Creative Editing

by Bowles, Dorothy A.; Borden, Diane L.

• ISBN13: 9780534561789
• ISBN10: 0534561780
• Edition: Disk
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-09-22
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

CREATIVE EDITING has been consistently praised by reviewers for its comprehensive coverage, excellent organization, and contemporary content. The Fifth Edition continues to live up to this reputation through consistent presentation, reinforcement, and practical application of editing concepts. The book covers all aspects of editing for print and online media, and provides ample practice exercises for students to perfect the principles they are learning. Beginning with basic language skills, the authors guide the reader through every phase of a professional copy editor's job. The book's practical textbook/workbook approach provides a good framework that encourages students to practice their skills as they learn.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 The Copy Editor's Role in the Newsroom	1	(20)
How we got here	2	(3)
The importance of good copy editing	5	(1)
The duties of a copy editor	6	(1)
The characteristics of a good copy editor	7	(2)
The copy desk in a modern newsroom	9	(2)
The editing process	11	(4)
A modern editor looks to the future	15	(3)
Sharon Bibb
Suggestions for additional reading	18	(1)
Exercises	19	(2)
Chapter 2 Using Correct Grammar and Punctuation	21	(36)
Common pitfalls in grammar and usage	22	(13)
Subject and verb agreement	23	(2)
Noun and pronoun agreement	25	(2)
Reflexive and intensive pronouns	27	(1)
Pronoun case	27	(1)
Essential and nonessential clauses	28	(1)
Possessive nouns	29	(1)
Sequence of tenses	30	(1)
Irregular verb forms	31	(1)
Subjunctive mood	32	(1)
Misplaced and dangling modifiers	33	(1)
Double negatives	34	(1)
Parallel construction	34	(1)
Punctuation	35	(7)
Editing with computers	42	(1)
Traditional copy editing symbols	43	(3)
Suggestions for additional reading	46	(1)
Exercises	47	(10)
Chapter 3 Consistent Style and Correct Words	57	(36)
Consistent style for carefully edited publications	57	(2)
Numerals	59	(1)
Abbreviations	60	(1)
Capitalization	61	(1)
Time	62	(1)
Cities and datelines	62	(1)
Other style issues	63	(1)
Correct word usage	64	(3)
Common spelling errors	67	(2)
How to be a hit as an intern	69	(1)
Amanda Traughber
Gina Acosta
Suggestions for additional reading	70	(1)
Exercises	71	(22)
Chapter 4 Editing Stories	93	(48)
Editing leads	93	(2)
Including essential information	95	(3)
Accuracy in numbers	95	(1)
Reporting survey results	96	(1)
Accuracy in word usage	97	(1)
Eliminating redundancies	97	(1)
Editing story structure	98	(5)
Using transitions	99	(1)
Handling quotations	100	(3)
Shortening stories	103	(2)
Estimating story length	103	(1)
Editing with precision	104	(1)
Editing news-service copy	105	(10)
Primary news services	105	(1)
Supplemental services	106	(1)
Handling copy	107	(5)
The wire editor's job	112	(1)
The first edition	113	(1)
The story conference	114	(1)
During and after the crunch	114	(1)
Editing for the Web	115	(3)
Keep it short	115	(1)
Make it skimmable	115	(1)
Link it	116	(2)
Online journalism: Tradition weds technology	118	(4)
Matthew Lee
Suggestions for additional reading	122	(1)
Exercises	123	(18)
Chapter 5 Checking Facts	141	(26)
Reliability of reference sources	142	(2)
Indexes	144	(2)
Internet search tools	146	(3)
Search engines	146	(1)
Meta-search engines	147	(1)
Lists	147	(2)
Internet discussion groups	149	(2)
Usenet newsgroups	151	(1)
Gopher	152	(1)
Commercial electronic databases	153	(1)
Standard reference works	153	(9)
Current events sources	154	(1)
Factual data, statistics	154	(1)
Biographical information	155	(1)
Book reviews	156	(1)
Directories of newspapers and magazines	157	(1)
Dictionaries and manuals of language and style	157	(1)
Business and advertising	158	(1)
Broadcasting and film	158	(1)
Religion	159	(1)
