Post on 21-Apr-2015
Online Copyediting
Online Copyediting
Introduction
Online Copyediting
• Copy-editing is the process of preparing a document for publication.
• It covers the structure, organization and writing style of the text, as well as legal issues.
• In a digital world we need copy editors as ethics
gatekeepers and guardians.
Data Smog
• Data smog is information with which we are
overloaded on internet everyday.
• There is awful lot of smog on the web like junk
emails, unsolicited emails, endless advertisements.
Proof-reading
• Proof-reading is a separate activity from copy editing
and should always be done afterwards as part of a
final check that the text is in good order.
What does a copy-editor do?
• Copy editors are usually responsible for a number of matters in print and online media like
o Fixing spellings
o Grammar
o Style errors
o Factual errors
o Content errors
o Technical and legal isssues
o As well as writing headlines, choosing articles and arranging layout.
Skills Needed for Copyeditors
• Rules of language
• Journalist is a generalist
• Wide range of knowledge
• Double check fact
• Quickly search web to verify information
• Consistency
• Accuracy
Online Copyediting
A Few General Pointers
A Few General Pointers for online copyediting
• Whether online or offline, copy editor's job is not
only proof-reading but also checking content for
errors.
Mechanical Errors
• Grammar, spelling and punctuation mistakes
• In many cases mechanical errors are the consequence
of quick writing where the focus is on the content
rather than the form.
General Rules and Tips
• Read each story twice
First: to remove mechanical and link text errors Read at the speed of your eyes, not your brain
Second: to catch anything incorrect or misleading
within the content
General Rules and Tips
• Read the copy aloud.
• To assure that you read every line is to slide
blank sheet of paper down the page.
• Read from the last sentence to the first – sentences should flow logically together in either direction.
• Get a print out to read.
• Placed the article on web page
Mechanics
• Make sure subject and verb agree
“The bill with five amendments were ratified by the
assembly.” – WRONG!
• Watch out for they and it
“IBM announced that their third-quarter profits held
secretly.” – WRONG!
Mechanics
• Watch out for that vs. which
“The trail which followed captured the public’s
attention.” – WRONG!
“The verdict, which caused endless speculation, came
Friday.” – RIGHT!
• First references
• Courtesy titles
Content
• Does the lead misguide the reader?
• Double and triple check headlines
• Do numbers in the story add up?
• Double check the facts and figures
• Don’t convict a suspect
• Correct legal status like “charged in the death of…”, “on
trail for the theft of….” etc
Web-specific Items
• Double check links
• Scan URLs to identify anything questionable for
instance, a story is about GEO TV and link says www.jeo.com
• Check all the extensions of multimedia links
• Check all the supporting items Headlines, links, tables, photo caption, sidebars, videos
Online Copyediting
The Spell-Check problem
Headlines
The Spell-Check Problem
• Spell-check function if not used with sharp senses
can cause problems
• Spell-check function can have bad effects on students
and journalists too
• Too much reliance on technology
• Job of copy desk editor has become more difficult
The Spell-Check Problem
• Spell check function works two ways
• It can ignore incorrect spellings
• Use of word processing programs
Headlines
• Primary goal of headline
• Headline in print news
• Headline in online medium
Guidelines to follow when writing
headline:
• The main objective should be to get the gist of your
story across as completely as possible.
• Summarize the most important points.
• It should force the reader to look at the story.
Online Copyediting
Cutline
Style
What is caption?
• Caption is a brief description of photograph
• Needs to describe that what is going on.
• Photographs can be the headlines.
• Caption should match the tone of the photo.
Cutline
• What is cutline?
• One should aim to write cutline in active voice
• Cutline should match the tone of the story.
Style
• Journalists mainly follow AP style – Associated press
style.
• News organizations can have their own style
• AP style doesn’t really go with web because of the
advent of new terms like hacking, DOS attacks etc
• Style is a body language of text
• Understandable font style should be used
Online Copyediting
CONCLUSION
Thank you!