COPYREADING

 It is the process of correcting write-

ups using copyreading symbols.
DUTIES OF A COPYREADER

 Straighten out ungrammatical construction.

 Shorten sentences and tighten paragraphs.
 Rewrite the story completely if it is poorly written.
 Rewrite the lead or the first few paragraphs
whenever necessary but must never tamper the
facts unless he is sure of his corrections.
 Delete all opinions, speculations and statements on
news which are without attribution or sources.
 Watch out for slanting or any attempt to present the
story in a biased way.
 Watch for libelous statements.
 Check sluglines.
 Limit the use of adjectives and other descriptive
words or phrases.
 Write headlines.
WHAT TO COPYREAD?

 Errors in facts.
 Errors in grammar.
 Errors in structure.
 Libelous and derogatory statements.
 Opinions and editorializing statements.
 Redundancy
 Verbal deadwood
Error in Facts

Jejomar Binay, President

of the Philippines will sell his
properties to raise funds for
Yolanda victims.
Error in Grammar

 The school and student officials gathering

for a Symposium on Cyberbullying
yesterday.

“We must thinked before we will posting

something on social networking sites,”
emphasized ASU Principal Ben Arroyo.
Error in Structure

The principals will meet again next week

to discuss the details of the planned training for
teachers.
“We are happy with the progress of our
preparations so far. This training is one of our
deliverables this month,” said Division
Superintendent Dr. Jesse M. Gomez, CESO V.
Libelous and Derogatory
Statements
The principal has erred in its decision to
suspend three classroom teachers who
signed a petition against the school’s plan to
reorganize.
The hair-brained principal acted with
malice and committed a grave abuse of
discretion.
Opinions and Editorializing
Statements
 President Benigno S. Aquino approved the
Salary Standardization Law yesterday.
The law is surely amazing and exciting.

 Congratulations for a job well done!

Redundancies

 Redundancies are created by unnecessarily

expressing the same idea or using the same
word or phrase repeatedly.

Campus journalists joined the workshop to

enhance their journalistic skills in the field of
journalism.
Speakers and lecturers were also fellow
campus journalists who were national winners.
Redundancies

 (anonymous) stranger
 (annual) anniversary
 assemble (together)
 assemble (together)
 compete (with each other)
Verbal Deadwood
 for the reason that - because
 at the present time - now
 tendered his resignation - resigned
 affixed his signature - signed
 told his listeners - said
 united in Holy matrimony - married
 used for fuel purposes - fueled
 held a conference - met
 in the immediate vicinity - near
 was able to make his escape - escaped
COPYREADING SYMBOLS
 INDENT

The victim was Kimberly Libre, 14, and

a resident of Malinao, Aklan.
According to the investigation of Dumangas PNP,
Libre was bumped by the bus when she crossed
the street.
 NEW PARAGRAPH

The program aims to give recognition

to the deserving pupils for school year 2008-
2009. Mrs. Richie Decastillo started the program
by a prayer.
 TRANSPOSE

According to SPO1 Peter Dongosa, Beliber

is noted a snatcher in the city.
 CLOSE SPACE

Donesa is a G rade V pupil of Barotac Nuevo

Central School.

Panel members shall meet on Saturday.

 INSERT SPACE

Thesuspect is still at large.

 DELETE WORD

Benihagan is the son of of Mr. Rodolfo

Benihagan of Dingle, Iloilo.
 CAPITALIZE

Dr. Rodolfo galvez is the present regional

director of dilg Region VI.
 DON’T CAPITALIZE

Fr. Dennis Facudao, School Director of

Augustinian Grade School is a native of Dingle,
Iloilo.
 SPELL OUT

PDMCS is located at the south wing of the

airport.
 ABBREVIATE

Governor Niel Tupas Sr. extended financial

help to repair the school fence.
 NO PARAGRAPH

Dr. Enrique Rodrigo, the present municipal

mayor of the town
of Pag-asa,Bulacan was a graduate of the
former Pag-asa Grade School, now, Pag-asa Pilot
Elementary School.
 INSERT QUOTATION MARKS

”
“

” This is the best school as far as campus

journalism is concerned. “
These were the words of Dr. Felipe Diasnes,
director III of DepEd Region V.
 DELETE LETTER

The ddog lies near deaad.

