Strategic Copy Editing

This pragmatic text helps students master the craft of copy editing--including both the editing skills and the people skills essential to professional success. Experienced newspaper copy editor and professor John Russial covers the fundamentals and more: how to edit for grammar, punctuation, usage, and style; attend to broader issues of fairness and focus; develop strong headlines and other display elements; and work collaboratively with reporters, other editors, and designers. Special attention is given to the copy editor's role as critical thinker and coach as well as resident wordsmith. Throughout, proven editing strategies are explained and numerous concrete examples and practical tips offered.

Serves as a primary text in undergraduate and graduate-level editing courses. 1. Introduction: What Do Copy Editors Do?2. Mechanics: The Nuts and Bolts3. Accuracy4. Precision and Language5. Logic and Form6. Fairness and Legality7. Working with People8. Introduction to Display Type9. Headline Basics10. Headlines: The Next Level11. Other Display Elements12. Words and Images Together13. Page Design14. The Future of Copy Editing15. Pursuing Excellence

John Russial has taught editing, writing, and new media courses at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication for 11 years. He spent 17 years working for daily newspapers, the last 12 at The Philadelphia Inquirer, where he was Sunday copy chief. He is active in the American Copy Editors Society and occasionally leads professional workshops for copy editors and reporters. Russial has a bachelor's degree from Lehigh University, a master's from Syracuse University and a doctorate from Temple University. He studies how technology and organizational change affect copy editing and newspaper quality.