1. The Skeptical Editor
Michael Roberts, The Arizona Republic

2. The essence of journalism is a discipline of
verification. In the end, the discipline of
verification is what separates journalism
from other forms of communication — from
entertainment, propaganda, fiction or art. …
Journalism alone is focused first on
getting it right.
-- Project for Excellence in Journalism,
Pew Research Center

3. Role of an editor
Macro editing
Micro editing

4. Role of an editor
Macro editing
Micro editing

5. Macro editing
News value Focus
Timeliness Structure
Audience Format
Play Tone
Magnitude Meaning

6. Micro editing
Accuracy Wordcraft
Grammar Syntax
Style Clarity
Taste Pace
Voice Tone

7. Role of an editor
In all that an editor does, he or she must make
decisions about what to change and what to
leave alone.
-- Buck Ryan, Michael O’Donnell
The Editor’s Toolbox

8. Role of an editor
…decisions about what to change and what
to leave alone
Hold
Seek fix, clarification
Change it
Let it go

9. Macro editing

10. …decisions about what to change and
what to leave alone
Macro choices Micro choices
News value Focus Accuracy Wordcraft
Timeliness Structure Grammar Syntax
Audience Format Style Clarity
Play Tone Taste Pace
Magnitude Meaning Voice Tone

11. Clear writing hinges on clear words and
sentences. But you should not wait until you are
at the keyboard to begin thinking about clarity.
Clarity is cumulative. You should build it into
your overall philosophy and approach, from the
assignment stage through reporting and
focusing. The precision of your sentences will be
directly proportional to the clarity of thinking in
your ideas, reporting and story planning.
-- Carl Sessions Stepp
Magic & Craft of Media Writing

12. Five Stages of a Story
The precision of your sentences will be directly
proportional to the clarity of thinking in your ideas,
reporting and story planning.
Idea Report Organize Draft Revise
Macro editing Micro editing

13. ALEX bus routes

14. ALEX bus routes
News value Focus
Timeliness Structure
Audience Format
Play Tone
Magnitude Meaning

15. Prosecute the story
1. Brainstorm facts of the case
2. Identify “theory of the case”
3. Build case around theory

16. Prosecute the story
• Brainstorm / discuss basic
storyline; be specific as possible
• Test “theory” or premise against
facts
• Identify facts that support the
case
• Identify facts “beyond change”
that may not support case;
account for them

17. Case review
1. Brainstorm facts of the case
2. Identify “theory of the case”
3. Build case around theory

18. Micro editing

19. …decisions about what to change and
what to leave alone
Macro choices Micro choices
News value Focus Accuracy Wordcraft
Timeliness Structure Grammar Syntax
Audience Format Style Clarity
Play Tone Taste Pace
Magnitude Meaning Voice Tone

20. Libel
Accuracy
Fairness
Taste
Spelling / grammar
Localisms
Typographical errors
Style preferences

21. Mistakes are painful

25. Exercise: Micro editing
Accuracy: _______________
Grammar: _______________
Style: ___________________
Taste: ___________________

26. Accuracy, libel, taste & fairness
SLOW DOWN!
Topics Elements
crimes names
deaths addresses
lawsuits details
tragedies language
firings attribution
accusations balance

27. Examples

28. The mistrial sends murderer Bud Adams back to jail to
await a new trial, which may not be possible before
Judge Jennifer Knox retires from the bench.
Rupert Jones declared bankruptcy in May. Jones
Custom Homes was sold the following month and
renamed Star Homes. Creditors have filed suit.
The bond was rejected on margin of 61 percent to 39
percent.
Acme Dating Service lied to customers when full
background profiles were not posted on the web site with
the photos, limiting information to education and city.

29. Skeptical systems

30. The old process (of accuracy) is being stripped away almost
beyond recognition. It wasn’t designed to shrink to this level. As a
result, a new process is required -- rather than a requirement to
use a spellchecker. If they plan to have fewer people reviewing
stories, then every person who touches an article or headline or
cutline has to be trained to take on new functions and
responsibilities.
Yes, there is a crisis of a lack of skilled people in newsrooms.
But it’s also a crisis of training and process in the sense that we
don’t look to these areas when people get shown the door. If
you’re going to upend the old editorial process, you need to create
a new one.
This is the year to reengineer the quality control process at
newspapers and other media organizations.
-- Craig Silverman, “Quality Control” (Jan. 8, 2010),
Columbia Journalism Review

31. Sample CQ policy
 All content must be CQ’d before publication.
 Everyone who creates / changes content must check and
CQ. (Reporter, content editor, copy editor, artist, designer,
photographer, producer, platform manager, news assistant.)
 Elements that require CQ:
1. Proper nouns.
2. Phone numbers and fax numbers.
3. Web addresses.
4. Times and dates of events.
5. Addresses, including street designation and city.
6. Math, prices, statistics and other numerical information.

32. A system for editing
1. Prepare to edit
2. Read through
3. Address macro questions
4. Lock in lead, basic outline
5. Address micro questions
6. Read through

33. Another system for editing
Carl Session Stepp
1. Prepare to edit
2. Read through
3. Edit for content
4. Edit for structure
5. Read through

34. Fixer vs. Coach
The major cause of disagreements between
writers and line editors is that revisions appear to
be arbitrary and are not adequately explained.
-- Daryl L. Frazell, George Tuck
Principles of Editing

35. The Good Editor
• Make the simplest fix possible.
• For close calls, let the writer’s
words stand.
• When in doubt, seek help by
asking questions.

36. Clarity
Accuracy
Simplicity
Verification Brevity
Description
Structure
Precision

37. http://newstrainers.wordpress.com
newstraining blog
http://www.slideshare.net/michael.roberts