ACES Board Notes

Update from the ACES Executive Committee

By David Sullivan | 2:41 pm September 5, 2012 | No comments

Members of your ACES Executive Committee were not taking the summer off. (Well, at least not all of it.)

For example: Have you ever heard of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders? It’s sort of UKCES – our British equivalent. Board member Mark Allen has been reaching out to it to determine if there are ways we can better cooperate – we’d say “across the pond,” but copy editors hate clichés.

Mark, board members Gerri Berendzen and Sue Bullard, and ACES president Teresa Schmedding have also been looking into ways to offer additional member benefits. Nothing firm to report, this doesn’t happen overnight, but we hope to have some news on this soon.

Gerri in addition has been drawing up the guidelines for this year’s ACES Intern program. Once again we will have two paid internships for college students, one in cooperation with the Education Fund. This not only helps us better communicate with and serve you, it also gives college students interested in copy editing something else to put on their resumes.

The board’s major effort this summer is to look at how it internally functions and how the organization is governed and financed in light of the changes in the newspaper business that gave birth to ACES and the vacancy in the executive director post. We’ll be doing a lot of work on that at our midterm board meeting in October, so look for some news then. Membership vice president Sara Hendricks, treasurer Neil Holdway, and Brady Jones have been among the board members leading this effort.

Teresa, Neil and member Andy Bechtel were also involved in the successful Chicago regional training session in August, and other board members present and past will be at the session in Washington in late October.

And conference vice president Lisa McLendon has been preparing to go into conference overdrive for planning our St. Louis conference in April – this while beginning her new job as coordinator of the Bremner Editing Center at the University of Kansas and relocating from Wichita to Lawrence.

So it’s been a busy summer here on the ACES board. Stay tuned in the months ahead for more news.

–David Sullivan

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A summer update from the ACES Executive Committee

By David Sullivan | 4:49 pm June 28, 2012 | No comments

Fellow ACES members, here’s what members of the Executive Committee are working on.

Vice president for conferences Lisa McLendon told fellow board members of the success of the ACES regional boot camp in St. Petersburg, Fla., this spring. About 25 people came to the Poynter Institute to learn how to be better copy editors, with (given our hosts) a look at ethics as well. Lisa is planning additional boot camps for this year in St. Louis, Albuquerque, and Washington – watch for one if it’s near you! (Not only that, but these boot camps tend to be money-makers for ACES, helping us serve our members better.)

In addition, Lisa and board member Mark Allen are working on two outreach efforts with implications for editors in terms of better proofreading of our work and better ways to identify organizations with a dog in the political fights of our day. Things are too preliminary to get more specific, but watch for news on this in the months ahead.

The board members are continuing to research how other journalism-related organizations are structured in terms of their directors and management so that we can see how ACES compares and if we should consider a change in our own structure to better meet our members’ needs. There’s a lot of variety out there, so this also is taking a lot of time and thought, but be watching this space for further updates.

And board member Brady Jones is taking it as his task to re-emphasize the society’s commitment to a chapter system, particularly on the college level. If you’re interested in a chapter, contact Brady at bradyjones@copydesk.org.

In the months ahead, watch “Board Notes” for more news about what the ACES executive committee members are doing to make this an even-better organization that merits your strong support. “Board Notes” wants to become your link to the board whose members you elect.

Posted in Membership, Outreach | No Comments »

Operate without copy editors at your own risk

By Teresa Schmedding | 2:42 pm April 26, 2012 | 11 comments

Word is spinning around the Internet of two divisions of Media News Group that plan to move copy editing to the “content-generation level.” What does that mean? We don’t know for sure — developments in Denver await a formal meeting, those at Bay Area News Group seem to be more public knowledge — but it seems to be along the same lines as what was done when the rim editors were laid off in Minneapolis and what San Diego’s new owners called “not having a traditional copy desk.”

Steve Myers of the Poynter Institute is reporting today that BANG – which consists of the Oakland Tribune, San Jose Mercury News, Contra Costa Times, and a number of smaller titles – and the Denver Post are expected to cut copy editors and “shift” their responsibilities to front-line editors or reporters.

We admit, the decision of how to keep the doors open during these tough times isn’t an easy one. Cutting editing may seem like a no-brainer since you can’t have content to copy edit if you can’t afford to pay any reporters.

