Copy editing, skeptical editing

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Copy Editing: Copy Editing: When Stories Fall Short When Stories Fall Short Practicing Skepticism; Practicing Skepticism; Story Framing Story Framing Warren Watson Warren Watson Arizona State University Arizona State University 2012 2012

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Transcript of Copy editing, skeptical editing

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Copy Editing:Copy Editing:When Stories Fall ShortWhen Stories Fall Short

Practicing Skepticism; Story FramingPracticing Skepticism; Story Framing

Warren WatsonWarren WatsonArizona State UniversityArizona State University

20122012

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Communication Is Our Business,Communication Is Our Business,But Sometimes It Just Goes But Sometimes It Just Goes

Terribly Wrong!Terribly Wrong!

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What We Know About All ReadersWhat We Know About All Readers• Readers make connectionsReaders make connections

• --They relate events to their own experience--They relate events to their own experience

• Readers want contextReaders want context• -- So what? Who cares? I don’t understand.-- So what? Who cares? I don’t understand.

• Readers are intelligentReaders are intelligent• -- No need to dumb down-- No need to dumb down

• Readers appreciate news in various formsReaders appreciate news in various forms• -- Stories, photos, graphics, lists, charts-- Stories, photos, graphics, lists, charts

• Readers read!Readers read!• -- They will make the time if it’s worth it-- They will make the time if it’s worth it

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Reporting and Writing ProcessReporting and Writing Process

• Focus: every story should have one main Focus: every story should have one main idea to which all other ideas relate.idea to which all other ideas relate.

• Elements of good writing:Elements of good writing:• --- Dialogue--- Dialogue• --- Background--- Background• --- Observation--- Observation• --- Description--- Description

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The Six-Step Writing ProcessThe Six-Step Writing Process

• Generate ideaGenerate idea• CollectCollect• OrganizeOrganize• FocusFocus• ReviseRevise• RewriteRewrite A story can go awry at any step!!!A story can go awry at any step!!!

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Reducing the Chance That Reducing the Chance That Stories Won’t Meet the MarkStories Won’t Meet the Mark

Writing teacher Jane Harrigan of the University Writing teacher Jane Harrigan of the University of New Hampshire lists six essential questions of New Hampshire lists six essential questions that every reporter should ask before completing that every reporter should ask before completing and handing in a story:and handing in a story:

1) Who said so? Who else should know about 1) Who said so? Who else should know about this? Who is affected by this? Who cares?this? Who is affected by this? Who cares?

more more

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Key QuestionsKey Questions

2) What is the news? What input will it 2) What is the news? What input will it have? What’s the point? What else do have? What’s the point? What else do readers want to know?readers want to know?

3) When did people say these things? When 3) When did people say these things? When will the impact be felt? When should we do will the impact be felt? When should we do a followup?a followup? MoreMore

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Key QuestionsKey Questions

4) Where is the focus of the story? Where is 4) Where is the focus of the story? Where is the information to support the lead?the information to support the lead?

5) Why are we writing about this? Why 5) Why are we writing about this? Why should readers care?should readers care?

6) How do I know this is accurate? How 6) How do I know this is accurate? How can the information be confirmed?can the information be confirmed?

--- From Harrigan’s “The Editorial Eye”--- From Harrigan’s “The Editorial Eye”

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Logic and FormLogic and Form

• We also need to focus on the forest, We also need to focus on the forest, not just the trees.not just the trees.

• The big picture in stories.The big picture in stories.• Does a piece make sense?Does a piece make sense?• Does a delayed lead work?Does a delayed lead work?• Is there sufficient context?Is there sufficient context?• How much background is enough?How much background is enough?

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BackgroundBackground

• What background is essential depends to a What background is essential depends to a degree on the readership and section the story degree on the readership and section the story will appear.will appear.

• News is more critical.News is more critical.• Sports and entertainment often assume some Sports and entertainment often assume some

level of knowledge and can be less formal.level of knowledge and can be less formal.• But reporters sometimes get too close to a But reporters sometimes get too close to a

subject. subject.

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Skeptical Editing: Skeptical Editing: Prosecuting the StoryProsecuting the Story

““Sometimes it takes a fiasco or two to remind Sometimes it takes a fiasco or two to remind us that skepticism is a big part of the editing us that skepticism is a big part of the editing function. It’s our job to challenge function. It’s our job to challenge information reporters bring back to the information reporters bring back to the newspaper, and to question conclusions newspaper, and to question conclusions drawn from that informationdrawn from that information.”.”

--- Reid MacCluggage, former APME president--- Reid MacCluggage, former APME president

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‘‘Cross-examine the story’Cross-examine the story’

““Put the story in the witness stand and Put the story in the witness stand and cross-examine it. Tear it apart. Expose cross-examine it. Tear it apart. Expose its weaknesses. Raise all the its weaknesses. Raise all the unanswered questions. Cast doubt on it unanswered questions. Cast doubt on it … Stories don’t need advocates. What … Stories don’t need advocates. What stories need are adversariesstories need are adversaries.”.”

---Lou Boccardi, The AP---Lou Boccardi, The AP

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Tips for Prosecuting the StoryTips for Prosecuting the Story

• Are you looking at the totality of the Are you looking at the totality of the story for completeness, fairness?story for completeness, fairness?

