Write refers, other guidelines.
• Pull, prepare graphical quotes (blurbs, etc.).
• Write digests, indexes, skyboxes, other
promos.
• Affix computer codes, format story elements.
• Proofread galleys.
What Many Copy Editors Do
• Lay out pages.
• Generate Web packages, including multimedia.
• Generate tweets and other social media
content.
• Add metadata to news packages.
• SEO procedures.
• Choose story play, particularly from wires.
• Write stories, shoot pics.
• Create infographics.
• Clear copy.
Spot Story Elements
• What happened?
• Why?
• What are consequences?
• Is there a context?
• Strong, authoritative quote high in story.
• Additional detail, measures of what, why.
• Use quotes to support facts.
• Look to future: what’s next?
• Order of elements varies according to
newsworthiness.
The Elements of Spot News
What happened?
What are
the consequences?
What’s the context?
Why?
What’s next?
4 Steps in Copy Editing
• Is the lead right? If not, reporter or editor
makes it so.
• Are style, language right? If not, edit.
• Are facts, sources, quotes adequate, balanced,
fair? Confirm, challenge.
• Is story structured logically? Does it need a
nut? Reorganization? If so, return to
assignment desk for rework, or rewrite on spot.
Bosses & Colleagues
• Managing editor
• Assistant m.e.’s
• Assignment editors
• News editors
• Slot people
• Layout/design editors
• Copy chiefs
• Web producers
• Reporters
• Associate editors (magazines)
Thinking Like a News Producer
• Closely follow current events. What will be
news tomorrow, Sunday, end of month?
• Categorize news by section, play:
• Page 1, section fronts (metro/state, business,
sports, etc.)
• Page leder. Above the fold. Below the fold.
With or without art. Must/try/if.
• Know Daily Texan, Statesman, local broadcast.
• Monitor international, national, state/local
news.
• Look for trends, folos.
Copy-Editing Marks
• Not proofreading marks.
• Used on raw, double-spaced, printed copy.
• Proofer’s marks used on galleys—print in type.
• Use editing marks as presented in text.
• Handout of editing marks is same.
• Additions, deletions go above affected line.
• To abbreviate or unabbreviate something,
circle it.
• Amateurs use pens. Pros use pencils.
• Rarely used, but good to know for tests.
Spot News Process
• Assignment editor commission story, places it
on budget for morning meeting.
• Photo, design and graphics may get
assignments, too.
• Assignment desk process story, forward to
copy desk. (1st read.)
• Story is slotted into layout, packaged with
elements (photos, graphics).
• Copy editor works story and elements (2nd).
• Clearing editor gives final read (3rd).
• Story is typeset and proofed before printing.
Changing Work Flow
• Edits at larger publications:
--Assignment editor works for content,
structure.
--Slot editor plans story placement, elements.
--Copy editor works for content, structure, plus
style. Adds eadlines, visual material.
--Clearing editor OKs final package for
publication.
--Web and print work all done at once—two sets
of heads, other POEs.
Changing Work Flow II
• Edits at wires and online:
--Copy editor works for style, structure, content.
Adds headlines, visual material.
--Copy editor adapts package for Web
publication. Adds multimedia elements.
Generates social media content.
--Clearing editor reads before or after Web
publication (after=“post-editing”).
--At least one less level of editing.
Changing Work Flow III
• Edits at small publications, many Web sites:
--Single editor does everything.
--Sometimes reporters compose packages
before any edits.
--Two fewer edit levels than industry standard.
--Dangerous unless reporters highly reliable!
Work Flow Summary
•Traditional print:
Assignment editor=>slot editor=>copy
editor=>clearing editor=>proofreader
•Coming trend:
Assignment editor=>template=>clearing editor
or “post” editor
•Added duties: Web and print, SEO, metadata,
social media.