To us, it seems a bit of a no-brainer that you’ve wasted all your pay on reporters, editors, photographers, newspapers and websites if you put out content that people don’t understand.

Editing has value — a value that is real and can be measured. Fred Vultee’s research has proved that.

Instead of stamping our feet in frustration, we thought we’d tell you what value you’ll be losing if you cut your copy desk:

1. People will not pay for crap — or at least not enough to keep you in business.

2. A libel suit for a carelessly written story can cost more than a copy editor’s salary.

3. Copy editors are more than gatekeepers. They provide the ability to “connect the dots” among the work of hundreds. They ensure your content reinforces your brand.

4. Readers never forgive publications for misspelling their names.

5. Copy editors can ask the question a reader will likely ask before publication, saving the editors time, resources and apologies.

6. Copy editors are the masters of display type: headlines, summaries, refers, captions, eblast subject lines, Twitter and FB posts.

7. Headline writing is a specialized skill, and headlines can make or break a story in print and online.

8. Reporters think like reporters. Editors think like editors. Copy editors think like readers.

9. Reporters need to focus on reporting. Editors need to focus on directing reporters and shaping the story. The time reporters invest in copy editing, writing headlines and writing display type will dilute that focus.

10. Most importantly, copy editors are your final, objective gatekeepers. They are the ones who are outside the content-producing process who can tell the emperor he’s not wearing clothes. Trust me. You do not want the public to see your content when it’s naked.

Tags: copy editing, layoffs, newspapers, quality, research
Posted in Commentary | 11 Comments »

Where research and editing intersect

By Andy Bechtel | 2:11 pm November 21, 2011 | No comments

In recent years, ACES has taken an interest in sponsoring and encouraging research about editing. We made a splash earlier this year with Fred Vultee’s research on editing and credibility.

Now, we are forming a panel of professors to continue these efforts. Their task will be to serve as our eyes and ears for research relevant to ACES members. They will also suggest ideas for research projects and share their own work in the ACES newsletter and at conferences.

Here are the members of the ACES Advisory Board for Research:

Doug Fisher, University of South Carolina
John Russial, University of Oregon
Leslie-Jean Thornton, Arizona State University

All three are active members of ACES, and they have strong professional backgrounds that complement their academic credentials. Thanks to all three for volunteering to help ACES highlight research that shows what copy editors do and why editing matters.

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ACES seeks corporate communications intern

By Gerri Berendzen | 1:50 pm November 1, 2011 | 1 comment

The American Copy Editors Society is seeking a corporate communications intern to help craft press releases, generate corporate communication and marketing documents and help research contact information for both the ACES executive committee and the Education Fund board.

The intern will work from home and will be paid $600, with the time frame and hours flexible, but equivalent to a semester’s work during the 2011-12 school year. The bulk of the work will be leading up to and during our national conference, which is April 12-14, 2012.

Applicants must be members in good standing of the American Copy Editors Society, however, students may join the society at the time of application. Applicants also should be currently enrolled in college, seeking a degree in the journalism/communications field. Graduates who received their degree in the past three months also are eligible.

This internship is separate from a website and newsletter content intern position announced in August.

The application deadline is Dec. 15. To download an application and for more information, click here.

For more information or to submit a resume and application, send an e-mail to tschmedding@copydesk.org.

Posted in Announcement | 1 Comment »

ACES 2012 preliminary schedule

By Gerri Berendzen | 12:51 pm October 14, 2011 | No comments

American Copy Editors Society National Conference

April 12-14, 2012, New Orleans

Preliminary Schedule

Note: Days, times and speakers are subject to change.

