CHAPTER X

EDITING COPY

What Copy-Reading Means. All news stories, whether written by reporters, sent through the mail by correspondents, or received by telegraph or telephone, must be read and edited before they are set up in type. This work is done either by the editor in whose department the news belongs or by a copy-reader. The reading and editing of copy consists of:

(1) Correcting all errors whether in expression or in fact.

(2) Making the story conform to the so-called “style” of the newspaper.

(3) Improving the story in any respect.

(4) Eliminating libelous matter.

(5) Marking copy for the printer.

(6) Writing headlines and subheads.

The good copy-reader must be able to catch instantly, and correct quickly, errors of all kinds. Good copy, or “clean copy,” as it is called, should be free from mistakes in spelling, grammar, and rhetoric; but rapid writing too often leads to carelessness, and the copy-reader’s work is correspondingly increased by the necessity of doing what the writer has neglected to do. The correction of such errors, however, is not the most important part of his work. He must be able to detect and correct errors of fact. As every art, science, business, occupation, sport, recreation,—in short, every form of activity, is the subject of news, the copy-reader should be able to pass intelligent judgment on the accuracy of stories written about these various activities. He must also be familiar with proper names that appear in the news, such as names of prominent persons and places the world over, the titles of well-known books, plays, pictures, and musical compositions, the names of railroads and important corporations, and special trade-mark names. To no one in the newspaper office and to few outside of it, can the words of Terence more truly be applied than to the copy-reader, humani nihil a me alienum puto, “I consider nothing human to be outside of my sphere.”

Like the good reporter, the copy-reader must be an accurate judge of news values. He must be able to see the significance of the news in the story. He must be able to decide how much space it is worth. If the real point of the news has been buried by the writer, the copy-reader must get it out and give it the prominence that it deserves. The ineffective lead must be rewritten, the needless details cut out, and the parts of the story rearranged for the best effect.

To improve the style of the story, he must consider carefully the construction of paragraphs and sentences, the choice of words and figures. Each paragraph should be given an effective beginning that will catch the reader’s eye in rapid reading. Close connection should be maintained between the sentences in the paragraph. The copy-reader must transform the weak, rambling sentence into a firm, coherent statement with an emphatic beginning. For the trite, colorless word or phrase, he must substitute the fresh, picturesque one. The too figurative flights of exuberant fancy in one young reporter’s copy must be toned down, and the bald, prosaic narrative or description in another’s given life and interest. In short, the copy-reader’s work is constructive as well as critical; it is as important for him to rewrite and rearrange as to cut out and boil down.

The responsibility of determining whether or not any statements or implications of the story as written are libelous also rests upon the copy-reader. He must know the law of libel, therefore, as it is construed in his state, and must prevent violations of it in the matter that he edits. Less often he is called upon to decide whether or not anything in the news story violates laws regulating the transmission of printed matter through the mail. Whenever the copy-reader is uncertain on any important point involving the management of the newspaper, he refers the question to his superiors.

Some Common Errors. In reading copy rapidly the beginner will do well to be on the lookout for certain kinds of common errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. The quick eye of the copy-reader will catch the frequently misspelled words without difficulty, but uncommon proper names are more likely to cause trouble, and in cases of doubt, books of reference should be consulted. To prevent errors in grammar from slipping through in a story, the copy-reader should note such points as (1) the agreement of the verb with the subject, particularly when they are separated from each other by words or phrases; (2) the relation of pronouns to their antecedents; (3) the position of participles in relation to the words that they modify; (4) the use of coördinate conjunctions to connect elements of the same kind; (5) the position of correlative conjunctions with relation to the elements that they connect.

In punctuation, not infrequent errors are (1) the use of a comma instead of a semicolon to separate independent, grammatically unconnected statements; (2) the omission of apostrophes in the possessive case and in contractions; (3) the omission of a period after abbreviations; (4) the use of double instead of single quotation marks; (5) the failure to put quotation marks at the beginning of each paragraph of a continuous quotation and at the end of only the last paragraph.

