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| From left, Holly Kerfoot, Anne Ferguson-Rohrer and Neil Holdway have cataloged
the wildlife and mildlife of the newspaper habitat and studied their behaviors. |
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How to cooperate with the various
species
of newsroom creatures, even when it might seem impossible.
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| Anne Ferguson-Rohrer impatiently checks her watch as she plays a reporter who
has been approached by copy editor Scott ''Jake'' Jacobson (Kansas City Star) in
a skit for "A Field Guide to the American Newsroom." |
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By Elaine Rashmawy
Can’t
find a way to cooperate with that editor who always complains about doing everyone
else’s work? “A Field Guide to the American Newsroom” taught copy editors at the
2005 American Copy Editors Society conference ways to work with a variety of co-workers.
Holly Kerfoot (Winston-Salem, N.C., Journal), Neil Holdway (Daily Herald, suburban
Chicago) and Anne Ferguson-Rohrer (Washington Post) described 11 breeds of humans
that can be found in the newsroom. These personalities were portrayed in four scenarios
of copy editors asking other journalists questions about their stories.
Audience member Scott “Jake” Jacobson, the newsroom copy chief of The Kansas City
Star, congratulated a scenario performer on how she asked a copy editor, portrayed
by Ferguson-Rohrer, to fix an error on a page in one of the skits.
“She didn’t choke her,” Jacobson said.
The different types of personalities, as described in the session handout, included
the Lesser LeaveIt, whose typical call is “Let the copy desk fix it!” This person
expects copy editors to worry about all the grammar and spelling in his or her story.
Another personality type is the Prehistoric Patter, who is known to say, “We’ve always
done it that way!” This person is usually someone who has been in the newsroom for
a while.
“Trying to be apathetic or sympathetic is a good start,” Ferguson-Rohrer said of
communicating with newsroom staff members.
| ''A FIELD GUIDE TO THE AMERICAN NEWSROOM,'' presented by Anne Ferguson-Rohrer,
Washington Post, Neil Holdway, Daily Herald in suburban Chicago; and Holly Kerfoot,
Winston-Salem Journal |
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Audience member Kenn Altine, director of editorial
professional development for Hearst Newspapers, said when a copy editor does not
like something about someone’s story, it is best to suggest a change before speaking
with that person.
“I would never criticize a headline without rewriting it myself,” Altine said.
All of the audience members agreed about not reacting badly to rude comments from
newsroom staff, which would only add fuel to the fire.
Jacobson acted in a scene in which he asked a reporter to reword a lengthy lead.
He said it is good to tell the reporter he or she is doing a good job, but more should
be said.
“There’s acknowledgement but also hedging that has to go with it,” Jacobson said.
Elaine Rashmawy is a junior at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. This
is her first ACES conference. |
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