Thursday, April 12

8 a.m. – Registration begins, Rhythms foyer, second floor

9-10:30 a.m. – Opening general session, Rhythms Ballroom, second floor

10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Breakout sessions

Tiny Acts of Elegance: Editing Like a Writer: Bill Walsh, The Washington Post

Afraid of Math? Take a Number: Rich Holden, Dow Jones News Fund

Copy Editors as Curators: Gerri Berendzen, Quincy Herald-Whig; Sue Bullard, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

A Keen Eye for Graphics: Bill Cloud, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

12:15-2:15 p.m.– Lunch on your own (theme lunches meet with leader in Sheraton lobby)

2:15-3:45 p.m. – Breakout sessions

The Power of Proofreading: Sherrie Voss Matthews, John Braun and Sherri Hildebrandt

Even Porn Needs Style: Eric Althoff, freelance editor, New Jersey

Writing for SEO, Writing for Social Media: Frank Russell, University of Missouri

Editing in the Academic World: Margaret Alford Cloud, moderator

4-5:30 p.m. – Breakout sessions

Nuts and Bolts Punctuation: Lisa McLendon, The Wichita Eagle

Freelance Editors’ Forum: Mark Allen, Erin Brenner and Sherri Hildebrandt, moderators

Online News Editing: What Works: John Russial, moderator

Small-Staffs Forum: Tim Yagle, Rick Dyer and Julie Marra, moderators

6:30-9 p.m. – Reception, Lagniappe, second floor

Friday, April 13

8 a.m. – Registration begins, Rhythms foyer, second floor

9 a.m.-5 p.m. – Silent auction, Rhythms Ballroom III, second floor

9-10:30 a.m. – Breakout sessions

Editing Study Update: Fred Vultee, Wayne State University

Presenting Yourself: Resumes, Interviewing, Networking: Bill Connolly, retired from The New York Times; Rich Holden, Dow Jones News Fund

Surviving a Redesign: Sherrie Voss Matthews, David Brindley

10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – General session: Style Q&A with AP and Chicago, presenters: Carol Fisher Saller of CMOS; David Minthorn and Darrell Christian of AP

12:15-2:15 p.m.– Lunch on your own

2:15-3:45 p.m. – Breakout sessions

Business Editing in Depth: 10 Things You’d Better Know: Merrill Perlman, editing consultant (co-sponsored by the Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism)

Editing at a Hub: Todd Kistler, Thom Wright, LANG; Pam Nelson, McClatchy

Alternative Story Forms and How to Get Them into Your Paper: Rob Schneider and Josh Crutchmer, SND

Ethics of the Last Editor Standing: Rick Kenney, Florida Gulf Coast University

4-5:30 p.m. – Breakout sessions

Triage for Editors: Nick Jungman, Wichita Business Journal

Missourian Transition Follow-up: Maggie Walter and Frank Russell, University of Missouri

Lessons from SND’s Best of Print Design/Best of Digital Design: Josh Crutchmer and Rob Schneider, SND

Fault Lines: Dori Maynard, Maynard Institute

5:30-7 p.m. – Silent auction moves to Armstrong foyer, eighth floor

7-9:30 p.m. – Banquet, Armstrong Ballroom, eighth floor

Keynote Speaker: Roy Peter Clark, Poynter Institute

Saturday, April 14

8 a.m. – Registration begins, Rhythms foyer, second floor

9-10:30 a.m. – Breakout sessions

Making sense of “study says”: Fred Vultee, Wayne State University

Financial Editing: The Words you Choose: Christine Steele, Capital Group

Editing Military Coverage: Renee Petrina, Sarah Clagett, Jared Marquis, Amy Gunnerson, all of Defense Information School

Women in Management Forum: Teresa Schmedding, moderator

10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Breakout sessions

Inside Readers’ Heads: “Headlinese” : Alex Cruden, editing consultant

Editing Maps and Graphics: David Brindley, National Geographic

Speed Bumps in Editing: Merrill Perlman, editing consultant

Avoiding Burnout: Becca Dyer, Arizona Republic; Rick Dyer, Independent Newspapers

Editing Books: Jim Thomsen, freelance; Katya Jenson, Peachtree Publishers

12:15-2:15 p.m. – Lunch on your own

2:15-3:45 p.m. – Breakout sessions

Jimmy’s World (limited to 20) Bill Connolly, retired from The New York Times

Math is Everywhere! Neil Holdway, Daily Herald

How to Learn a Style Guide in 10 Days: Colleen Barry, IDG Enterprise

How Do I Get There? Copy Editing Beyond the Newsroom: Doug Ward, University of Kansas, et al.

Copy Editors to Multiplatform Editors: Teresa Schmedding, Lisa McLendon

4-5 p.m. – Closing general session, Rhythms Ballroom, second floor

6-8 p.m. – Social, Napoleon House, 500 Chartres Street

Questions? E-mail ACES conference vice president Lisa McLendon at lisamc@copydesk.org.

