• It is the art of arranging, correcting, and

selecting the quality and type of news

• It is also called copy editing

• One who edits copies is called copy reader or

copy editor.
1. Check facts.
2. Correct errors in grammar, spelling,
punctuation, usage, organization and others.
3. Improve news value.
4. Write effective lead.
5. Cut or delete irrelevant materials.
6. Delete “editorializing materials” in a news.
7. Guard against libelous statement.
8. Write headlines and decide its typography.
9. Make copy simple and clear.
10. Make copy conform to the newspaper style
sheets.
11. Give instruction to the typesetter regarding
font type and font size to be used and the
number of columns and ems.
12. Indicate corrections by using the copyreading
marks.
 Double or triple space-typewrite all copy on
standard 8 ½ by 11-inch paper. The space between
lines is needed by copyreader for writing
corrections.
 In the upper left-hand corner of the paper, about
one-half inch from the top, write your name and a
guide line or slug to indicate the nature of the story.
For example, “kidnap” for news about
kidnapping, “typhoon” for a typhoon story and
“GMA” for news about Pres. Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo. The slug is used for identification and for
recordkeeping.
 Start typing the story about three of four inches
from the top of the page, leaving one-inch margin
at the left and right sides. The wide margin at the
top is for instruction to typesetter and for
headline.
 Indent five or ten spaces at the start of each
paragraph.
 End each page with a paragraph. Do not cut
paragraph and continue to the next page.
 Write “more” at the bottom of the page of
unfinished story and continue on the next sheet. Do
not use back page of the paper.
 On the second page, instead numbering as page
2, label it “first add” or “add one” followed by
the slug. Example, “first add kidnap” or “add one
kidnap”.
 End the story with number 30 or sharp # .
 After typing the story, through the use of soft-
leaded pencil and copy reading marks, correct
errors and improve it.
 If the copy could hardly be read because of so
many corrections, retype it if time permits to
facilitate editing the typesetting.
 News has no titles but headlines. Headlines
are windows of the newspapers as they serve as
the quick source of information for busy readers.
Summarizing complex story and arranging them
in a limited space on the page entails the
creative skills of the copy editor.
 itattracts the reader’s eye and directs its attention
to the story beneath it.
 it is concisely constructed to save space. Articles
and other unnecessary words are omitted.
 it must be positive and active. Active verb in the
present or future tense is used because aside from
being a short word, it is also the tense of
immediacy and it is more vivid.
 it is adjusted to a predetermined typographical
style of paper.
1. Read the whole story to understand its message.
2. Underline key words from its lead, in which to
base the headline.
3. Using the key words from the lead, write a short
telegraphic sentence summary of the news.
4. Use the shortest words possible.
5. Divide it according to unit of thoughts into the
number of required lines or decks.
6. Use colorful noun and vigorous and active verb.
7. Start with a noun followed by a verb.
1. Flush left- two or more lines of headline are
aligned at the left edge of the column.
2. Flush right- two or more lines of headline are
aligned at the right edge of the column.
3. Dropline- two or more three lines of heading,
usually of the same length and arranged
diagonally.
4. Hanging indention- usually three or more lines
of headline, the first line set flush to both margins
and the succeeding lines are indented from the left,
thus as if hanging from the first.
5. Crossline- a single line of headline running over
two or more columns.
6. Inverted pyramid- two or more lines of headline
with the first line flushed to both margin and the
succeeding lines getting shorter and centered.
7. Flushline or full line- consist of two or more
lines of the same length.
8. Streamer- striking boldface head extending across the
top of the page.
9. Umbrella- a streamer is placed at the very top of the
page above the name plate of the newspaper.
10. Binder- a streamer at the top of an inside page.
11. Jump head (run-over head)- headline of a news story,
which is cut and continued on the inside page, it is followed
by the words Continue from p. _ or the like.
12. subhead- a short title of a portion of a news story to
break the monotomy of gray text; set in boldface and
occupies more than half of the column.
13. Tagline or kicker- a short single line placed above the
main head, may be of smaller type, underlined and set
flush left or centered.