Following the “Style Book.” As each newspaper has its peculiar “style,” so-called, the copy-reader must learn the rules set forth in the “style book” which his newspaper prints for the guidance of its reporters, editors, copy-readers, and compositors. These rules have to do with capitalization, abbreviation, hyphenation, punctuation, use of numerical figures, and also with the use of certain words and phrases. The form and size of each kind of headline and the number or letter by which it is to be designated in the copy, are sometimes included in the style book. Every newspaper office has its own method of designating the heads, either by number or letter, whether or not the method is printed in the style book. Almost every style book has a long or short list of “Don’ts,” which includes common errors to be avoided and frequently those words and phrases that are pet aversions of the editor-in-chief or of the managing editor.

How the Copy-Reader Works. In all this work of the copy-reader the important element is speed. Every minute is valuable in the newspaper office, and only those who can work rapidly as well as accurately can expect to hold a position long. To rearrange, to reconstruct, to correct, rather than to rewrite, and to do this quickly and skillfully, is the real work of the copy-reader. To putter over details is an inexcusable fault. The combination of speed and accuracy in a copy-reader is the ideal of the editor.

On large newspapers under the plan of having all news copy read at one desk by copy-readers under the direction of a head copy-reader, every news story goes to the head copy-reader, who, after deciding on its value, determines how much space it is worth and what size head it shall have. Before passing the story over to one of the copy-readers, the head reader gives it a catch-line, or “slugs” it, to indicate its character and to serve as a means of identification. He also indicates by means of a number the size of head to be written for it; for example, “No. 1 Wreck” indicates the name of the story and the style of head.

If the copy is being read page by page as fast as it is written rather than after the whole story is completed, the guide or catch-line may be repeated at the top of each page, thus “4 Storm,” which means that this is page 4 of the storm story. The head copy-reader also keeps a record of all copy that passes through his hands, the entries in which may be something like this, “Walters—Wreck—500—No. 1—11.15 A.M.—more,” which means that from one of the members of the staff named Walters, he received a story of a wreck that contained about 500 words; that he gave it a No. 1 head; that it went to the composing room to be set up in type at 11.15 A.M.; and that more of the story is to follow.

When the head copy-reader passes over the story to the copy-reader who is to edit it, he may give verbal directions in regard to cutting it down, “playing up” important facts buried by the writer, or improving the form or expression as he thinks best; or he may leave all these details to the discretion of the copy-reader. The latter begins to correct and improve the story as soon as he has finished the piece of work that he has in hand. It is not unusual during the rush hours when time is very valuable to send stories to the copy desk as each page is written, and as the page is edited, to send it up to the composing room to be put into type, without waiting for the complete story. Under these circumstances a copy-reader is often editing alternate pages of several entirely different stories, all the details of which he must carry in mind in order to handle them intelligently and to write a complete and accurate headline if, as is sometimes the case, this is written only after the last page of copy on the story has been read.

Use of Guide Lines. Catch-lines, such as “Society,” “State,” “Sport,” aid in assembling news that is to go on one page or in one department. When several independent stories, each with a separate head, are to be assembled so that one will follow the other, the catch-lines may indicate this thus: “Lead Convention,” “Follow Convention,” “First Follow Convention,” “Second Follow Convention,” etc. In making up a report of a state or national political convention, these catch-lines are of considerable assistance. When, on the other hand, copy is being edited that is to follow immediately upon the lead or any part of the story without a separate head, the copy is marked “Add Convention,” “First Add Convention,” “Second Add Convention,” etc.

Not infrequently after the story has gone to the composing room new facts of sufficient importance develop to warrant the writing of a new lead or of a new paragraph or two to be inserted somewhere in the story. In the case of a new lead the copy is marked “New Lead Convention,” and the copy of the inserts is marked “First Insert Convention” or “Insert A Convention.” Whenever it is known in advance that there are to be additions to the story later, the copy-reader writes “more” at the end of the piece of copy, instead of the end mark (#). If the head is not sent to the composing room with the copy, the copy is marked “Head to Come.” This is often done when it is known that important news is coming that should be embodied in the head. If this later news is to be put into the lead, the story may be sent up without a lead and with the explanation “Lead to Come.” Stories to be used in a particular edition are marked “Noon Edition,” “Market Edition,” etc. All these catch-lines should be taken out when the type is assembled in the forms in making up.

