Shanxi Upsdell, selected her senior year at the University of Kansas, is the kind of young copy editor the industry needs: She is intelligent, creative, analytical and a good writer. She craves to learn about her craft and about its future. Randy Evans, an assistant managing editor at the Des Moines Register, where Shanxi was a news copy desk intern, called her one of the best he’s ever encountered.
At the Register, Shanxi quickly became a valued member of the copy desk. Her enthusiasm was obvious. She handled 1A stories with ease. She sought out answers to questions she had in stories. She attended every training session she could, even if it didn’t pertain to copy editing. She spent time with the online department, too, to learn more about the Web site and how the Register had transformed from a newsroom to a 24-7 information center.
“Despite the challenges facing the journalism industry,” Upsdell wrote in her essay, “I believe critical thinking skills and a respect for fair and accurate communication are always required. Copy editing allows me to apply those skills to any audience, whether in print or online.”
