|
| The ''Jacks and Jills'' session was part of a one-day, three-course design sequence.
(Photo by Michelle Brandon) |
|
|
Blending words
and visuals
|
Design can be an important skill for copy editors.
|
By Elaine Rashmawy
Copy
desks vary from newsroom to newsroom. At some newspapers, copy editors only edit
stories and write headlines, while at others they design pages as well.
“Jacks and Jills of All Trades: Balancing Copy Editing and Design,” led by Amy Crawford
of the Yuma (Ariz.) Sun, Daniel Hunt of the Santa Rosa (Calif.) Press Democrat and
Rachel Moore of the Torrance (Calif.) Daily Breeze, taught designers that editing
and design go hand in hand.
| ''Jacks and Jills of All Trades: Balancing Copy Editing and Design,'' presented
by Amy Crawford of the Yuma (Ariz.) Sun, Daniel Hunt of the Santa Rosa (Calif.) Press
Democrat and Rachel Moore of the Torrance (Calif.) Daily Breeze |
|
“The words are just as vital as the design,” said Hunt,
a sports copy editor. “You have the ability to create things that are visually appealing
and accurate.”
Crawford said art on a page keeps readers from looking at a big, gray blob.
“It’s important to have at least one art element on a page,” Crawford said.
Hunt said it is helpful for designers to write out their designs on dummies to get
a feel for what will work on the page. He also said having unique designs are also
important.
“Don’t be afraid to try things that are a little abstract, out of the normal,” Hunt
said.
Moore said it is important for a newspaper to maintain its style.
“Consistency is important,” she said.
Crawford spoke favorably of white space, something some people do not like to use
around a photo.
“It just gives a little bit of buffer to the photo,” she said.
She also likes having freedom in her designs.
“I’m really autonomous in what I do,” Crawford said.
Moore said starting out at a paper with a smaller circulation will give a copy editor
a chance to learn design.
“Don’t be afraid to maybe go to a smaller paper,” she said.
However, design does have its downsides.
“‘Afghanistan’ won’t fit into one column,” Hunt said.
“Neither will ‘Schwarzenegger,’” Crawford and Moore said.
Elaine Rashmawy is a junior at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. This
is her first ACES conference. |
|