 DELETE LETTER AND CHANGE LETTER

l p
The expiosion hafpened at the mall.
 KILL

Barangay authorities immediately reported

the incident to Jaro Police Station.
This is an unbelievable news.
 INSERT WORD OR LETTER
who

The victim is still a bachelor…

c
Acording to the police
 ALIGN

 Iloilo City is now ready to compete

in the second phase of the Philippine
Cities Competitiveness Ranking
Program (PCCRP) conducted by the Asian
Institute of Management (AIM) Policy Center.
 Hanggang ngayon ay hinahanap pa ng
5
mga pulis ang mga suspek na agaran namang
tumakas pagkatapos ng insidente.
Kinilala ang biktimang si Nathaniel
2 Lutero, 23, at residente ng barangay Sigangao
Leganes.
Limang malalalim na saksak ang inabot
4 ng biktima mula sa mga suspek.
Patay ang isang lalaki na biktima ng
1 pananaksak kagabi sa bayan ng Zarraga, Iloilo.
Alas 10 diumano ng gabi, mag-isang
umiinon si Lutero sa loob ng Jyx Videoke na
nasa harap ng Zarraga Public Market ng bigla
3 siyang lapitan ng dalawang lalaki mula sa
kabilang mesa at inundayan ng saksak.
 THE SLUGLINE

The slugline is placed on the upper left hand

corner of the news being corrected.
It is a big circle that contains three important
information.
First, the main idea of the news, second, the
date when the news is corrected and lastly is the
name of the original writer.
 SAMPLE SLUGLINE

The news is about

Vehicular Accident
The date when
corrected March 10, 2009

Jose Velarde
The writer
 The End Mark

 This is placed at the end of your news story

after it was corrected.

or
30
Reminders for Copyreaders

 Use soft black pencil.

 Ring or encircle your slugline and end mark.
 If the copy has so many errors, it is better to
rewrite it.
 COPYREADING STEP-BY-STEP

1. Read the entire copy and understand it.

2. Rearrange paragraphs by putting numbers
before them.
3. Put copyreading symbols.
4. Kill all unnecessary and nonsense paragraphs.
5. Put end mark.
6. Read your lead and make a headline out of it.
7. Put the slugline.
8. Recheck the entire copy again.
HEADLINE
WRITING
What is a Headline?

 A group of words written in

bigger, bolder letters than the
usual page text at the beginning
of the news

 It is not a title
Functions of a Headline

 To attract readers

 To tell what the news is

(in summary)
TIPS IN MAKING HEADLINES
Read the story for general
meaning.

Clues to the headline are

usually in the lead.

Use the shortest words

possible.
 Policeman – cop
 Arrest – nab
 Increase – up
 Decrease – down
 Accident – mishap
 Dominates – rules
 Dismisses - fires
HEADLINE VOCABULARY

 These are special words used only in

headlines.
1. Faculty club beefed up ( strengthened)
2. Enrolment dips ( decreases)
3. Science quiz bared ( examination announced)
4. Contests cap Animal Week (highlight)
5. Santos bats for cooperation ( urges)
6. DepEd bucks tuition fee increase (disapproves)
7. Bacong bags 12 medals in District Meet (wins)
8. Calao tops cartooning tilt (contest)
9. Principal lauds editors (praises)
10. Local staff rules press tilt (dominates)
11. US hits North Korea ( attacks)
12. De Castro winds up diplomatic tour (ends)
13. Cops busted syndicate (ended)
14. Slay suspect grilled (questioned)
15. RP eyes import hike (sees)
16. 456 hurdle teachers board ( pass)
17. Lim fires 5 cops ( dismisses)
18. RP-Malaysia dispute rowed (solved)
19. Fiscal dismiss rape rap (charge)
20. Import talk snagged (delayed)
The headline should match with
the lead.
 Example:
Headline:
Lapuz lauds DepEd Aklan for topping NAT-6

Lead:
Department of Education (DEPED) Secretary
Jesli Lapuz sent a letter yesterday to Aklan Division
Office congratulating it for its outstanding
performance in the 2009 National Achievement
Test for Grade Six.
A headline should have a
subject and a verb.
 Examples:

Kalibo holds 2009 Regional Journalism tilt

SONA ni GMA sinalubong ng protesta

Avoid starting the headline
with a verb as it might
sound as if giving orders
Wrong: Implement K+12 program

Correct: DepEd implements K+12

program
A headline should attract the
attention of the readers.
 Examples:

Pandesal to shrink further

Karpintero binayaran sa pagtulog sa trabaho

If the news is about a present or
past event,where the subject is
the doer of the action, use
present tense of the verb.
Examples:

Carpenter’s son tops cartooning tilt

Farmer hits 100M lotto jackpot
Barbero ipinakulong ang kainuman
If the news is about a present
or past event where the subject
is not the doer of the action,
use past tense form of the verb.

 Examples:
Noted snatcher nabbed in La Paz
Shabu lab discovered in Sta. Barbara
Omit the helping verb if the
verb is in its passive
voice. Only the past
participle is retained.

