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What Editors Do

Editing involves carefully reviewing material before publication to improve it by correcting errors and making the writing more precise and effective. An editor's roles include fact-checking, ensuring correct grammar and spelling, and maintaining objectivity. The goals of editing are to ensure material is consistent, correct, and suits the intended audience. Distractions like inaccuracies or poor writing can destroy communication, so editors aim for brevity, clarity, and accuracy to help readers understand clearly without being distracted.

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Ian Ocampo Flora
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310 views27 pages

What Editors Do

Editing involves carefully reviewing material before publication to improve it by correcting errors and making the writing more precise and effective. An editor's roles include fact-checking, ensuring correct grammar and spelling, and maintaining objectivity. The goals of editing are to ensure material is consistent, correct, and suits the intended audience. Distractions like inaccuracies or poor writing can destroy communication, so editors aim for brevity, clarity, and accuracy to help readers understand clearly without being distracted.

Uploaded by

Ian Ocampo Flora
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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EDITING What editors do and why

editing matters
WHAT IS EDITING?
A stage in the writing process where a writer strives to improve the
news item by making words and sentences more precise and
effective.

It involves carefully reviewing material before it is published and


suggesting or making changes to correct or improve it.
ROLES OF AN EDITOR
It is the responsibility of the editor to:

 Check the facts of the story, and make research if they have doubts
about the veracity of facts in the story.
 Check the spelling of names, any factual details of the story
including dates and names of places, the basis of the story, the sources,
and also, grammar.
 Get reliable, compelling news and information from the people who
collect it to the people who need it.

Editors are language specialists who improve stories and write


headlines.
GOALS OF EDITING

First goal of editing is to ensure that the material is consistent and


correct and that its content, language, style, and layout suit its
purpose and meet the needs of its audience.
GOALS OF EDITING

A good editor does not change what a writer is trying to convey in


the story.

Editors help the writer communicate to the reader his story clearly
and accurately, using simple words and sentences.
GOALS OF EDITING
Most often than not, an editor’s role often conflicts with that of the writer’s
emotional and intellectual investment in the writing process.

What should they do?

 Stay on track
 Focus on the facts
 Maintain objectivity
WHAT SHOULD AN EDITOR
DO?
A distraught wife claims her husband is “innocent” of the crime for which he
was accused of. A police report, backed by testimonies/ statements of
witnesses, says otherwise.

As an editor, you should:


 Check the report
 Focus on the facts
 Maintain objectivity
 Present two sides
WHY DOES EDITING MATTER?

Editors make sure what you write can be understood by your


audience.

Editors help the writer connect with readers without being


distracted by jargon or very complicated words and sentences,
because DISTRACTION destroys communication.
TYPES OF DISTRACTION
 Poor spelling, grammar, punctuation, organization or expression
 Inappropriate language
 Inaccuracies
 Material which is out of date
 Visual problems (e.g. backgrounds which make the text
unreadable; columns which are too wide for the eye to scan
comfortably)
TYPES OF DISTRACTION
 Problems with using the material (e.g. work with missing paragraphs or
diagrams; a web site where links don't work; a book where the index and
page numbers don't match)
 Writing which is full of jargon or unnecessarily long and complicated
words and sentences
 If you want to communicate you can't afford to use incomprehensible
sentences. In some cases you may need to use technical language, but if your
audience is new to your field this should never be presented without
definitions.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Accuracy

Brevity

Clarity
ACCURACY
 First and most important guiding principle.
 Accuracy is at the heart of what journalists do. Verified facts must form
the basis of all news, not rumor and speculation.
 Get it first, but get it right. Getting the facts right is the cardinal principle
of journalism.
 Give all the relevant facts and ensure that they have been checked.

Remember: Accuracy, as well as balance, always takes precedence over


speed.
ACCURACY
 Get 1st-hand sources
 Double-check facts
 Validate material submitted
 Confirmation from at least two reliable sources
 Get corroboration of any claims or allegations made

A story can be creative and compelling, but if it contains errors, it is


worthless.
BREVITY
 One of the basic elements of good writing.

