The now-defunct Rocky Mountain News (Denver), on Sept. 11, 2001The Internet was already making its presence known to media in 2001, even if it was still not on the minds of most. Print and television were still raking in outrageous profits despite signs of trouble, and after all, AOL Instant Messenger was as advanced as…Read more The online news media on 9/11 and 10 years later
post-newspapers
Why news personalization has flopped with users, media
Photo by sampledizTheories on the Internet's effect on news consumption generally follow one of two themes. The first is that it frees users to find the news of interest and consequence for them -- personalized news -- without the constrictions of time, editor-gatekeepers and journalistic agendas. The second is that the Internet is a mirror…Read more Why news personalization has flopped with users, media
My so-called farewell to copy editing
Starting today, I'm no longer a copy editor -- officially, that is. After six years professionally, two in college and four in high school (if you can count whatever I thought was good editing back then), I'm moving to the editor side.At my company, that still involves line-editing, but a lot of the job is…Read more My so-called farewell to copy editing
Value-added editing
I try to describe myself as a "value-added" copy editor, and editor in general. "Value-added" is a buzz phrase, but it has meaning if only because the term "copy editor" has lost much of its meaning.Copy editors are often unemployed and copy editing no longer a full job description. Their value -- always difficult to…Read more Value-added editing
The laziness of "localizing" news stories
As local and metro newspapers have lost relevance (and staff) outside of their immediate geographic areas, they've tried to substitute actually being there with "localizing."Sometimes, it has relevance, such as when there's an indigenous population in the area (although the paper should be covering them regularly if they want them as readers, right?), or if…Read more The laziness of "localizing" news stories
The death of print hits home
I worked in print newspapers for nearly four years -- more than six if you count my internship and college newspaper -- until moving to online-only journalism in 2009.I was there for the crest of newspaper advertising revenue in 2005 in Minneapolis, which was also, roughly, the height of circulation for one of the nation's…Read more The death of print hits home
Necrophilia-inducing typos and other editing links: A roundup
Yeah, that headline had better bring results, or I'm going to be upset.Anyways, what's happening in the world of copy editing, editing and journalism at large:Word Grrls notes how one missing letter on a book-seller's site goes from the sassy, if cliche, "Dead Sexy" to the disturbingly niche "Dead Sex." Unless that means sex by…Read more Necrophilia-inducing typos and other editing links: A roundup
3 snapshots of news without editing
A copy desk being reduced or eliminated brings many signs of lower quality, and reporters, too, suffer when their numbers are diminished and they're forced to "do more with less."There are two categories of fear for journalists: The big picture, the fear that news isn't being covered, isn't being covered well or in enough depth,…Read more 3 snapshots of news without editing
Editors: Not famous, but ready for new media
Copy editors, paginators and Web editors, aggregators and bloggers can all experience the rush of breaking news, of chaos and upheaval, but it's (generally) at least one step removed.We may be hearing of the event, watching it unfold TV or online, or even tracking it through a reporter or friend at the scene, but it's…Read more Editors: Not famous, but ready for new media
Copy-editing’s future and failings: A roundup
It's not just a roundup of stupid mistakes, though a few are in there. There's also some discussion of the craft, where it's headed, and why.The case for education reform, proved in one billboard: In Indiana, the city of South Bend decided, we've got some great public schools. Let's promote them with a big ol'…Read more Copy-editing’s future and failings: A roundup
James daSilva 