Wrong: Noted snatcher was nabbed in La Paz

Correct: Noted snatcher nabbed in La Paz

If the news is about a future
event, use the infinitive form
of the verb.
 Examples
Wrong:
GMA will visit Aklan
Typhoon Toyang will hit Panay tomorrow

Correct:
GMA to visit Aklan
Typhoon Toyang to hit Panay tomorrow
Do not use a period at the
end of the headline

Omit articles a, an, the

Wrong:
A dog rescues suicide bomber

Correct:
Dog rescues suicide bomber
Use a comma instead of “and”
in writing headlines

Wrong:
Poe and Roxas confirm presidential candidacy

Correct:
Poe, Roxas confirm presidential candidacy
If the person is not well-
known, use common nouns

*Let’s say Santos is a not famous fireman.

Instead of
Santos wins boxing
Use
Fireman wins boxing
Read the following news and try to make a fitting headline.

A 68-year old retired teacher died on a ransack incident, January 11, at Barangay Habug-habug, Molo, Iloilo City.
Acquiring 12 stab wounds all over his body, Mr.Mike Doledo was found dead in the house’s living room by the
responded police officers.
According to Mrs. Mercedes Apolinario, neighbor, she wondered why it is already eight in the morning yet
Doledo’s house is still close.
Smelling something unusual, Mrs. Apolinario phoned Molo PNP who also responded right away.
Five other housemates were found in their rooms with their arms tied and mouths taped by masking tape.
They were Mrs. Anita Doledo, Josephine and Alex Doledo, both children and the helpers Myrna Cabuyan and
Peter Borci.
According to Borci, nine o’clock in the evening of January 10 when they heard a scratching sound in the kitchen.
“We did not mind the sound because we thought that was only caused by rats, and besides, we are already
sleepy”, added Borci.
“All of the sudden three men in bonnets entered our room. They told us to give them the money but our father
resisted”, explained Alex Doledo.
Aside from killing the retired mentor, the robbers also took some jewelries and cash which amounted to two
hundred thousand pesos.
“The robbers passed by the kitchen because we found an aperture at the door”, said SPO4 Kenneth Dureza of
Molo PNP.
The suspects were still at large while the body of Mike Doledo lies at Porras Funeral Homes in La Paz.
 Retired educator killed in Molo ransack

A 68-year old retired teacher died on a ransack incident, January 11, at Barangay Habug-habug, Molo, Iloilo City.
Acquiring 12 stab wounds all over his body, Mr.Mike Doledo was found dead in the house’s living room by the
responded police officers.
According to Mrs. Mercedes Apolinario, neighbor, she wondered why it is already eight in the morning yet Doledo’s
house is still close.
Smelling something unusual, Mrs. Apolinario phoned Molo PNP who also responded right away.
Five other housemates were found in their rooms with their arms tied and mouths taped by masking tape.
They were Mrs. Anita Doledo, Josephine and Alex Doledo, both children and the helpers Myrna Cabuyan and Peter
Borci.
According to Borci, nine o’clock in the evening of January 10 when they heard a scratching sound in the kitchen.
“We did not mind the sound because we thought that was only caused by rats, and besides, we are already
sleepy”, added Borci.
“All of the sudden three men in bonnets entered our room. They told us to give them the money but our father
resisted”, explained Alex Doledo.
Aside from killing the retired mentor, the robbers also took some jewelries and cash which amounted to two
hundred thousand pesos.
“The robbers passed by the kitchen because we found an aperture at the door”, said SPO4 Kenneth Dureza of
Molo PNP.
The suspects were still at large while the body of Mike Doledo lies at Porras Funeral Homes in La Paz.
Basahin ang sumusunod na balita at lagyan ng tamang ulo.

Patay ang isang lalaki na biktima ng pananaksak kagabi sa bayan

ng Zarraga, Iloilo.
Kinilala ang biktimang si Nathaniel Lutero, 23, at residente ng
barangay Sigangao Leganes.
Alas 10 diumano ng gabi, ma-isang umiinon si Lutero sa loob ng
Jyx Videoke na nasa harap ng Zarraga Public Market ng bigla siyang
lapitan ng dalawang lalaki mula sa kabilang mesa at inundayan ng
saksak.
“Parang wala namang pagtatalong nangyari at agaran siyang
sinaksak”, sabi ni Ruella Aguro, waiter ng videoke.
Limang malalalim na saksak ang inabot ng biktima mula sa mga
suspek.
Agad namang isinugod ang biktima sa West Visayas State
University Medical Center ngunit pagkalipas ng ilang sandali ay
binawian rin ito ng buhay.
“Loss of blood ang kanyang ikinamatay”, pahayag ni Dr. Joel
Diasnes ng WVSU Medical Center.
Hanggang ngayon ay hinahanap pa ng mga pulis ang mga
suspek na agaran namang tumakas pagkatapos ng insidente.
 Lalaki patay sa saksakan sa Zarraga

