Below is a worksheet that I had to fill out for my copy editing class. It is mostly based around how editors have to be able to check reporter's numbers. It is a very important skill to be able to check the numbers of your reporters. You readers will be looking at this and most of the time they will not check it for themselves, but will talk about the numbers to other people. The more people that know, the more likely someone else will check the numbers and if you are wrong then it could be a big problem. Any time that the newspaper is wrong it makes it lose credibility.
1. The most important factor in the relationship between media and consumers is credibility.
2. What do editors do? Editors are fact-checkers and perform grammar checks on articles that the reporters write.
3. Diagram the flow of copy from the reporter through the copy-desk chief.
Reporter --> City Editor --> Copy desk chief --> Copy Editor --> Copy desk chief
4. List the segments of the three-step editing process.
1-Read the article thoroughly. 2-Edit the article thoroughly. 3-Read the article again.
5. What are the three R's of copy editing?
Reader-centered, readable and right.
6. What is the difference between proof-reading and copy editing?
When you are proof-reading, you basically just read over the article and do little, if any, copy
editing. Copy editing is when you actually make the editing changes in grammar and
structure. You may do a very limited amount of re-writing in the copy editing process as well.
7. What is the difference between macro editing and micro editing?
Macro editing takes a look at the big picture of the article. You make sure it makes sense and
that it sound coherent overall. Micro editing is more concerned with the details of the
article. These things include grammar and punctuation.
8. Huntington City Council on Monday approved $435,000 for road repairs in the central city. The
city's 2008 budget for repairs was $410,000.
a. Did the budget for repairs increase or decrease? Increase
b. What was the percentage of increase or decrease? (25,000/410,000)=6%
c. Last year's budget was what percentage of this year's? (410,000/435,000)=94%
d. This year's budget is what percentage of last year's? 106%
9. Mayor Bart Jones announced more bad news. The city plans to spend $5.25 million on bridge
repairs, a cut of 35 percent from its $6.5 million budget.
10. These were the scores on a test in JMC 305: 100, 98, 95, 93, 93, 90, 88, 87, 87, 86, 85, 85, 84, 70.
What is the mean score? 88.64%
What is the median score? 88%
11. These were the scores on a test in JMC360: 100, 98, 95, 93, 93, 90, 88, 87, 87, 86, 85, 85, 84.
What is the mean score? 90.07%
What is the median score? 88%
12. What would the sales tax be on a purchase of $7.80 if the state charges a 6 percent sales tax?
7.80 x 0.06 = .468
This means that the sales tax would be $0.47.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
The future of journalism
As more people turn to the internet to get their news, it has become important for journalists to learn the skills needed to succeed in a technologically advanced workplace.
No longer do reporters and copy editors only need to know the ins and outs of writing, editing and producing a newspaper; they need to be able to put all of their articles and photos on the Web in a timely manner while still making it look professional.
According to a study conducted by by C. Max Magee, copy editors and online journalists are very similar these days. While there may be trouble in the newspaper industry, those of us that are well prepared have nothing to worry about.
New skills such as learning programs like Adobe Photoshop and Dreamweaver have become priceless for journalists. We are not just reporters these days. There are many times when we are asked to write the article, take the pictures, edit the pictures and upload them to the newspaper's Web site. Journalists can no longer rely only on their skill as a reporter.
As someone who has always been interested in graphic design and video, this new style of journalism is very exciting for me. It makes me happy to know that all of these extra skills that I have taken the time to learn will benefit me in the future.
Further reading:
Online journalist looks a lot like a copy editor
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
The art of editing
Below is a baseball article that I was required to edit for class. For the most part, I feel like I am a decent copy editor. The main thing that worried me about this assignment was the fact that it was a sports article. I have never written more than one sports story in my life and this was the very first one that I have edited. The fact that I am not a big sports fan had its effect on how I edited the article. I had to look up the correct way to list all of the statistics and check in on the name of the baseball coach and things of that nature. I guess the moral of the story is that I need more practice editing sports articles so that I can become more acquainted with that style.
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The Marshall University baseball team possesses something that can possibly help the program stay successful for years to come.
Thundering Herd head baseball coach Jeff Waggoner said what he believes to be the key to the team’s future success is simply freshmen talents.
“We have some good, young players that will continue to get better and better,” Waggoner said. “As a freshman, to get playing time is so valuable. We have a lot of young guys that are playing right now and that will help us be a great program for a long time.”
