Contemporary Editing

We live in the Information Age, surrounded by news and information from more sources and with greater frequency than ever before. In such an environment, good editing is essential, for the editor's task is to manage information. Whether by checking facts, editing copy, choosing photos or designing pages, the editor is inextricably involved in the process of shaping the news. To ensure the accuracy and quality of the news, editors need a broad array of skills. Advances in online journalism and the vast array of resources available mean that contemporary editors need the skills and context to deal with the changing nature of news. At the same time, traditional copy-editing skills are more important than ever.

Contemporary Editing offers a balanced approach to news editing, emphasizing that good news judgment is the key to making editorial decisions and recognizing that a combination of traditional and emerging skills is the best approach to the news today. Part 1, Approaching the Story, provides general insights into the editing process, explains the copy editor's place in the newsroom, offers an extensive grammar review and extends your knowledge of good writing practices. Part 2, Inside the Story, gives more specialized treatment to a number of editing tasks and story forms, including local news, wire stories, polls and surveys, briefs and features, as well as writing headlines and the legal and ethical issues surrounding a story. Part 3, handling photos and information graphics, designing pages and editing on the World Wide Web.

By providing step-by-step editing techniques, practical exercises, and a solid basis in news judgment, Contemporary Editing will equip you with the skills to edit the news.

We live in the Information Age, surrounded by news and information from more sources and with greater frequency than ever before. In such an environment, good editing is essential, for the editor's task is to manage information. Whether by checking facts, editing copy, choosing photos or designing pages, the editor is inextricably involved in the process of shaping the news. To ensure the accuracy and quality of the news, editors need a broad array of skills. Advances in online journalism and the vast array of resources available mean that contemporary editors need the skills and context to deal with the changing nature of news. At the same time, traditional copy-editing skills are more important than ever.

Contemporary Editing offers a balanced approach to news editing, emphasizing that good news judgment is the key to making editorial decisions and recognizing that a combination of traditional and emerging skills is the best approach to the news today. Part 1, Approaching the Story, provides general insights into the editing process, explains the copy editor's place in the newsroom, offers an extensive grammar review and extends your knowledge of good writing practices. Part 2, Inside the Story, gives more specialized treatment to a number of editing tasks and story forms, including local news, wire stories, polls and surveys, briefs and features, as well as writing headlines and the legal and ethical issues surrounding a story. Part 3, handling photos and information graphics, designing pages and editing on the World Wide Web.

By providing step-by-step editing techniques, practical exercises, and a solid basis in news judgment, Contemporary Editing will equip you with the skills to edit the news.

Booknews

Addresses the many facets of newspaper editing from grammar and design to questions of ethics in a multimedia culture. The textbook's 16 chapters are organized into three parts: basic skills; special issues in copy editing; and editing issues beyond the story itself, including photographs, graphics, page design, and Web editing. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Cecilia Friend is Professor of Journalism at Utica College. She has been teaching journalism for more than 25 years. Before that she spent 10 years as a reporter and editor. Since, she has continued to serve as an editor in various capacities and a writing and design coach. She is the co-author of "Online Journalism Ethics: Traditions and Transitions," published in 2007.

Donald Challenger is a writer, editor and teacher who most recently served as college editor at Hamilton College. He has worked for more than 30 years in newspaper and magazine journalism and has taught journalism and writing as an adjunct professor in several programs, including Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.