Copy Editor Check List | The Auburn Plainsman | 2014

The Auburn Plainsman Copy Desk Check List COPY EDITING THE TEXT HEADLINES: - Active/present tense, not past-tense - Avoid using colons in headlines DECKS: - Active/present tense, never past tense - Should be informative and further explain the... More

The Auburn Plainsman Copy Desk Check List COPY EDITING THE TEXT HEADLINES: - Active/present tense, not past-tense - Avoid using colons in headlines DECKS: - Active/present tense, never past tense - Should be informative and further explain the headline - Like headlines, all white space should be filled, add words if needed - Do not use the same words in headline and deck BYLINES: - Writers first and last name, spelled correctly, all caps - Job title under name, slightly smaller font than name, all caps LEADS & NUT GRAFS: - Do not use quote leads, definition leads or cliches - Leads should be one paragraph, 1-2 sentences, 30 words or less - Who, what, when, where and why should be explained in the lead and nut graf (the ‘how’ comes later) QUOTES & TITLES: - Each story should have at least 3 different sources with equally balanced viewpoints *** Stories with less than 3 sources are no longer articles, they are columns (see editorializing) - Do not stack quotes: parap Less