Patay ang isang lalaki na biktima ng pananaksak kagabi sa bayan

ng Zarraga, Iloilo.
Kinilala ang biktimang si Nathaniel Lutero, 23, at residente ng
barangay Sigangao Leganes.
Alas 10 diumano ng gabi, ma-isang umiinon si Lutero sa loob ng
Jyx Videoke na nasa harap ng Zarraga Public Market ng bigla siyang
lapitan ng dalawang lalaki mula sa kabilang mesa at inundayan ng saksak.
“Parang wala namang pagtatalong nangyari at agaran siyang
sinaksak”, sabi ni Ruella Aguro, waiter ng videoke.
Limang malalalim na saksak ang inabot ng biktima mula sa mga
suspek.
Agad namang isinugod ang biktima sa West Visayas State
University Medical Center ngunit pagkalipas ng ilang sandali ay binawian
rin ito ng buhay.
“Loss of blood ang kanyang ikinamatay”, pahayag ni Dr. Joel
Diasnes ng WVSU Medical Center.
Hanggang ngayon ay hinahanap pa ng mga pulis ang mga suspek
na agaran namang tumakas pagkatapos ng insidente.
Try making a headline for the following news.

“I am 50 percent prayer and 50 percent practice.”

This was stressed by Alex Dequito, a Grade VI pupil of Tamboilan
Elementary School in Dumangas, Iloilo.
During the Regional Schools Press Conference, December 12, 2008 at
Punta Villa Resort, Iloilo City, Dequito won first place in Editorial Cartooning,
beating almost 100 contestants from the whole Region VI.
“His drawing is so impressive. For me, this is the best cartoon ever drawn
by an elementary pupil”, said Mr. Alex Ordoyo, judge.
When interviewed, Dequito said he dedicates his victory for his mother.
“Since he was in Grade one, he has already the skills in drawing”, said
Mrs. Jean Maloco, Dequito’s coach.
The 12-year old winner received a Certificate of Recognition from DepEd
Regional Office VI.
Dequito is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jose Dequito, both farmers from
barangay Tamboilan, Dumangas, Iloilo.
He is now joining the delegation of Region VI who will participate in the
National Schools Press Conference at Naga City on February 15-20, 2009.
 Farmer's son rules cartooning tilt
“I am 50 percent prayer and 50 percent practice.”
This was stressed by Alex Dequito, a Grade VI pupil of Tamboilan
Elementary School in Dumangas, Iloilo.
During the Regional Schools Press Conference, December 12,
2008 at Punta Villa Resort, Iloilo City, Dequito won first place in Editorial
Cartooning, beating almost 100 contestants from the whole Region VI.
“His drawing is so impressive. For me, this is the best cartoon
ever drawn by an elementary pupil”, said Mr. Alex Ordoyo, judge.
When interviewed, Dequito said he dedicates his victory for his
mother.
“Since he was in Grade one, he has already the skills in drawing”,
said Mrs. Jean Maloco, Dequito’s coach.
The 12-year old winner received a Certificate of Recognition from
DepEd Regional Office VI.
Dequito is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jose Dequito, both farmers
from barangay Tamboilan, Dumangas, Iloilo.
He is now joining the delegation of Region VI who will participate
in the National Schools Press Conference at Naga City on February 15-
20, 2009.
UNIT COUNTING IN HEADLINES

fjilt, all punctuation marks

except em dash (-) and ? ……………. ½ or .5

?, all numbers, spaces, FIJLT, and all

lower case letters except
fijlt ……………………………………………….. 1
Em dash (-), m and w, all capital letters
except M and W and FJILT ………………1 ½ or 1.5

M and W ……………………………………….. 2
 More Headline Samples

 Tatakbo ako – Erap…………………….. (18½ /1)

 NTC pinatagal ang buhay

ng prepaid load ………………….……….(36½ /2)

 Pulbusin ang Abu – GMA ………………....(24/1)

 2009 bar
exam result
released
………………………………………..…..(26/3)

 Retired police murdered in Iloilo ………(30/1)

 Balikatan to resume next month ….…. (28 ½

/1)
 The role of a copyreader is to
look for mistakes that he has to
correct.

In life, we must look also into

our mistakes and correct them as
well.