The Copy Desk In A Modern Newsroom

 

Before use of computers, the traditional copy desk physically resembled a horseshoe. The chief copy editor, called the “slot editor” or simply the “slot”, sat at the center of the inside curve of a semicircular desk. Copy editors sat along the outside curve of the horseshoe, known as the “rim,” and were thus known as “rim editors.” Although the terms slot editors and rim editor persist, the computerization of editing has changed the physical arrangement of the copy desk. Modern copy desks are arranged in a rectangular shape and generally include separate stations with an electronic editing terminal for each editor.

 

To help speed the flow of copy, many small and medium-sized newspapers have instituted a system of centralized editing called the universal copy desk. Universal desk copy editors work on copy for all sections of the newspaper.

 

Conversely, most large metropolitan newspapers have specialized copy desks that process stories for particular categories of news: local, state, national, international, business, sports, opinion, lifestyle or entertainment.

 

In the last several years, many newsrooms have been experimenting with teams or clusters of journalists who work together in small groups to conceive, report, edit and illustrate stories. Such clusters often comprise a team leader, usually someone from the city desk; a copy editor; a reporter or several reporters; and a photographer or graphic artist. Frequently, the stories each team produces are enterprise packages, in-depth articles about issues of significance in the local community.

 

Some metros also have separate reporting and editing staffs for “zoned” editions, those pages or sections that target news and advertising for a particular circulation area. In many newspaper markets, zoned editions have proved successful with both readers and advertisers. Subscribers receive the individual section containing news and advertising focusing on their neighborhood, along with the rest of the metropolitan newspaper. Some newspapers publish up to 24 different zoned editions a week; others publish several zoned sections each day. Zoning is becoming more common with other forms of media, too, such as magazines, radio and television.

 

The fast pace of editing often allows little time for reflection. In today’s newsrooms, where editors are increasingly asked to perform production functions previously handled by a separate staff of production personnel, editors find that their time is at a premium.

 

An age of rapid technological advances in the publishing industry has introduced computer-generated copy and computer-activated layout and paste up, or pagination. For print publications, therefore, the copy editor’s job has become at once more complex, more exciting and more vital to the quality of the final product.

 

Before use of computers, the traditional copy desk physically resembled a horseshoe. The chief copy editor, called the “slot editor” or simply the “slot”, sat at the center of the inside curve of a semicircular desk. Copy editors sat along the outside curve of the horseshoe, known as the “rim,” and were thus known as “rim editors.” Although the terms slot editors and rim editor persist, the computerization of editing has changed the physical arrangement of the copy desk. Modern copy desks are arranged in a rectangular shape and generally include separate stations with an electronic editing terminal for each editor.

 

To help speed the flow of copy, many small and medium-sized newspapers have instituted a system of centralized editing called the universal copy desk. Universal desk copy editors work on copy for all sections of the newspaper.

 

Conversely, most large metropolitan newspapers have specialized copy desks that process stories for particular categories of news: local, state, national, international, business, sports, opinion, lifestyle or entertainment.

 

In the last several years, many newsrooms have been experimenting with teams or clusters of journalists who work together in small groups to conceive, report, edit and illustrate stories. Such clusters often comprise a team leader, usually someone from the city desk; a copy editor; a reporter or several reporters; and a photographer or graphic artist. Frequently, the stories each team produces are enterprise packages, in-depth articles about issues of significance in the local community.

 

Some metros also have separate reporting and editing staffs for “zoned” editions, those pages or sections that target news and advertising for a particular circulation area. In many newspaper markets, zoned editions have proved successful with both readers and advertisers. Subscribers receive the individual section containing news and advertising focusing on their neighborhood, along with the rest of the metropolitan newspaper. Some newspapers publish up to 24 different zoned editions a week; others publish several zoned sections each day. Zoning is becoming more common with other forms of media, too, such as magazines, radio and television.

 

The fast pace of editing often allows little time for reflection. In today’s newsrooms, where editors are increasingly asked to perform production functions previously handled by a separate staff of production personnel, editors find that their time is at a premium.

 

An age of rapid technological advances in the publishing industry has introduced computer-generated copy and computer-activated layout and paste up, or pagination. For print publications, therefore, the copy editor’s job has become at once more complex, more exciting and more vital to the quality of the final product.

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