Last season Waggoner utilized the skills of Victor Gomez as the team’s designated hitter. As a freshman, Gomez recorded a .358 batting average, 34 runs, 77 hits, 11 home runs and had 47 RBIs in 215 plate appearances.
Because Gomez has continued to show significant improvement at the plate and has also been able to contribute defensively during his sophomore season, Waggoner has inserted another freshman into the designated hitter role Gomez previously occupied. That player has been Thor Meeks, a freshman slugger from Hurricane, WV.
So far this season Meeks has recorded a .248 batting average, 18 runs, 28 hits, 7 home runs and has 24 RBIs in 113 plate appearances. Meeks’ numbers have declined slightly over the past few games, but Waggoner said it’s fairly common among freshmen.
“Gomez went through the same thing last year where he went through some tough times and he fought through it,” Waggoner said. They’re both great players and great hitters. I look for great things out of both of them and I think their work ethic will get them there.”
Not only are the two comparable statistically, but their physical characteristics also bear an eerie resemblance. Both have dark hair and stand 6 feet 1 inch tall. Gomez weighs in at 230 pounds, while Meeks trails slightly at 226.
“Well, I’m a better hitter than (Meeks) is, he has more power,” Gomez said. “I can see how he reminds everyone of me last year because we pretty much had the same roll on the team. We have the same approach at the plate and we both try to do things to help the team win.”
Meeks said he welcomes the comparisons.
Gomez said it is always good when a freshman comes in and has a big impact.
“He’s been a solid part of the middle of the lineup and he’s been there all year,” Gomez said. “He’s been helping me and Nate (Lape) get good pitches to hit, and that’s an important thing. He has a lot of upsides and that’s what you look for in a freshman.”
The Herd will take on conference opponent Houston in a three-game series at Appalachian Power Park this weekend. First pitch is scheduled for Friday at 7p.m.
Jonas Swecker can be contacted at jswecker@marshall.edu.
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The Marshall University baseball team possesses something that can possibly help the program stay successful for years to come.
Thundering Herd head baseball coach Jeff Waggoner said what he believes to be the key to the team’s future success is simply freshmen talents.
“We have some good, young players that will continue to get better and better,” Waggoner said. “As a freshman, to get playing time is so valuable. We have a lot of young guys that are playing right now and that will help us be a great program for a long time.”
Last season Waggoner utilized the skills of Victor Gomez as the team’s designated hitter. As a freshman, Gomez recorded a .358 batting average, 34 runs, 77 hits, 11 home runs and had 47 RBIs in 215 plate appearances.
Because Gomez has continued to show significant improvement at the plate and has also been able to contribute defensively during his sophomore season, Waggoner has inserted another freshman into the designated hitter role Gomez previously occupied. That player has been Thor Meeks, a freshman slugger from Hurricane, WV.
So far this season Meeks has recorded a .248 batting average, 18 runs, 28 hits, 7 home runs and has 24 RBIs in 113 plate appearances. Meeks’ numbers have declined slightly over the past few games, but Waggoner said it’s fairly common among freshmen.
“Gomez went through the same thing last year where he went through some tough times and he fought through it,” Waggoner said. They’re both great players and great hitters. I look for great things out of both of them and I think their work ethic will get them there.”
Not only are the two comparable statistically, but their physical characteristics also bear an eerie resemblance. Both have dark hair and stand 6 feet 1 inch tall. Gomez weighs in at 230 pounds, while Meeks trails slightly at 226.
“Well, I’m a better hitter than (Meeks) is, he has more power,” Gomez said. “I can see how he reminds everyone of me last year because we pretty much had the same roll on the team. We have the same approach at the plate and we both try to do things to help the team win.”
Meeks said he welcomes the comparisons.
Gomez said it is always good when a freshman comes in and has a big impact.
“He’s been a solid part of the middle of the lineup and he’s been there all year,” Gomez said. “He’s been helping me and Nate (Lape) get good pitches to hit, and that’s an important thing. He has a lot of upsides and that’s what you look for in a freshman.”
The Herd will take on conference opponent Houston in a three-game series at Appalachian Power Park this weekend. First pitch is scheduled for Friday at 7p.m.
Jonas Swecker can be contacted at jswecker@marshall.edu.