• Guarantee accuracy, and truthfulnessGuarantee accuracy, and truthfulness

• Avoid zealot-like behavior: can you Avoid zealot-like behavior: can you argue both sides of the story?argue both sides of the story?

• Answer your inner voice -- it always Answer your inner voice -- it always speaks when you try to cut corners.speaks when you try to cut corners.

• Watch the use of statisticsWatch the use of statistics

• Get fresh eyes to look at a story.Get fresh eyes to look at a story.

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More Prosecuting TipsMore Prosecuting Tips

• Watch the use of statistics – it’s easy to Watch the use of statistics – it’s easy to manipulate them to make a point.manipulate them to make a point.

• Get fresh eyes to look at a story.Get fresh eyes to look at a story.

• Consider the previously unthinkable -- Consider the previously unthinkable -- be as innovative in being fair as in be as innovative in being fair as in getting the information itself.getting the information itself.

• If a story seems to good to be true, it If a story seems to good to be true, it probably isn’t.probably isn’t.

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Finding Winning Ideas:Finding Winning Ideas:NPR’sNPR’s Technique Technique

•• The National Public Radio approach:The National Public Radio approach:** Think a story forward:Think a story forward:

** What’s coming up next?What’s coming up next?

** Think a story backwardThink a story backward** What’s at the root of the issue?What’s at the root of the issue?

** Think a story outwardThink a story outward** How have others dealt with the issue?How have others dealt with the issue?

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What Copy Editors Should AskWhat Copy Editors Should Ask

•• Is story grammatical?Is story grammatical?

•• Words spelled right?Words spelled right?

•• Do numbers add up?Do numbers add up?

•• Names, titles correct?Names, titles correct?

•• Proper style used?Proper style used?

•• Things complete?Things complete?

•• Have we used theHave we used thecorrect lead?correct lead?

•• Is story organized?Is story organized?

•• Is it objective?Is it objective?

•• Is it fair?Is it fair?

•• Is it clear?Is it clear?

•• Is it concise?Is it concise?

•• Have quotes added toHave quotes added tothe meaning?the meaning?

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Editor’s Role: Clarifying the StoryEditor’s Role: Clarifying the Story

• Copy editors handle 4 major tasksCopy editors handle 4 major tasks::* To improve storiesTo improve stories* To prepare material for publicationTo prepare material for publication* To write headlines, captionsTo write headlines, captions* To answer 3 questions about each story:To answer 3 questions about each story:

» So what!So what!

» Says who!Says who!

» What does it mean!?What does it mean!?

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Self-Editing ChecklistSelf-Editing Checklist

• Does your story have a clear Does your story have a clear focus? focus?

• Is your lead supported by Is your lead supported by your material?your material?

• Have you given enough Have you given enough background?background?

• Check for accuracy in these Check for accuracy in these areas: math, names, areas: math, names, spelling, dates, timespelling, dates, time

• Check for proper grammarCheck for proper grammar

• Proper punctuation?Proper punctuation?

• Check for AP and local styleCheck for AP and local style

• Check for wordiness and Check for wordiness and usage problems: usage problems: redundancies, misused words redundancies, misused words and phrasesand phrases

• Are your sentences too long? Are your sentences too long?

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And the Big Three!And the Big Three!

• So What?!So What?!• What if?What if?• What does it mean?What does it mean?

A strong nut or context paragraph usually A strong nut or context paragraph usually addresses these three points.addresses these three points.

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Tragedy in Colorado SpringsTragedy in Colorado Springs

An exercise in journalistic empathy….An exercise in journalistic empathy….

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Story FramingStory Framing

• How stories are shaped, their point of viewHow stories are shaped, their point of view• Conflict often overused; in the real world, not all Conflict often overused; in the real world, not all

events are contests, with winners and losersevents are contests, with winners and losers• Watch out for the dispassionate observer frameWatch out for the dispassionate observer frame• Choosing a frame for any story is the most Choosing a frame for any story is the most

powerful decision a journalist can makepowerful decision a journalist can make

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A A Reframed Reframed Approach to the StoryApproach to the Story

The following is another version of the re-The following is another version of the re-framed story, suggested by two editors fromframed story, suggested by two editors fromThe Los Angeles TimesThe Los Angeles Times

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“They were the best of friends. Amy and“They were the best of friends. Amy andAmanda, an athlete and an honor student.Amanda, an athlete and an honor student.

“They spent their weekends and“They spent their weekends andweeknights together. Sunday morning, they diedweeknights together. Sunday morning, they diedtogether.together.

“It was the second fatal traffic accident to“It was the second fatal traffic accident totake the lives of Falcon High School students sotake the lives of Falcon High School students sofar this year.far this year.

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“State Patrol officers say they do not know“State Patrol officers say they do not knowwhere 17-year-old Amy where 17-year-old Amy FournierFournier and 16-year-old and 16-year-oldAmanda Amanda BrockmanBrockman, both juniors, were headed as, both juniors, were headed asFournier Fournier drove her 1984 Chevrolet drove her 1984 Chevrolet Chevette Chevette northnorthon Curtis Road just before noon Sunday.on Curtis Road just before noon Sunday.

“They do know the “They do know the Chevette Chevette ran a stop signran a stop signand was struck on the right by a westbound 1993and was struck on the right by a westbound 1993GMC Jimmy, driven by Duncan R. GMC Jimmy, driven by Duncan R. PelhamPelham, 37, of, 37, ofPeytonPeyton..

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