The typewritten copy of telegraph news furnished by news distributing agencies like the Associated Press and the United Press has guide lines on stories for the benefit of the editors whenever such explanatory matter is necessary. In order to keep their newspaper clients informed of the latest phases of the news, these associations send brief bulletins and “flash” statements, which they follow with more complete stories as the news develops. The first news of an accident, for example, comes as a bulletin, and later more details are furnished in one or more additions to the original bulletin or in substitution for it. The following example taken from the United Press telegraph news service illustrates how news stories, the parts of which are furnished at intervals during the day, are supplied with guide lines:

(1)

BULLETIN

Norfolk, Va., Nov. 2.—Six men have been reported injured, two probably fatally, in an explosion on the battleship Vermont, early today.

(2)

(ADD BULLETIN ... NORFOLK)

The Vermont is now in Hampton Roads and only meagre details of the reported accident were received by the navy yard here. It was understood that the explosion occurred in the boiler room of the vessel.

(3)

(SUBSTITUTE)

Norfolk, Va., Nov. 2.—In an explosion in the boiler room of the battleship Vermont last night, six men were scalded,[Pg 262] two receiving possibly fatal injuries. While the ship was cruising a short distance off the capes which form the entrance to Hampton Roads, a part of the boiler burst, filling the engine room with scalding water and steam. Captain Hughes immediately sent a wireless message to the hospital ship Solace and the wounded men were transferred at sea to that vessel, which brought them to the Norfolk hospital to-day.

The injured men are:

R. M. Wagner, fireman second class.

M. C. Horan, coal passer.

J. R. Newberry, fireman first class.

M. T. Green, fireman first class.

C. A. Hoteling, coal passer.

P. W. Cramer, coal passer.

(MORE)

(4)

(ADD ACCIDENT VERMONT ... NORFOLK)

The accident occurred while the Vermont was anchored off the southern battlefield drill grounds, where the annual fall target practice began today. The head of the boiler burst and a torrent of boiling water and steam poured out over the firemen and coal passers. Wagner and Haran (correct) who were nearest the boiler head, were the most seriously injured, both being scalded from head to foot. The hospital ship Solace asked that the navy hospital here make ready for the injured men and said that she expected to reach Norfolk this afternoon. It was reported, but without confirmation, that Haran had died of his injuries.

(5)

BULLETIN

(LEAD)

Norfolk, Va., Nov. 2.—Two men are dead and four others this afternoon lie swathed in bandages suffering terribly from scalds, as a result of a boiler explosion on the battleship Vermont early today. R. M. Wagner, a fireman, first class, and M. C. Haran, a coal passer, are the dead.

The hospital ship Solace brought the dead and wounded[Pg 263] to the naval hospital here today. The Vermont broke all her former speed records in a run

(MORE)

(6)

(ADD BULLETIN LEAD ... NORFOLK)

in a run from the southern drill grounds, outside the capes, to Hampton Roads, arriving here late this afternoon.

Wagner and Haran both died on the Solace, suffering terribly from the scalds that covered them from head to foot.

(1)

FLASH: Salem, Mass., Nov. 26.—Ettor, Giovannitti, and Caruso acquitted.

