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?

Why?What arethe consequences?

What’s the context? 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.