Tags: conference
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ACES board midterm meeting

By Gerri Berendzen | 8:53 am | No comments

The American Copy Editors Society Executive Committee is meeting today and Saturday for its annual midterm meeting.

Among the items on the agenda are planning for the ACES 2012 national conference April 12-14 in New Orleans, planning regional conferences for next year, building ACES membership and expanding member benefits.

As always, all of us on the board are interested in hearing from members about what you want from ACES. You can email any of the board members or send an email to info@copydesk.org.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Who says no one cares?

By Gerri Berendzen | 6:59 am October 7, 2011 | 2 comments

I’m a big believer in edit first, post second.

Of course, as a copy editor, I ought to be. And if my profession didn’t convince me of the necessity of a second set of eyes on my copy, re-reading my personal email would. Many a time have I cringed when re-reading a long email I’ve already sent. It’s difficult to see your mistakes in the heat of composing.

I understand that there are times you need to get breaking news out right away, and big hands make mistakes on small smartphone keyboards. But in most cases, there’s time to have someone else read your copy before you post or at least look over your shoulder before doing the big breaking news tweet.

I’m not the only one cringing. ACES-sponsored research presented at the 2011 conference in Phoenix shows readers, especially those who follow the news closely, prefer professionally edited articles.

If you really want to know what news readers think about grammar and writing errors, read the comments under the stories. There are plenty of commenters who delight in pointing out the miscues of both reporters and fellow commenters.

Still think people just ignore grammar and spelling errors on the web? Consider this. Recently, I was reading an article on a website about upcoming text changes in the Catholic church’s liturgies. The first comment listed was this: “Please fix the misuse of ‘their/there’ in paragraphs 19 and 25.”

It’s nice to know some people still care.

Posted in Shop Talk | 2 Comments »

Celebrating the comma, partying with parentheses

By Gerri Berendzen | 11:13 pm September 22, 2011 | No comments

University of Nebraska-Lincoln students in one of ACES board member Sue Burzynski Bullard

Need to conquer the comma, get a handle on hyphen or decipher the dash?

Or are you thinking about all out extermination of the doubled exclamation point?

Than you might want to start your crusade at the National Punctuation Day website.

Saturday, Sept. 24, is the eighth annual National Punctuation Day. And while those of us who work with words might see the day as a opportunity for a bit of fun (and cookies), it’s also an opportunity to promote the proper use of marks that help clarify the meaning of written material.

Punctuation is important. As the Purdue Online Writing Lab says in its punctuation section: “When speaking, we can pause or change the tone of our voices to indicate emphasis. When writing, we use punctuation to indicate these places of emphases.”

Purdue’s OWL site is a great resource for clarification on punctuation issues. Other online resources are listed on the National Punctuation Day resources page.

So on Saturday, don’t just cringe at those unnecessary quotation marks (“Sale today on ham shank’s”), educate.

Posted in Musings | No Comments »

For students, ACES is awesome

By Sue Burzynski Bullard | 10:38 am September 12, 2011 | No comments

It’s the start of a new school year and that means new beginnings for the student chapter of ACES at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Many of our members graduated last spring so the remaining officers have been recruiting new students interested in editing.

It’s gratifying to hear them talk about how valuable ACES has been to them as students. They are so pumped up about how cool it has been to meet professionals and network with ACES members at regional and national conferences.

As an example, they told new recruits this week about meeting David Brindley of National Geographic at the ACES national conference in Phoenix last spring. After the conference, David skyped with our chapter to talk about editing graphics. And last summer when a couple of our members were in Washington D.C., he graciously took them on a tour of National Geographic and out to dinner.

The professional editors who spend a few minutes chatting with students at ACES conferences or mentoring them via email and Skype are having a huge impact on the next generation of journalists. I hear them talking about Merrill Perlman’s suggestion that ACES is about content editing. I love hearing them tell new students about how they’ve met editors at newspapers, editors working for Groupon, editors working for financial institutions or government agencies. And you can just see the new recruits light up, thinking about future career possibilities.

So if you’re an academic or if you’re a professional editor living near a university, think about getting more students involved in ACES this year. For students, as you can see from this video, the ACES experience is awesome.