The document discusses the basics of copyediting and provides guidelines for editors. It explains that copyediting involves fact-checking, grammar editing, formatting stories consistently, and using standard symbols. The responsibilities of a copy editor include using a pencil for edits, typing "-30-" at story ends, and preparing headlines to summarize stories in a concise manner. Proper headline writing follows specific rules around grammar, style, and vocabulary to effectively communicate to readers.
3. It is the art of arranging,
correcting, and selecting
the quality and type of
news
It is also called
copyediting.
One who edits copies is
called a copyreader or
copyeditor
What is Copyreading?
2014 DIVISION SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE
4. Edits errors on grammar
(spelling, tenses,
agreement, etc.)
Edits errors of fact
(accuracy check)
Edits verbose copy
Deletes opinion or slant
and libelous statements
Writes the headline
Responsibilities of a Copy Editor
2014 DIVISION SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE
5. Type an end sign, “-30-” at the
end of each story
Always use a pencil to edit
copy, never a pen
Writers and editors use
standard copyreading marks
to make corrections
Proofreaders and typesetters
use standard proofreading
symbols
Copy Preparation Guidelines
2014 DIVISION SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE
15. Principles of Headline
A headline summarizes the story
Headlines help organize the news for readers
Headlines package feature and in-depth stories
The headline sells the story to the readers
Headlines prioritize the news for readers
Headlines reflect the style and personality of the
newspaper
2014 DIVISION SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE
16. Headline Writing Rules
Use the same headline style throughout the newspaper
Use downstyle in writing headlines (also called ”sentence
headline” style)
Use upstyle in writing headlines
Headlines should be written so they fit uniformly, usually from
column edge to column edge
Each line of a head should express a complete thought
The primary headline should contain the most important information
from the story
Word economy is the key to successful headline writing
Don’t use names in headlines unless a person is being recognized
for an achievement or the person is well-known
Use active voice and strong, colorful nouns and verbs in headlines
2014 DIVISION SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE
17. Headline Grammar
Put an action verb, expressed or
implied, in every headline
Do not begin with a verb,
preposition, article or conjunction
Avoid the verb form to be
Use present tense verbs in writing
headlines describing past events
Use future tense verbs to write
headlines about future events
Use numbers in headlines only if
they are important
Do not abbreviate days of the week
in headlines
Abbreviate the month only when a
specific date follows it
Don’t use articles of speech (a, an,
the) in headlines unless the words
are part of a title
Substitute a comma for the
conjunction and
Use single quote marks in place of
double quote marks in a headline
Don’t split a verb phrase
Don’t split a preposition and its
object
Don’t separate an adjective and the
noun it modifies
Don’t split names that belong
together
Use the active voice
Use abbreviations only if they are
well-known
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18. Headline Formats
1. Banner or crossline This is a large one-line headline that goes across three,
four, five or six columns
2. Boxed headline Boxed heads are two picas shorter than regular headlines
3. Deck A deck is a second headline for the same story
4. Hammer Hammers are twice the point size and half as long as the
main headline
5. Kicker Kickers are half the point size and half as long as the main
headline
6. Slammer A combination of a bold kicker and a cross line head on
the same line separated by a slash or a colon and set in
the same size of type
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19. Headline Vocabulary
Faculty club strengthened (beefed up)
Enrolment decreases (dips)
Science Examinations announced (quiz, bared)
Contests highlight Animal Week (cap)
President Aquino urges for cooperation (bats for, calls for)
DepEd Secretary disapproves tuition fee increase (bucks, hike)
Nationalism a necessity in education (vital cog)
Principal praises Pepito’s humility (lauds, extols)
Navarro keynote speaker at YMCA conference ( keynotes YMCA confab)
Local staff dominates press title (rules, lords over)
Student writers prepare for journalism contest (scribes hone up for Press
tilt)
‘My Little Bossing’ to be shown in January ( booked for)
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21. Basics
Always use a pencil to edit copy, never a pen
Writers and editors use standard copyreading marks
In calendars, list the day and date followed by an em dash
— then the event, place, time and cost (if any)
Verify the spelling of all names
Verify all facts with at least two sources
Verify all facts with at least two sources
All opinion is based on fact
Write in third person
Read the story at least three times
2014 DIVISION SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE
22. Spelling
Journalistic style
Sentence structure
Grammar
Punctuation
Concise wording
Lack of repetition
Precise wording
Quotes accurately attributed,
punctuated
Opinion quotes attributed to source
Read the Story for Mechanics
2014 DIVISION SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE
23. Writing Straight News Leads
A straight news lead should be a single paragraph consisting of a
single sentence, should contain no more than 30 words, and should
summarize, at minimum, the most newsworthy "what," "where" and
"when" of the story.
