Online discussion for Chapter 12 of 'The Art of Editing': Web editing

This week's discussion focuses on Web editing, and prompts an important question: What does a Web editor exactly do, and who are they? The answer, I think, will vary from media company to media company. I've mostly seen it where Web editors can be highly technical people who focus on the design aspects of a page, creating buttons and adding content to a story including info boxes and links. In some places, they are copy editors who post the stories after traveling through the traditional newspaper news desk. Other times, especially with blogs, Web editors are the content producers themselves. This is the case with the Runners’ Finish Line and, of course, with this blog. 

The chapter discusses using HTML and XHTML. In my world at The Flint Journal, we don't necessarily need to know this code because we use a program called MoveableType in which our Web editor has set up specific coding for us to cut and paste to create items such as info boxes. Here's an example to the right that I often use (with other text, of course):

"They're smart. It's like a stakeout. You don't want them to see you looking at them. It freaks them out. - Humane Society volunteer Diane Biega on capturing feral cats.

One last though about Web editing. It is time consuming, especially when you're trying to juggle responsibilities with reporting or related to producing the print newspaper. Nevertheless, it has become an essential part of media and learning these tools are important. This conflict, especially given shrinking resources, is fueling some of the tough choices media companies are having to make, I believe. What do you think? What are your experiences with Web editing? What do you like or don't like about it, especially in comparison with working in other traditional media?

Lastly, the deadline to participate in the discussion and receive credit is midnight Monday.

Online discussion for Chapter 11 of 'The Art of Editing': Magazines and newsletters

This week's online discussion focuses on newsletters and magazines. The textbook discusses how some don't realize the career opportunity in these publications. It's understandable. I never would have guessed there are as many as 2,000 consumer magazines in the United States or there are about 12,000 specialty magazines. But the reality is they can make gobs of cash. In many cases, this is true because these publications tend to cater to niche audiences, which advertisers covet.

So, don't be surprised that even if you end up working at a newspaper, you also spend some time helping create a specialty publication. I even spent one summer helping put together a book about the Crim 10-mile race celebrating the event's 30th anniversary. Like that one, sometimes they're part of the newspaper, and sometimes they are not. Another in-house example were working on right now - a annual community answer book that the paper publishes each April. But The Journal also has a monthly business-focused publication called "Your Magazine" that's produced by a separate staff.

So, have anyone else had experience with magazines or newsletters? What was it like? Does anyone want to work for these types of publications? Which ones do you read and why?

As an aside, the deadline for this discussion will be midnight Monday.

Jessica M. earns point with highest score on in-class exercise, ties John McKay for second place

Jessica M. tied John McKay for second place in the extra credit contest today by making the most fixes to a March 5 in-class exercise.

She corrected 12 errors in a story about the 2009 state budget, three higher than the next best score. Scoring was finalized today after one makeup exercise was completed last week. The point gives her six, which is four behind the leader, Michael S.

Students asked to lead the way - an online discussion of Chapter 9 and Chapter 10 in the 'Art of Editing'

Michael S., our online student, attended a class last week, which allowed for a brief pause in our online discussions. With this post, the discussions of the "Art of Editing" have returned, and this week's focus is on "Chapter 9 Using Photos, Graphics and Type" and "Chapter 10 Editing Newspapers."

In previous discussions, I started with some observations about the reading, but this week I'm asking Stechschulte and the rest of the class to lead the way, and I will be one of those who responds. The deadline to participate is midnight Sunday.

Instructor's mother-in-law beats JRN 375 students in catching the dreaded comma splice

I believe some of the best/entertaining/compelling/insightful/funny journalism can be when a reporter is willing make a point through real-life examples. It also can be risky in terms of writing and in terms of how sources might react. I believe both are true in this post, in which I am providing useful grammar insight from my mother-in-law, a retired English teacher and librarian:

"----- Original Message -----
From: Ann
To: chris machniak
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 8:58 PM
Subject: Sentence Punctuation Error

Chris,

While reading your class blog today, I came across a very common grammatical error in punctuating two independent clauses while using the conjunctive adverb 'however':

'I think this a point-worthy question to raise, however, I would justify The Journal's use of it because it's coming from the police, who are using it to explain a key fact in the story.'

By using a comma and not a semicolon after the first clause and before the conjunctive adverb 'however', the writer creates what is called a 'comma splice.' The following Web site might help clarify what I mean:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_commacomp.html

I hope this helps you see what I am trying to point out.

ANN."

She, of course, is correct, although I would not recommend fixing the error with a semicolon. The newspaper writing style would favor breaking the clauses up into two sentences or using a coordinating conjunction. When using the conjunction, a comma would be required after the first independent clause and before the conjunction.

I feel obligated to give her an honorary extra credit point. I hope no one objects.

Teams listed for audio-based assignment

For those who missed Thursday's class, we held a random draw to pick our groups for the upcoming audio-based assignment. There will be more on that assignment on Tuesday, March 10. In the interim, here are the groups:

• Jordan C., Michael S.
• Gabrielle O., Tim Jagielo
• David Veenhuis, Jessica M.
• John M., Krystle H.
• Amanda Emery, Jennifer Profitt
• John McKay, Chad R.
• Austin B., Brett Smith.

Movement on extra credit scoreboard - Jessica M. and Michael S. tally points

Jessica M. and Michael S. both have earned points by raising questions about items on The Flint Journal's Web site.

Jessica M. received three points by raising multiple issues in recent entries. They were:

• In a photo cutline, she found a typo of "beek" instead of "been" in a March 3 story about the Manhattan Place condos in Flint. This is a good catch and relevant to last week's reading because sometimes it's easier for cutlines to contain errors because not as many people look at them before they are published either online or in print.
• Along similar lines, Jessica M. found a typo in a headline in a Feb. 25 story about a man dying after he was hit by a train.
• In the same story, she also questioned the use of the word "instantly" when describing the man's death. I think this a point-worthy question to raise. However, I would justify The Journal's use of it because it's coming from the police, who are using it to explain a key fact in the story.

Michael S. found three style and grammar errors in a March 5 story about General Motors laying off 185 employees at the Grand Blanc Weld Tool Center. They were:

• Work force was spelled as one word.
• The following sentence failed to include a comma after "air," which was needed because there was an independent clause following the conjunction: "UAW Local 1292 Shop Chairman Matt Teachenor said the specifics of the layoff remain up in the air, but he hopes the layoffs don't last."
• The word "worker" near the end of the story needed to be "workers" to agree with the rest of the sentence.

He also pointed out an odd character that appeared in the text. This is some sort of system bug that the site experiences, but that's not an excuse, so there's a point.

These new totals keep Michael S. in the lead, with Jessica M. moving up into a solid third right behind John McKay.

Welcome back from spring break - here's a grading update and one last chance to turn in the text-based assignment

I hope everyone had a restful spring break. This post is just to update everyone that I was able to e-mail a couple of you with your grade on the editing exercise that was possible thanks to Dr. Lewis' class. The rest I plan to get out tomorrow afternoon.

Also, for anyone who missed class today and did not fully complete their text-based assignment, there is one final deadline: 11:59 p.m. this Friday. No further extensions will be granted.