Page 58 - Convergent Journalism an Introduction Writing and Producing Across Media

WORDS: THE FOUNDATION STONE OF JOURNALISM

serious. In many cases, the words do not mean what the journalist
thinks they mean. Rather than look the word up, they let it go. When
you start the self-editing process, take the time to look the word up.
The dictionary isn’t made of a toxic material, so it won’t hurt you
when you pull it off the shelf, blow the dust off of it, and try to find
out exactly what “pejorative” means. Your readers and your editor will
ultimately thank you.
The importance of writer as editor cannot be understated, especially
in the world of the Internet. In many cases, putting information online
means a rush to get it up there fast. You need to make sure you are
giving yourself a strong edit because it might be the only heavy edit
the piece gets. If you are writing for a personal Web site or a blog, you
might not have anyone to act as your editor. If it’s all you, make sure
you are your harshest critic because it’s your reputation.

Editing versus Fixing
Many reporters (and more than a few editors) have the misperception
48 that editors should be fixing copy. First drafts covered in comments,
questions, and general scrawl marks are common sights in newsrooms.
However, editing and fixing are not the same thing and far too often
we find editors doing fixes rather than making edits. This robs the
writer of a valuable learning opportunity and it does little to alter future
behavior. Simply put, fixing is where the editor pulls up a story on the
computer and attacks it with speed and fury. Punctuation is changed,
sentences are rewritten, and paragraph order is shifted. Even if the
editor hands an amended story back to the reporter for a rewrite, the
process remains one of fixing rather than editing.
The keys to editing are collaboration and a common goal. The col-
laborative process works best when the editor and the reporter examine
the story from a detached place, discuss the merits of the work, and
provide a solid analysis as to what needs to be fixed and why.
Perhaps the most important part of the preceding sentence is the
last word: “why.” Without a general understanding as to why some-
thing needs to be changed, writers never grow and editors never see
true improvement. Instead, writers end up digging in their heels and
fighting against change. Editors never get the best story possible from
the reporter. The “why” component is vital. Think about any conversa-
tion you’ve ever had with a parent or a teacher that went poorly. You
might have been told you couldn’t do something you wanted to do.