Example: "Fire destroyed a house on Main Street early Monday
morning.“
• The lead's first verb should express the main "what" of the story and
should be placed among the lead's first seven words
• The lead's first verb -- the same one that expresses the main "what" of
the story -- should be active voice, not passive voice.
• If there's a "who" involved in the story, the lead should give some
indication of who the "who" is.
Example: "An elderly Murfreesboro man died Monday when an early
morning fire raged through his Main Street home."
2014 DIVISION SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE
24. Writing Straight News Leads
The lead should summarize the "why" and "how" of the
story, but only if there's room
Example: "An elderly Murfreesboro man died early Monday
morning when fire sparked by faulty wiring raged through
his Main Street home.“
If what's in the lead needs to be attributed, place the
attribution at the end of the lead
Example: "Faulty wiring most likely sparked the blaze that
claimed the life of an elderly Murfreesboro man last week,
the city's arson investigator concluded Monday."
2014 DIVISION SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE
25. Various Types of News Structure
1. Straight News Story It has a summary lead which answers the most important
W’s depending on which the W’s is the most prominent
among them
2. News-Feature Story It is classified as news since it is gathered and written daily
by reporters as their regular assignment.
3. Fact Story Is a plain exposition of a simple situation or of a series of
closely related events which conform to inverted pyramid
design.
4. Action Story A narrative involving not merely facts, but dramatic actions
– incidents, descriptions of person, perhaps testimonials of
witnesses as well as explanatory data.
5. Speech report,
quote, and interview
Stories
The arrangement of a speech report, a quote story, and of
an interview are to a great extent similar.
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26. Transition/Quote Formula
Direct Quotes:
Should be linked to the paragraph before
them
Should not repeat the transition/lead before
them
Should have attribution after the first
sentence of the quote
Can be longer than one sentence
Direct Quotes:
Should be linked to the paragraph before
them
Should not repeat the transition/lead before
them
Should have attribution after the first
sentence of the quote
Can be longer than one sentence
Transitions:
Hold the story together
Can be fact, indirect quote or a partial quote
Use transitional words to help with the flow
(as needed): After all, Also, Finally, In addition,
However, Otherwise, Then
Use parts of the direct quotes to create the
transition
Transitions:
Hold the story together
Can be fact, indirect quote or a partial quote
Use transitional words to help with the flow
(as needed): After all, Also, Finally, In addition,
However, Otherwise, Then
Use parts of the direct quotes to create the
transition
and so on!!! until the story is complete!Example
27. Example of T/Q Formula
(Lead) President Barack Obama will speak on Friday to seniors about
getting involved in community service work.
(Direct Quote) “Seniors will learn a lot about duty and commitment when
they hear President Obama,” Principal Ike Sumter said. “We are
so excited that he agreed to come.”
(Fact Transition) Before becoming president, Obama worked as a
community organizer in Chicago.
(Direct Quote) “Our nation was built from the givers, and the doers,” he
said. “To keep this nation moving forward, we need more giving
and less taking.”
(PQ Transition) President Obama said he believes community service is
“extremely valuable lesson” for every teen to have.
(IQ Transition) He also said he believes community service is vital for
America’s success.
28. Straight News Story
1. Straight News
Story
Elaboration of a W
Elaboration of a W
Elaboration of a W
Further
Elaboration
Summary Lead
2014 DIVISION SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE