COPYREADING

& HEADLINE WRITING

ROGELIO D. DELA CRUZ

T – III, School Paper Adviser
San Fernando Sur ES
Cabiao District
 What is copyreading?
 Copyreading means editing a copy and
correcting errors in grammar, facts, data
including mechanical errors using appropriate
copyreading symbols universally known by
printers.
 What is a copy?

 A copy is the typewritten material sent to the

printing press to be typeset or encoded. It may be a
news story, a feature article, an editorial, or a
literary piece.
Functions of a Copy Editor
 Check facts.
 Correct errors in grammar spelling,
punctuation, usage, organization and others.
 Check copies for missing or inaccurate details.

 Improve news value.

 Write effective lead.

 Cut or delete irrelevant materials.

 Delete ‘editorializing’ materials in a news.

 Guard against libelous statements.

Functions of a Copy Editor

 Write headlines and decide its typography.

 Make copy simple and clear, delete
unnecessary and redundant words.
 Make copy conform to newspaper style sheets.

 Give instruction to the typesetter regarding

font type and font size to be used and the

number of columns and ems.
 Indicate corrections by using copyreading

marks.
10 Commandments for Copyreaders

 You shall not change the author’s meaning.

 You shall not introduce new errors; shall not change something correct to
incorrect.
 You shall not change anything except to improve it.
 Yu shall just focus on your work and do precisely what is expected of you.
 You shall honor and obey those in-charge of you.
 You shall mark clearly and write your corrections legibly.
 You shall protect the copy from rain, hail, wind, children , pets and all
things damaging.
 You shall meet deadlines.
 You shall assume nothing but should seek answers to all that is doubtful or
unspecified.
 You shall read and study language continually.
 The Headline

 What is a HEADLINE?
- “title” of a news story
- tells in capsule form what the story is
all about
- summarizes the lead (straight news)
- windows of the newspapers
 Qualities of Good Headlines

 It attracts the reader’s eye and directs attention

to the story beneath it.
 It is concisely constructed to save space.
Articles and unnecessary words are omitted.
 It must be positive and active. Active verb in
the present or future tense is used because
aside form being a short word, it is also the
tense of immediacy and it is more vivid.
 It is adjusted to the predetermined
typographical style of the paper.
 Steps in Writing Headlines

 Read the whole story to understand its message.

 Underline the key words from its lead, in which to base
the headline.
 Using the key words form the lead, write a short
telegraphic sentence summary of the news.
 Use the shortest word possible. Substitute simple
effective synonyms to fit the headline within the
allotted space.
 Divide it according to unit of thoughts into the number
of required lines or decks.
 Use colorful nouns and vigorous and active verb.
 Start with a noun followed by a verb.
 Guidelines in Writing Headlines
 Tell the story immediately and accurately.
 Contain a verb but do not start the headline with it.
Wrong: Hold dialog with the principal
Right: SPG holds dialog with the principal
 Be in the active voice except if the receiver of the action is
more important or the doer is not prominent
Ex. Food production drive intensified
RP’s lost image abroad regained
 Be in the present, the historical present or the future tense.
Ex. UN chief urges peaceful solution of sea dispute
 Never repeat words.
 Avoid the use of articles a, an and the.
 Use a comma instead of and.
Ex. Poe: Honesty triumphs experience, competence
 Guidelines in Writing Headlines
 Use only generally known abbreviations.
Ex. DENR, DepEd, Unicef
 Do not split a phrase between the first and second line.
Wrong: Group hold fun run urging
Duterte to run for president
Right: Group hold fun run urging Duterte
to run for president
 Avoid label heads.
Ex. LRT mishap in EDSA
 Do not editorialize the headline.
Ex. Athletes luckily win in Asian Games
 Never use past tense.
Wrong: Senate ordered arrest of 14 in Binay probe
Right: Senate orders arrest of 14 in Binay probe
 Do not be in the negative.
Wrong: SPG election will not be held
Right: SPG election postponed
 Use correct capitalization but no punctuation at the end of the headline.
 Avoid awkward verbal breaks.
Wrong: APEC trade chiefs vow to speed
up work in WTO
Right: APEC trade chiefs vow
to speed up work in WTO
 Unit Counts in Headlines
½ unit – jiltf and all punctuation except the em dash
(–)

1 unit – the question mark, space, all figures, capiltal

JILTF and al lower case letters, except jiltf.

1½ - the em dash, lower case m and w and all capital

letters except capital M and W and JILTF

2 units – capital M, W
Sample unit count
Are you a walking thesaurus?
 Try these:
DHS staff rules
TAPSA press con
(dominates)
Drive vs smut on
(against dirty literature)
Local spikers
wrest crown
(volleyball players,
capture, championship title)
Are you a walking thesaurus?
DepEd Secretary rejects tuition hike
(disapproves, increase)
US hits Russ nuclear test
(attacks)
GMA’s nod on
Lapus’ appointment
to DepEd expected
(approval)
456 pass bar exams
(hurdle)
 Are you a walking thesaurus?
RP- Malaysia row solved
(dispute)

Senate probe on agriculture fund scam starts

(investigation, irregularity)

Lim fires 5 Manila cops

(dismisses, policemen)

Asian economic managers

eye robust economy in region
(see)
 References:
1. Basic Campus Journalism by Ceciliano Jose-
Cruz
2. Campus Journalism Workbook by Gelly Elegio
Alkuino
3. Journalism Handbook by Estelita Pangilinan
 THANK YOU…

ROGELIO D. DELA CRUZ

SPA, SFSES
CABIAO DISTRICT