Copy Editors

The life of a copy editor appears to be a challenging one. They work long shifts often extending past midnight, have little time for their families, get little to no vacation time on holidays, receive lackluster paychecks, and rarely obtain adequate recognition or respect from a newspaper's readership. In spite of these apparent hardships, many copy editors love their line of work. Jeff Baron, copy editor of the Metro section in the Washington Post, offers several reasons why his difficult profession is entirely worthwhile. Editors like Baron work tirelessly for the sake of their readers. They make sure new stories are coherent by condensing obtuse language, fixing spelling mistakes, and inserting missing background information. Their work is hardly straightforward or bereft of creative opportunities, as copy editors are in charge of writing the punchy, gripping headlines that accompany news stories. These editors combat the pain of grueling work hours and skimpy paychecks with the joys of finding hidden errors, drawing readers into a story with a snappy headline, and the feeling that they are respected and valued by reporters.

Copy editors save newspapers from embarrassing factual errors and libel suits. They are often the last person to read an article before it goes into print. Because of this, it becomes absolutely vital that these men and women are skilled at finding factual errors, cutting down on lengthy sentences or confusing jargon, and applying smooth transitions. At some newspapers copy editors have permission to rewrite articles and decide which stories actually make it into printed form.

Interestingly, possessing a college degree in journalism does not appear to be a major factor in obtaining a position as copy editor. Experience in a news room setting seems to outweigh the importance of a bachelor's degree from a well known university. Working on a school newspaper is highly recommended in pursuing this career, as it provides tremendous experience. More so than writing for school papers, internships provide ideal gateways for students to enter into the copy editing environment. Internships often offer excellent positions to students upon graduation. The first-hand knowledge gained at an internship is exceedingly valuable, even if a job opportunity is not presented.

--The article on the "Slot Man" served to show vital copy editors are to their respective newspapers. When news desks were shaped like horseshoes the copy editors sat at the head of the curve in the center of the shoe. This was done so the editors could easily reach reporters and reflect upon their stories. This brief segment reinforces the idea that all stories must go through the hands of a well-trained copy editor before appearing in print.