Copyediting Online: Whats the Same Whats Different

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Copyediting Online Whats the Same?
Whats Different?

• Nora Paul
• Director, Institute for New Media Studies
• University of Minnesota
• npaul_at_umn.edu

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BUT.
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differences exist.

• Some rules are different
• Some AP and print style rules dont work online.
  Sentences and paragraphs have to be kept a lot
  shorter. If the writers dont do it, the copy
  editors have to step in.
• There are some style variances from print to
  account for worldwide readership (we have to be
  sensitive to datelines, time zones, etc.)
• Headlines have different rules online than in
  print
• Style is different
• Our standards for grammar, punctuation and syntax
  are generally the same but the process is not.
  We do believe in creating a different style and
  have been working on delineating what that should
  be.
• Headlines have different rules online than in
  print

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differences exist

• Process is different
• Style is the same, but the editing process is
  not..
• On the print side, a story gets
  written, looked at by a desk editor, then worked
  over in minute detail by a copy editor. Then it
  is checked by the managing copy editor, and gets
  final approval by the chief copy editor. Once
  laid out, it gets printed off and re-checked on
  hard copy by another copy editor for errors in
  headlines, breakers, etc.
• Online there is no formal copy editing
  staff whatsoever. In most cases an assignment /
  site editor will look at the story quickly either
  just before it is posted or, if it is a
  quick-breaking piece, immediately after it goes
  up online. But in some cases where nobody is
  available to check the copy, the person writing
  the story posts it directly once it is ready to
  go. If there is nobody available to look at it
  (due to chronic under-staffing), nobody in
  editorial buy the writer sees the story before it
  is posted.

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differences exist

• Experience level is different
• We use the same copyediting guidelines, but we
  arent nearly as familiar with them.
• Volume is different
• Since the online site has more copy and
  additional resources, there is more copy editing
  to do with online material

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• Well

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• Yes
• You bet it does!
• Yes, and most of the copy editors are veteran
  newspaper copy editors.
• Editors in the online department look at it for
  copyediting.
• Everything on the site has to clear with the slot
  or the news service copy editors.
• At the latimes.com and OJR, two places Ive
  worked, we copyedited original content as
  rigourously as print copy.
• We even do edits on our weblogs.

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• Sometimes
• Special projects undergo a copy editing procedure
  but breaking news does not
  this about breaking news not getting copyediting
  attention and material produced by non-news
  partners does not get copyedited.
• Weve got two part-time copyeditors, if they are
  available and someone remembers to ask them, then
  yes, it goes through formal copyediting.
• Sometimes, though not always. There is no copy
  desk, per se, but the team is loaded with veteran
  news people, many of whom have been copy editors
  and serve in that capacity on demand.
• Sort of
• Our copy editing is not as extensive as on the
  print side maybe one or two editors look at it
  before going live.

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• Not yet but going to
• Several people mentioned that they are planning
  to add copyedit / rewrite desks for the web for
  breaking news.
• No
• Not yet, I would like to add that to the mix, but
  it is currently read by an online producer before
  going onto the site.
• We have no formal copy editing staff. Assignment
  editors also write some of their own copy, as
  well as assigning things to writers and
  freelancers, and they are responsible for all
  copy editing and story posting duties. Due to
  story volume and workload, there is usually not
  time available to copy-edit stories so they
  sometimes get posted by the person who wrote them
  

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• Interesting comment
• We find that copy desk experience is among
  the most important in finding well-qualified
  online producers. We want the benefits of copy
  editing built-into a small operation that doesnt
  allow a dedicated desk.

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It depends
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on

• Style issues
• Sometimes cut them for length or rewrite to
  emphasize breaking news.
• Headlines are edited and summary grafs are
  sometimes rewritten from the lead paragraph of
  print stories.
• Typos / errors
• I often notice things that need to be fixed and,
  obviously, correct them.
• Time constraints
• Breaking news goes right up without any online
  editing.
• Additional material
• We add enhancements like related web sties,
  stock numbers, etc. if we have time.
• While the text was shovelware from the print
  side - we have to add promos heads and decks
  on index pages to link to top stories

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Interesting comment

• Review is more accurate than edit. Although
  our online producers have reporting, copy editing
  and assignment-editing experience, breaking news
  from the print newsroom should generally be
  changed/corrected by originating reporter/editor
  if an online review raises serious questions. At
  the same time, producers who sometimes need to
  write breaking news themselves must go through a
  review process by the best option available a
  newsroom editor when available, or another
  experienced online producer.

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Biggest copyediting issues for online

• Lack of time and staff
• Scheduling Most original copy is made during the
  day, but copy editors work at night. Trying to
  staff around the clock to match the continuous
  online news cycle is a challenge.
• Deadline pressure is double prints
• Writing promos
• Forgetting the adage Get it first, but first
  get it right.

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Biggest copyediting issue for online
Communication with print side editors

• They dont understand how online works
• Getting them to flag final version for online
• Changes made to print text but online is not told
• Culture clash online is urgent, copyeditors are
  methodical
• Set in their workflow, not available to online
• Getting print editors to give it to online now,
  not just when they get a chance

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What the next generation needs to know

• How to work like a wire service
• How to work online and in print
• How to balance speed and accuracy
• How online writing differs from print and
  broadcast
• How to edit different Web presentation forms

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PrintOnlineWhatever

• If youre good, you have a
• bright future ahead of you.
• The world will always need
• copy editors.

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