Copyeditors have many tasks that they must perform in order to maintain the image and reputation of the publication. They must make sure there are no spelling or grammatical errors in a reporters articles. They must check the facts of an article. They must ensure that the article is accurate, relevant, and timely. They must properly attribute the facts in order to avoid libel. They must possess certain traits and skills such as intelligence, the ability to write, objectivity, confidence, reliability, and a sense of humour. The internet has changed the face of journalism. As a result, several papers, including some famous names, have had to adapt and evolve to meet consumer demand. The editing process is a large, hierarchically organized process. Reporters have to answer to copy editors, who report to people above them, who report to people above them and on and on until the publishers.
Our Response:
Chapter One does a fairly good job of representing what being a journalist in this new media era. We thought that some of the skills mentioned in the text book were not really necessary, such as intelligence and confidence. One could argue those skills would help any profession and it is redundant to state them. We feel that with the online outlet it is much easier to fact check which lends credibility to stories. We, as the public, are much more able to do fact-checking ourselves. Because "typesetters and proofreaders often no longer exist as a final check to prevent publication errors," editors must be that much more diligent.
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