(2)

BULLETIN: SUBSTITUTE FLASH ALL

Court House, Salem, Mass., Nov. 26.—Ettor, Giovannitti and Caruso, the three labor leaders who have been on trial nearly two months charged with murder as the result of the killing of a woman striker during the textile troubles at Lawrence, were acquitted to-day

(MORE)

Sizes and Kinds of Type. Editors and copy-readers need some knowledge of type in order to do their work efficiently. The size of type is measured by the point system. The unit of measure, a point, is one seventy-second of an inch. Six-point type, accordingly, is six seventy-seconds of an inch, 10-point is ten seventy-seconds of an inch, and 36-point is thirty-six seventy-seconds, or one half, of an inch in size. Before the point system was adopted, each size of type had a name, and these names are still in common use. Thus, 5½-point type is known as agate, 6-point as nonpareil, 7-point as minion, 8-point as brevier, 9-point as bourgeois, 10-point as long primer, and 12-point as pica. Nonpareil, or 6-point, is the size commonly used by large newspapers, and minion and brevier by smaller papers.

Type is classified as body type and display type. Body type is that which is used in newspapers for all reading matter; display type is the large sizes, or “faces,” of type used in headlines and in advertising. As distinguished from the light-face body type, the heavy faces, that print blacker than the body type, are known as bold-face type (abbreviated, “b.f.”). Thus the boxed summaries and lists on pages [86]–[88] were marked to be set in 6-point bold-face type (abbreviated, “6-pt. b.f.”).

Type is further classified on the basis of the proportion of the height of the letter to its width, as extra-condensed, condensed, regular or medium, and extended. Extra-condensed and condensed faces are used in the top deck of large headlines, and medium, or regular, faces are usually used for banner heads extending across the page, as well as in underline and overline heads for cuts. As distinct from slanting or Italic type, the usual perpendicular type is called Roman.

Different kinds, or faces, of type are given names by type founders, such as “Caslon,” “Cheltenham,” “De Vinne,” “Ronaldson.” Each kind or face is generally made in different sizes, body sizes commonly ranging from 5½-point to 12-point, and display type from 8-point to 120-point.

A “font” of type of a particular size and kind consists of a complete set of letters, figures, etc., each character being furnished in numbers proportional to the frequency with which it appears in ordinary printed matter. Type is kept in shallow wooden trays, or “cases,” divided into compartments, or “boxes,” one for each character. Capital letters (abbreviated “caps.”) are often called “upper case,” and small letters are always known as “lower case” (abbreviated “l. c.”), because the capital letters are in the upper of the two type cases and the small letters in the lower one.

The amount of type set is measured by the number of “ems” (from the letter “M”). An “em” is a square of a given size of type; i.e., an em in 8-point type is eight seventy-seconds of an inch square. The standard unit of measure for type matter is usually the 12-point, or pica, em. A column of a newspaper that is thirteen ems wide, therefore, is thirteen 12-point ems, or thirteen picas, in width; i.e., it is one hundred and fifty-six seventy-seconds of an inch, or two and one sixth inches wide. Advertising space is measured by the so-called “agate line,” on the basis of fourteen agate lines to one inch.

In setting type by hand, the compositor has a small metal tray, or “stick,” inclosed on three sides and adjusted to the width of a column or a line, into which he places the type, letter by letter, as he picks it out of the case before him. As a stick holds about two inches of type, a “stickful” has come to be a common expression for about two or two and one half inches of printed matter. A news story is spoken of by editors and compositors as being two or three “stickfuls” long, and an editor often tells a reporter to “write a stickful or two” on a particular story, or directs a copy-reader to “cut it down to a stickful.”

Type is “leaded” when thin strips of lead or brass are placed between the lines, these “leads” being two points in thickness. When two of these 2-point leads are placed between the lines, the type is “double-leaded.” If no leads are used, the type is said to be “solid.” The first paragraphs of news stories are often leaded, and very important news, particularly short bulletins for extra editions, are frequently double-leaded. In most parts of a newspaper, however, the type is solid. All type and cuts are made of the same height—that is, they are “type-high”—so that when used together they will present an even surface for printing and stereotyping.

