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An Overview: Sub Editing

Sub editing, also known as copy editing, is the process of improving written text before publication. A sub editor's main responsibilities are to ensure the text is clear, correct, concise, comprehensible and consistent. This involves tasks like correcting spelling and grammar errors, adhering to style guidelines, and rewriting parts of the text to fit publishing requirements. Traditionally, sub editors would mark up physical copies of text, but now edits are made directly on digital files, and sub editors also prepare text for online publication. The role requires strong language skills as well as the ability to handle feedback diplomatically and meet deadlines.

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2K views

An Overview: Sub Editing

Sub editing, also known as copy editing, is the process of improving written text before publication. A sub editor's main responsibilities are to ensure the text is clear, correct, concise, comprehensible and consistent. This involves tasks like correcting spelling and grammar errors, adhering to style guidelines, and rewriting parts of the text to fit publishing requirements. Traditionally, sub editors would mark up physical copies of text, but now edits are made directly on digital files, and sub editors also prepare text for online publication. The role requires strong language skills as well as the ability to handle feedback diplomatically and meet deadlines.

Uploaded by

ruchi goel
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SUB EDITING- AN OVERVIEW:

Sub editing or copyediting is the process by which an editor makes formatting changes and
other improvements to text. Copy, in this case a noun, refers to material (such as
handwritten or
typewritten pages) to be first corrected and improved upon, and then composed (as in
typesetting) for printing. A person who performs the task of copyediting is called a sub
editor.
The sub editor's job may be summarized in the 5 Cs: To make the copy clear, correct,
concise, comprehensible, and consistent.
Copy editing or sub editing typically means correcting spelling, punctuation, grammatical
and semantic errors; ensuring the typescript adheres to the newspaper's own style; adding
headlines, sub headlines, information graphics, blurbs and so on. These elements must be
taken care of before the typesetter can prepare a final proof copy.
The sub editor is also expected to ensure the text flows, i.e., reads well. The job of a sub
editor is to produce copy that makes sense and is fair and accurate, and that it will cause
no
legal problems for the publisher or editor. Newspaper sub editors are sometimes
responsible for
choosing which news agency copy the newspaper will use, and for rewriting it according to
their
house style.
In many cases, a sub editor will be the only person other than the reporter to read an
entire text of news stories before publication. Newspaper editors often regard their sub
editors
as their newspaper's last line of defense.
A sub editor may abridge or shorten text, which is also called "cutting" or "trimming." This
means reducing the length of a news story or article, either to fit publishing limits, or to
improve
the material. This may involve simply omitting parts of the text, but sometimes it is
necessary to
rewrite parts of the news story or the entire news story to accommodate missing details.
Some
abridged texts are only slightly shorter, but others may be reduced dramatically.
Changes in the profession
Traditionally, a sub editor would read a printed or written text, such as a manuscript,
marking it
with handwritten proofreader's marks for correction. Nowadays, the text is usually read on a
computer display and corrections are made directly to the text. Increasingly, a copy editor
marks
up the text using XML or a similar coding scheme and is involved in preparing text for online
publication, not just for printing.
The spread of desktop publishing means that many sub editors perform design and
layout work that was once left to production crews for printed publications. As a result, the
skills
needed for the job are shifting; technical knowledge is sometimes considered as important
as
writing ability, particularly within journalism as compared with book publishing.
Traits, skills and training
Besides an excellent command of the language, sub editors need a broad general
knowledge to
spot factual errors, good critical-thinking skills so that they recognize inconsistencies,
diplomatic
skills to help them deal with writers, and a thick skin when diplomacy fails. They must also
set
priorities so they can balance striving for perfection with working deadlines.
Many sub editors have a college degree, often in journalism, English, or communications.
Copyediting or sub editing is often taught as a college or university journalism course,
though
the name of the course varies. News design and pagination (page design) are often taught
in
such classes.
Most newspapers and many other publishers give candidates for sub-editing jobs a test
or a try-out. These vary widely and often include general items such as general knowledge,
current events, acronyms, and punctuation, and skills such as headline writing, infographics
editing, and journalism ethics.

ASPECTS OF SUB EDITING:


When inexperienced and experienced reporters, correspondents and stringers file their
stories,
understandably, they lack a uniformity of style and readability. Reporters often work in great
hurry and under pressure.
Hence, errors are bound to creep in and it calls for a scrutiny of the copy. The success of
any newspaper depends largely on the efficient and judicious selection of news stories and
other editorial material. While advertisement is the backbone of the newspaper industry,
people
buy newspapers for its news more than its advertisements. So the divergent readership
must be
treated to a variety of news diet to command their loyalty. Thus giving as much news within
the
space allotted becomes imperative which is the main function of editing.

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