Government, politics and law	159	(2)
Health and medical	161	(1)
Maps and geographic information	161	(1)
Quotations	161	(1)
Science	161	(1)
Suggestions for additional reading	162	(1)
Exercises	163	(4)
Chapter 6 Legal Concerns	167	(24)
Prior restraint	167	(1)
Competing personal interests	168	(1)
Libel	169	(7)
Plaintiff's burden of proof	169	(2)
Defenses against libel	171	(5)
Privacy	176	(2)
Copyright	178	(1)
Trademarks	179	(1)
Techniques for avoiding lawsuits	180	(6)
Cost of a lawsuit	180	(1)
Complaints from the public	181	(1)
Prepublication cautions at the newsgathering stage	182	(1)
Prepublication cautions at the copy desk	183	(3)
Suggestions for additional reading	186	(1)
Exercises	187	(4)
Chapter 7 Editing and Ethics	191	(32)
How to decide questions of ethics	193	(1)
What is ethics?	194	(3)
Philosophical principles	194	(1)
How to use the Potter box	195	(2)
Codes of ethics	197	(7)
Editing with good taste and sensitivity	204	(2)
Situational ethics	206	(1)
Press response to criticism	207	(1)
Ethics in the 21st century	208	(4)
The future of journalism	212	(2)
Cole C. Campbell
Suggestions for additional reading	214	(1)
Exercises	215	(8)
Chapter 8 Typography	223	(16)
Type sizes	224	(3)
Type widths	227	(1)
Type styles	228	(3)
Type weights	231	(1)
Type families	232	(1)
Legibility	232	(2)
Suggestions for additional reading	234	(1)
Exercises	235	(4)
Chapter 9 Writing Headlines	239	(32)
Purposes of news headlines	239	(1)
Characteristics of good headlines	240	(1)
How to write headlines	241	(4)
News heads	241	(4)
Feature headlines	245	(1)
Online headlines	245	(2)
Examples of good headlines	246	(1)
Headline punctuation	247	(1)
Headline capitalization	248	(1)
Headline counting	249	(4)
Counting manually	249	(1)
Counting with computer software	250	(3)
Placement of headlines	253	(1)
Styles of headlines	253	(8)
Headline writing is an art form	261	(3)
Peter Bhatia
Suggestions for additional reading	264	(1)
Exercises	265	(6)
Chapter 10 Editing Pictures and Infographics	271	(32)
Better visuals through teamwork	271	(1)
Selecting pictures	272	(1)
Preparing photographs for publication	273	(8)
Cropping	273	(1)
Scaling	274	(5)
Digital images	279	(2)
Editing informational graphics	281	(8)
Advice for graphic artists	281	(1)
Role of the copy editor	282	(7)
Editing captions	289	(5)
Picture stories	290	(1)
Caption styles	291	(3)
Graphics require good reporting	294	(1)
Lynne Perri
Suggestions for additional reading	295	(2)
Exercises	297	(6)
Chapter 11 Design and Layout	303	(72)
Design principles	303	(8)
Balance	303	(6)
Contrast	309	(1)
Proportion	309	(1)
Unity	309	(2)
Design elements	311	(4)
Body type	311	(1)
Display type	311	(2)
Borders	313	(1)
Open space	313	(1)
Art	314	(1)
Color	314	(1)
Forms of layout	315	(4)
Newspaper layout	319	(12)
Basic guidelines	322	(4)
Dummying Page One	326	(2)
Dummying inside pages	328	(1)
Pagination	329	(2)
Magazine layout	331	(7)
Formats	331	(1)
Basic guidelines for magazine layout	331	(7)
Web layout and design	338	(9)
Mapping a Web site	339	(1)
Helping readers navigate a site	339	(3)
Editing pages within a site	342	(5)
The only layout guide you'll ever need	347	(3)
J. Ford Huffman
Suggestions for additional reading	350	(1)
Exercises	351	(24)
Chapter 12 Creating Fliers, Brochures and Newsletters	375	(30)
The flier	375	(8)
Purpose of a flier	376	(1)
Writing headlines	377	(1)
Writing text copy	377	(2)
Design and layout	379	(3)
Production considerations	382	(1)
The brochure	383	(9)
Characteristics of a brochure	384	(1)
Purpose of a brochure	385	(1)
Message construction	385	(1)
Design and layout	386	(4)
Production considerations	390	(2)
The newsletter	392	(5)
Purpose of a newsletter	392	(1)
Content decisions	392	(2)
Design and layout	394	(2)
Production considerations	396	(1)
Challenges of corporate communications	397	(3)
Michelle Medley
Suggestions for additional reading	400	(1)
Exercises	401	(4)
Appendix: Frequently Misused Words	405	(8)
Index	413