Taking this course has been very helpful to me, and has helped me proofread my own work. I've learned the importance of reading and rereading my own work, checking for errors and checking my sources.
Editing for the web is different than editing for hardcopy. Things like bullets and lists break up text and allow greater ease for reading. Headlines are less creative but more precise, allowing users to know exactly what they're reading.
Accuracy in copy is absolutely imperative. While errors are common in the first daft, they should be corrected as soon as possible. Having mistakes in copy makes the news agency and the reporter look very incompetent.
Fact checking is also just as important. Misquoting and getting sources names wrong only causes problems for every involved.
Accuracy IS an absolute imperative when acting as a journalist. Well done! Also the mug is pretty much the greatest journalism mug I have ever seen, also perhaps the only journalism mug I have ever seen... Awesome!!
ReplyDeleteI agree that learning the importance of fact checking has been vital and that checking for errors and validating sources were crucial points addressed in this course.
ReplyDeleteExcellent choice of image!
It's good you mentioned the difference between editing online content versus print content. The medium journalists work with largely effects the way they write and edit copy. Publishing online news is much different than in print, although many major newspapers still haven't caught on.
ReplyDeleteMy only concern is the second sentence of the first paragraph.
The mug is a pretty big deal.