Marks Used in Copy Reading. The marks used in editing copy are a few simple time-saving devices to indicate to the compositor how the matter is to be set in type. They are as follows:

The image above shows seven marks used in copy reading. More are shown in the image at the top of the next page. The marks shown here are | Three short lines under a letter or word indicate that it is to be set in capital letters. | Two short lines under a letter or word indicate that it is to be set in small caps. | One line under a letter or word indicates that it is to be set in Italics. | A circle around figures or abbreviations indicates that they are to be spelled out. | A circle around a word or numbers spelled out indicates that they are to be abbreviated or figures used. | A caret is placed at the point in the line where the words written above the line are to be inserted. | The paragraph mark (¶) or the sign ⅃ is placed at the beginning of each paragraph. |

The image above is the continuation from the previous page of marks used in copy reading. Five more marks are shown or described here. | A cross (X) is used for a period. | Quotation marks are often put in half circles to indicate clearly whether they are beginning or end marks. | Elements to be transposed are marked thus: | The example shows a line starting underneath the first element then continuing to the left then up around its top then down between it and the second element, continuing under then around the end of the second element to end on the top of the second element. | A line is used to connect the end of one line with the beginning of another when both are to form a continuous line of print. | The end mark which is the hash symbol (#), or the number 30 in a circle, is written at the end of every complete piece of copy. |

The application of these marks and the catch-lines in the editing of copy are shown by the following typical pages:

The two images above show the typewritten copy of a short news item which has been edited by a copy reader who has applied these marks to indicate to the compositor how the matter is to be set in type.

SUGGESTIONS

Familiarize yourself thoroughly with all details of the typographical style of your paper.
Read every word of copy carefully.
Work as rapidly as is consistent with accuracy; don’t putter over corrections.
Make all corrections and changes so clear that the compositor can not misunderstand them.
Revise and rearrange whenever possible instead of rewriting.
Cut out all needless words and phrases.
Don’t think that your own way of expressing an idea is the only good way.
Scrutinize carefully all participles, pronouns, conjunctions, correlatives, and “only’s.”
Watch for the omission of the apostrophe in possessives and contractions.
See that all quoted matter is properly enclosed in “quotes.”
Be sure to put single “quotes” on quotations within quotations.
Verify names, initials, addresses, dates, and facts generally.
Be on the lookout for libelous matter.
Give every story a distinctive guide line.
Don’t confuse “add’s” and “follow’s” in marking copy.
Keep a record of all copy read with size of head, length of story, author, and time.
Draw a line around all directions intended for the compositors.
Consult your superior when in doubt about the propriety of anything in copy.

PRACTICE WORK

Point out all changes that should be made in editing the following piece of copy and show how each change should be indicated:

Washington, D. C. August 21—

According to a statement issued here to day by the treasury department the first deposits of the Governments fifty million dollar fund to aid crop movements will be made in the Southern States in Aug. and Sept. All deposits in all states, declares William B. MacAdoo, secretary of the Treasury and who orginated the plan of assisting banks of the South and West, will be made in 2 equal allottments. He outlined the Treasury Department’s requirements for security in to-days statement

While all deposits may be recalled without notice the treasury expects to recall 25 per centum Dec. 15th, another 25 per centum on Jan. 15th, another February 15 and the final portion on March 1. The banks will pay two per cent. interest and all expenses

Secretary McAdoo’s statement says the government expect by making the deposits in National Banks in principle cities the funds will be used in good faith for releiving stringancy and not to speculate with and that it will be distributed to smaller banks at moderate and reasonable interest. Deposits only will be placed with banks who have forty per cent of their circulation of banknotes out standing.

10 per cent of the security must be in Government Bonds and the remaining 90 per cent. may be high class state, municipal and other bonds at 75 per cent of their market value and approved by the secretary. Prime commercial or business paper will be excepted at 65 per cent. of their face value when indorsed by the bank, approved by the Secretary and unanimously approved by a “securities committee” of 6 members in the clearing house district in which it comes. The secretary of the treasury will name one member of each comittee. Commercial paper the statement point out must represent legitinate commercial transactions preferably endorsed with two names and the borrowing bank but single name paper will be accepted in the judgement of the Treasury.

Any of the banks may return the deposits at any time before Mar. 1.

The Secretary’s statement of to day outlined many details which are chiefly of interest to bankers concerned.