When I first got my CNN early morning newsletter, which, by the way, I like a lot for its straightforward curated approach— 5 things to know today—I immediately noticed what I knew were typos, but, boy, they were real bad ones.

Then, a few hours later, I also got the retraction, with the editors apologizing for “all the typos today”.  The typos included Red Sex for Red Sox!

But, worse than that, the briefing reported that the bombing suspect in the horrific Pittsburgh synagogue massacre of Saturday, October 27, would, if convicted serve for 48 hours—instead of 48 years.

This is another example of the need for copy editors. I am happy to have started my journalism career in the late 1960s, a time in which newsrooms valued the presence of those who reviewed the copy we wrote, made corrections and suggestions and, overall, made our stories read better.  Copy editors kept many writers from embarrassment.  Perhaps if a copy editor had been looking at the copy for the CNN briefing as it was written, these “typos” would have been corrected, no doubt about that.

Unfortunately, there are fewer copy editors in the newsroom these days.  In the digital age, many writers input their stories directly into their mobile platforms and hit the send button.  There is no extra set of eyes reading the copy. The New York Times eradicated the copy editing department last year.

Previously in TheMarioBlog

https://www.garciamedia.com/blog/the_quickly_disappearing_art_of_copy_editing/

Highlight:

Everyone needs an editor.  The best newspapers and magazines are those in which copy follows a strict and systematic approach as it flows from the reporter, to an assignment editor, and to copy editors who polish it to make it as perfect as it can be. In today’s digital environment where speed is key, copy editing does not become a feasible priority.  The New York Times, too, is coping with the issue.

Of related interest

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/29/business/media/new-york-times-staff-members-protest-cuts.html

Apple announcement today

Could it be new iPads unveiled today by Apple?

Apparently, that’s what most people think will be announced today. Apple is holding a holiday season product launch event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s opera house Tuesday at 10 a.m.  If, indeed, it is a new iPad, it should not only be the new toy on time for the Christmas holidays, but also a platform for publishers to think about. Here we go again!

TheMarioBlog post #2937