 Each word in a story should do a job. If not, take it out.

Writers should get to the point.

 Stick to one concept per paragraph. Once you’ve made your point,
move on to the next paragraph.
BREVITY
 A compact piece of writing is frequently much stronger than a
lengthy story. You need to go over your work to weed out EVERY
unnecessary word.

 Say it just once. Don't be redundant.


 Don't say:
"8 a.m. in the morning," since 8 a.m. is in the morning.
Just say 8 a.m., or say 8 in the morning.
CLARITY
 Clarity equals understanding. If we write clearly, our readers will
understand. 
 Involves complete, competent reporting where writers understand
their subject.
 A story should leave no questions unanswered, and should avoid
jargon.
 Clarity increases transparency. Our main goal as journalists should be
to remain transparent and open. 
WHAT SHOULD BE TAKEN
OUT?
1. The play will be shown in the month of December. (reduce from 10 to 7
words)

2. The meeting lasted for a period of two hours. (9 to 6)

3. These children are the ones who are influenced by indecent films. (11 to 6)

4. The building closed its door at five o’clock p.m. in the afternoon. (reduce
to 6)
VERBAL DEADWOOD
An excessive amount of unnecessary words in a script, speech, or
other written or spoken communication.

In journalism, space is important. If a group of words mean the


same or can be exchanged with a shorter and more comprehensive
word, go ahead and change it. The length does not justify the
content.
VERBAL DEADWOOD
Column A Column B
­_______ 1. for the reason that a. died
­
_______ 2. a larger proportion b. now

­_______ 3. at the present time c. many

­_______ 4. succumbed to injuries d. soon

­_______ 5. at an early date e. because


REDUNDANCY
1. The final conclusion revealed that the dead
corpse was a victim of a fatal murder.
2. The other alternative is to get some new
recruits.
3. It was definitely decided to give free gifts
to the underprivileged poor on Christmas.
OPINION AND
EDITORIALIZING NEWS
1. Mr. Amador Cabansag, a very energetic teacher
of electricity in the famous Osmena High School,
held a very successful demonstration lesson.

2. The most efficient and knowledgeable principal


represented the school in the well-known national
press conference.
CORRECT USAGE, GRAMMAR
1. The sick man was (taken, brought) to the hospital.
2. Where is the other (pair, mate) of this shoe?
3. It is (unhealthy, unhealthful) to stay (in, under) the hot sun.
4. The article (shaded, shed) light on the whole subject.
5. Come to work (in, on) time or you will be (fired, fired out).
6. Our main concern (is, are) reference books which (is, are) very
dear nowadays.
CORRECT USAGE, GRAMMAR
7. My friend and teacher (wants, want) me to visit her.
8. I (was, have been, had been) absent yesterday.
9. The birthday (celebrant, celebrator) received many gifts.
10. Peter tried to (reason, reason out) to his father about his low
grades.
11. The jeep (collided, crashed) against the wall of the school.
12. The old (is, are) richer in expertise than the young.
 
CHOOSE YOUR WORDS
adapt, adopt advice, advise
adapt -- to adjust advice is a noun
adopt -- to take one’s own advise is a verb

Our family adopted a We advise you to follow


Vietnamese orphan, who John’s advice.
quickly adapted to his new
surroundings.
CHOOSE YOUR WORDS
bring, take agree to, agree with
Use bring when an object is agree to means “to give
being transported toward you consent”
Use take when it is being agree with means “to be in
moved away accord”

Please bring me a glass of water. He agrees with me about the


Please take these flowers to your need for change, but he won’t
mother. agree to my plan.
CHOOSE YOUR WORDS
its, it’s loose, lose
its is a possessive noun loose means ‘not securely
fastened’
it’s is a contraction for it is.
lose means ‘to not win’ or
‘misplace’
its barriers

Did you lose your only pair of


It’s a perfect day loose pants?

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