COPY EDITORS California Occupational Guide Number 268 Interest Area 11 1996
THE JOB
The COPY EDITOR examines articles, tables, captions, and columns to be printed in a newspaper for grammatical and factual accuracy. Responsibilities include ensuring the final form and accuracy of all published material. They may also write headlines for reporters' stories.
Copy Editor duties vary with the size of the newspaper. Large metropolitan dailies may require full-time services of a number of Copy Editors. On small weekly newspapers, editors or assistants may edit news copy in addition to their other duties.
All material printed in newspapers must be checked for accuracy in content, grammar, and style. Copy Editors check sentences and phrases for spelling, grammatical correctness, and precise word usage; if errors are found, they make corrections using proofreader marks. Most newspapers now use video terminals; Copy Editors correct stories on terminals. The accuracy of dates and factual material may be checked with the reporter, the newspaper library, public records, or knowledgeable individuals. If photographs or illustrations are to be used, they are attached to the finished copy.
In many cases, Copy Editors are expected to judge the news value of articles and features. If a story is too long, it must be edited to retain its meaning while conforming to the news editor's decision on length. They may rewrite portions of the story to make it more interesting and readable. Copy Editors write headlines in accordance with the editor's instruction on size and spacing, and in keeping with the style of the paper. Finally, as the paper comes off the presses, Copy Editors carefully examine the final copy to ensure that it is free from error. For larger newspapers, Copy Editors occasionally fill in for other staff members who are absent, such as department editors or "paste-up" editors.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Because newspapers can range from small, one person shops to operations employing scores of workers, employment environments can vary considerably.
Generally, however, Copy Editors work in an office setting which is well-lit, air conditioned, and comfortable.
The physical demands of the job are not difficult. Since considerable reading is necessary, excellent vision is required. Copy Editors must read and correct work quickly and accurately. They sometimes work under pressure to meet deadlines. In some cases, Copy Editors are required to join the Newspaper Guild.
EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK
The following information is from the California Projections and Planning Information report published by the Labor Market Information Division.
Estimated number of workers in 1993 13,520 Estimated number of workers in 2005 18,680 Projected Growth 1993-2005 38% Estimated openings due to separations by 2005 3,590
(These figures do not include self-employment nor openings due to turnover.)
The above data are for editors and writers as a group. The number of Copy Editors is expected to increase at a moderate rate over the next few years. Opportunities should prove to better on small dailies and weekly papers where the pay tends to lower. Competition for jobs, however, will be universally keen.
Increasingly, automated and computerized equipment has decreased the need for printers and as Copy Editors assume more printer responsibilities, the need for them should increase. The adoption of computer linked video display terminals with electronic editing capabilities does not necessarily mean a decrease in the time needed to correct news articles, nor does it suggest that fewer Copy Editors will be needed in the future. Although automated devices can never completely replace human judgment, their introduction may mean that different techniques of performing the job must be learned. Workers needed to replace those who transfer, retire, or leave the labor force will account for many of the job openings. The turnover rate is generally low.
WAGES, HOURS, AND FRINGE BENEFITS
Salaries for Copy Editors vary considerably, depending upon previous experience and the size of the publication. Pay can range from $18,009 to $20,000 per year for the beginning worker and from $20,275 to over $50,000 yearly for skilled workers. Merit and longevity pay could raise the latter amount considerably. Smaller newspapers generally offer lower starting salaries than do the newspapers in the larger metropolitan areas. Copy editors working at night may receive slightly higher wages.
A five-day, 40-hour workweek is standard in the industry. However, smaller newspapers may require fewer regular hours. Work in excess of the standard is usually compensated at one and one-half times the basic rate, although smaller papers are less likely to pay overtime rates. Overtime is infrequent, though major or last minute news developments sometimes require extra work.
Hours for Copy Editors may be more regular than those of other newspaper employees, although weekend work is not uncommon. Weekend work is either rotated among staff members or assigned on a permanent basis with compensating weekdays off.
Fringe benefits usually include health insurance, vacations, sick leave, holidays, and retirement benefits.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING
Prior experience either in reporting or in editing is generally a prerequisite for Copy Editors. Previous newspaper experience is preferred, but experience reporting for other media such as radio, television, or magazines may be acceptable. A high school diploma is generally required, and most employers desire at least some college training, preferably a four year degree. Course work in journalism, English, and writing is helpful, as are classes in humanities and the liberal arts. Writing and editing experience on a high school or college newspaper is also advantageous. Aspiring Copy Editors should also learn to type.
Applicants for copy editor jobs should have good concentration, be interested in a variety of subjects, and enjoy reading. They must have an excellent knowledge of grammar, punctuation, spelling, and word and sentence usage. Knowledge of proofreader symbols is helpful.
Today's newspaper readers are more sophisticated than those of earlier times, and they demand articles and features which probe deeply into a variety of technical and specialized subjects. This has created a strong demand, particularly on larger newspapers, for copy editors who are familiar with scientific, engineering, economic, and business concepts and terminology.
ADVANCEMENT
Increasing familiarity with newspaper procedures and practices enables Copy Editors to advance to editorial responsibilities in news, sports or other subjects. A typical promotional pattern might include supervisor of the copy desk, assistant editor, editor, and executive editor of a department.
FINDING THE JOB
One can apply directly to newspapers for jobs. College placement offices can be used a resource, as can journalism or English departments. Professional associations, classified advertisements in specialized or general newspapers, and the California Employment Development Department are other sources for job information.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
The Newspaper Guild 8611 2nd Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301) 585-2990
The Dow Jones Newspaper Fund P.0. Box 300 Princeton, NJ 08543-0300 (609) 452-2820
Newspaper Association of America Foundation 11600 Sunrise Valley Dr. Reston, VA 22091-1412 (703) 648-1000
National Newspaper Foundation 1627 K Street, N.W., Suite 400 Washington, DC 20006 (202) 234-5020
RELATED OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES
Newspaper Reporters No. 113 Technical Writers No. 138
OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES
DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th ed., Rev. 1) Editorial Assistant 132.267-014
OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) System Writers and Editors 340020
Source: State of California, Employment Development Department,
Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group
(916) 262-2162.
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