Copy-Editing Job Description
Spring Semester 2009
Copy editors are responsible for ensuring the overall lack of errors in the paper. This involves both copy editing articles and copy editing page layout (what the paper looks like before it goes to press). The position requires a careful eye and close attention to detail, as well as knowledge of AP style and basic grammar rules. Typical work of a copy editor is done Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, the days before the paper goes to press.
Responsibilities of the copy editor may involve:
Fact checking: Making sure names, titles, and years are accurate and spelt correctly; in addition, may involve checking to make sure that there are no gaping factual inaccuracies in other aspects of the articles.
Basic grammar & punctuation: Editing articles for general mechanical mistakes/errors
Writing style: Editing articles to make them follow journalistic writing style, especially in terms of using quotes, using tenses, dividing paragraphs, etc.
AP style and rules: Making sure articles adhere to the rules of the Associated Press Stylebook. This includes things such aspects as special rules for AP phrases (Web site, Fund-raiser), dates, numbers, titles, headlines, etc.
Layout: Making sure that the paper, when it is laid out by the production team, contains no errors. Examples: ensuring no text carries off the page, that dates and page numbers are accurate, that headlines are full and complete; that “jumps” (continued to page X, continued from page X) are correct, that photos have borders and captions, etc.
Copy Editing Application
Name:
Graduating year:
Mobile phone number:
E-mail address:
- Consider the list of underlined responsibilities above. Which specialty or specialties most interest you? With training, which do you think you would excel at? Which would be more difficult for you?
- What activities do you plan on being involved in for the coming semester? How much of a time commitment do you expect these to be?
- Why do you want to be a copy editor?
- Considering the job description, what makes you qualified for this position?
- What experience do you have working on a publication before?
- Are you presently familiar with AP style?
Please make grammar and AP corrections to the attached article.. Submit your application and corrections to and .
Headline: Man-eating Tiger attacks on the Freshman dorm Jewett and Prentiss
Last Fri., November seventeenth, 2008 a maneating tiger attacked the freshman dorm Jewitt. The tigers where suspected as the result of poor Zoo maintenance, careless residents, and the scattering of Tiger food across the ground.
Whitman Student Mike Sado saw 3 tigers outside his room. “They were really scary,” Mike said, “and I didn’t like them.” Mike ran away from the tigers in shameless fear.
Other people were as scared as Mike was too, even though the ferocious tigers were teethless.
“I almost pooped my pants when I saw the tiger coming.” said Canadian Student Andrew Witherspoon. Andrew has lived in the US since 2 years ago.
Andrew was the first one to be alerted to the tigers’ presence. Late on Friday he sent an Email to the list-serve, directing people to his website to look at photos junior Brett Axelrod — a photography guru -- took showing the tigers impending attack.
The men’s and girl’s soccer teams came to the rescue, sheparding the tigers into the hands of the police who showed up to the scene of the crime.
The Whitman President George Bridges said: “We are going to relocate this tiger to the circus. But an animal—friendly circus that treats animals good.”
For more information and to contribute to the tiger fundraiser see