COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

COPYREADING is another word for editing -A copyreader is an editor - A copyreader is a specialist who improves the news story and makes it worth reading. - -A copy reader is the guardian between the reporters and the reading public.

Why is copyreading important? To help make the newspaper bring accurate information to the reader. To save the newspaper from criticism, libel suits, and embarrassment.

 Duties of the copyreader:

A. Check the CONTENT checks facts correct errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, usage and organization correct cases of editorializing

B. Mark copy. Use Symbols C. Write the Headline D. Write Printers Direction AND SLUG

 What is Printers Direction? Example: 2-16TNRI 2 -means the headline will run across two columns of the page 16 -stand for the font size to be used TNRI- refers to the font type Times New Roman-Italics

 SLUG IS STORY NAME

It is used for the purposes of identification and record keeping. It is usually written in a single word.

Ex. Weather-for a weather story Council- for a council meeting Drowning-for a story about death by drowning

 Guides to becoming a god copyreader:

A. Be accurate 1. Confirm facts and verify names 2. Check figures 3. Checks date and time B. Be a master of details C. Have a broad knowledge: know important events, names, be updated on current issues

 THE HEADLINE
-Refers to the title of any news story.
-It is the show window of the news. -A headline writer should strive to flash accurately in a short telegraphic manner the major messages of the news. -A headline writer should also master the headline schedule, structure -know font size, and font type

 Functions of Headlines
1. To give the gist of the news 2. To present the news for rapid survey reading 3. To indicate the relative importance of the news 4. To give a pleasing appearance to the news page.

Tips to Headline Writers

1. Read the story for general meaning. 2. Search for Key words on which to base your headline. 3. Clues to the headline are usually in the lead. Ex. What happened?, how did it happened? Who did what?

Rules in writing the Headlines: 1. Write a headline that is easy to read. (subject-predicate) Ex. Landbank nets P1.4B 2. Avoid using negative verb Wrong:PTA meeting wont be held Right: PTA meeting cancelled 3. Be Specific; avoid generalities Wrong:Student given scholarship Right: Salazar wins UP grant

4. Make complete statements; dont use labels

Wrong: Medalists Right: 35 medals awarded

5. Use present tense for past events Wrong:Senate passed budget Right: Senate passes budget

6.Use infinitive for future events: Wrong: Kidapawan will host RSPC Right: Kidapawan to host RSPC 7. Avoid Splitting A. A Verb phrase Wrong: Debaters chosen to join speechfest Right: Debaters chosen to join speechfest

B Avoid splitting names that belong together Wrong: Cruz wins gold medal Right: Cruz wins gold medal C. Avoid adjective and the noun it modifies Wrong: 3 Gensan leaders trade accusations Right: 3 Gensan leaders trade accusations

7. Abbreviations: Wrong: Flores sues Na pocor Right: Flores sues Napocor 8. Dont use articles a, an, the: Wrong: PGMA revamps the cabinet Right: PGMA revamps cabinet 9. Use numbers only if important. Write numbers in figures. B-billion and Mmillion P4.5B; P1.5M

Headline Vocabulary: Gives priority to short words accord -agreement allay -to calm anew -again assail -to attack with arguments cite -mention;enumerate crown -championship dip -go down Ex -former grill -investigate

hike kin ratify nab okay/ok sked vow rule foil bare

-increase -family -approve;confirm -arrest - approve -schedule -pledge -decide -thwart, rejected -reveal,expose

rift solon hit slay/kill

-disagreement -lawmaker, representative -attack -murdered

News Headline Samples

School intensifies reading proficiency test
DepEd, Habitat to build housing for teachers

Math can prevent violence

Regional STEP Skills Competition

Cobeng wins table setting championship title

NSPC 2007

Reveille is countrys third best school paper

Educators Assembly

Stakeholders tapped to improve quality of education

Nobel Price for 2007

Scientist develop knock out genes technique

4 campus writers shine in division presscon

School acquires more PCs; gears towards computer lab rehab LNHS to pilot tech-voc education
City Charter Anniversary

Gensan celebrates Tuna Festival; floats take center stage LNHS initiates responsible parenthood seminar
Pasko sa Gensan 2007

City to turn into under-the-sea wonderland

GSC wins outstanding road safety award

Kagandahan Gensan

Clean-up day in barangays set PGMA to focus on modernizing RP education system English Dept to revive Speechfest School conducts earthquake safety drill

Health News

Anger can make lungs weaker School addresses malnutrition problem; conducts feeding prog Mentors get lessons on stress management School celebrates Nutrition Month LNHS purchases musical instruments; organizes Rondalla

Gensan joins synchronized breastfeeding

Saving the Mother Earth

Student-environmentalists plant mangrove

All Capital Letters

Unit Count

All small letters

Unit Count

Punctuations

Unit Count

A B C D

1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2

a b c d

1 1 1 1

Hyphen (-) Question Mark (?) Slash (/) Quotation Mark ( " " )

1 1 1 1

E F G

1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2

e f g

1 1/2 1 All punctuations not mentioned above 1/2

H I J

1 1/2 1 1

h i j

1 1/2 1/2 All numbers 2-9 and 0 Number 1 1 1/2

K L

1 1/2 1 1/2

k l

1 1/2 Space 1

All Capital Letters

Unit Count

All small letters

Unit Count

M N O P Q R

2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2

m n o p q r

1 1/2 1 1 1 1 1

S
T U V W X Y Z

1 1/2
1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2

s
t u v w x y z

1
1/2 1 1 1 1/2 1 1 1

THANK YOU..