COPY READING

• process of editing and correcting the

form and content of the submitted
manuscript;
• includes checking the correctness of
grammar and syntax (form) and checking
the accuracy and relevance of data and
analysis (content);
• is done by using Copyreading symbols
 A CHECKLISTS FOR EDITORS
• Read a story quickly but thoroughly,
sizing it up for content and relative news
value
• Correct obvious errors of facts or spelling
• Check the story for conformity to
stylebook rules
 A CHECKLISTS FOR EDITORS
• Rewrite the lead if necessary.
• Break up long paragraphs into shorter
ones.
• Add subheads to longer articles
 A CHECKLISTS FOR EDITORS
•Decide if the story is too long for its relative
news value, and if so, trim it.
• Look for mistakes in grammar, punctuation
and spelling.
• Recheck facts, especially names, addresses,
numbers and titles.
 A CHECKLISTS FOR EDITORS
Watch for potentially libelous statements; make
sure the story is accurate and that it is fair to all
side in the issue.
• Write the headline.
• Write captions, pull quotes and other text that
would be given special treatment in the layout
COPY READING SYMBOLS
• Punctuation Marks
Insert period
Insert comma, colon, semicolon
Insert apostrophe
 COPY READING SYMBOLS
• Punctuation Marks
Insert quotation marks
Insert hyphen, dash

Insert question mark, exclamation

 COPY READING SYMBOLS
• Punctuation Marks
Delete punctuation
• Numbers & Abbreviations
Spell out (#1-9)
Use figure
 COPY READING SYMBOLS
• Numbers & Abbreviations
Abbreviate
Don’t abbreviate
• Special Forms of Type
Capitalize
Make lower case
 COPY READING SYMBOLS
Letter and Word Changes
Insert Letter
Replace letter (s)
Delete letter, close up
 COPY READING SYMBOLS
• Letter and Word Changes
Delete letter, leave space
Insert word
Change word
Delete word, close up
Delete word, leave space
Insert space
 PRINTER’S DIRECTION
2 / 24 / TNR-B / 1
FL / CLC
• The first number refers to the number of lines your headline will have.
• The second number stands for the font size to be used.
• TNR (Times New Roman) indicates the font type.
• B stands for bold, a type style.
• The third number means that the headline will run across one
column of the page.
• FL means flushed left, the structure of the
headline while CLC, caps lower-case is the headline
style.
 STANDARD
COPY READING
SYMBOLS
THE HEADLINE
Headlines are the display windows of
newspapers. They also serve as a quick
source of information for busy newspaper
readers.

Summary of the summary lead.

 POINTERS IN HEADLINE WRITING
Make it skeletonized. Articles and other
unnecessary words should be omitted. The
headline should give the gist of the story in as few
words as possible.
“Principal dismisses pupils”
NOT: “The principal dismisses pupils”
POINTERS IN HEADLINE WRITING

Use the active voice.

“Dog bites man”
NOT: “Man is bitten by dog”
POINTERS IN HEADLINE WRITING

Avoid “to be” verbs.

“Doctors asked to report for work”
NOT: “Doctors are asked to report for
work”
POINTERS IN HEADLINE WRITING

Be specific. Use precise words.

“Maria is champion golfer”
NOT: “Woman is champion golfer
 POINTERS IN HEADLINE WRITING

Be accurate and direct.

“Inflation rate to slow down, says official”
NOT: “Inflation rate may slow down, says
official”
POINTERS IN HEADLINE WRITING

Avoid exclamation points or other

punctuations
“MNHS celebrates nutrition month”
NOT: “MNHS celebrated nutrition month!!!”
A GOOD HEADLINE…
Gets attention
Tells the story
Leads the reader into the story
Classifies the story
Enhances the page
 HEADLINES
Kris plays Joey’s organ
Bulag, nandilim ang paningin, nakapatay!!!
Asawa ng litratista, nakunan
PUKI opens today
 RULES IN HEADLINE WRITING
The head should tell the gist of the story simply and clearly
The first letter of the first word and proper nouns are generally
capitalized.
President accepts Iran offers
Zubiri’s offer more
oil to resign
to RP

Bamba inks ‘no smoking policy’

RULES IN HEADLINE WRITING

The first line of a two-line or three-line head

should not end with a preposition,
conjunction, articles or any form of the verb
to be, unless the preposition goes with the
verb, like fill-in or trade-off
 RULES IN HEADLINE WRITING
Never use the word “may” because it would show
the uncertainty of your assertion.

Assertions in a headline should have a

source or attribution.
Classes suspended today, says principal Principal orders
suspension of classes Bamba: MNHS can do it
RULES IN HEADLINE WRITING

Don’t convert verbs into nouns. Don’t say

“Students urge oustering of principal”
Oust principal – students
 RULES IN HEADLINE WRITING

Use the shorter word whenever possible, e.g. use

“cut” for decrease or “hike” for increase
School hikes tuition fees
Typhoon hits Dinalupihan
 MGA TUNTUNIN SA PAGSULAT NG ULO
NG BALITA

Gumamit ng mga pandiwang tahasan at

masigla
Araneta Istadyum winasak ni ‘Yoling’
(hindi nawasak)
Araneta Istadyum sinira ni ‘Yoling’ (hindi
nasira)
 MGA TUNTUNIN SA PAGSULAT NG
ULO NG BALITA
Maglagay ng sariwang impormasyon sa bawat ulo.
3 pang negosyante bantang itumba

Gumamit ng kuwit sa halip ng pangatnig na at.

Reyes, Bautista wagi sa DSPC Ikakasal, naaburido
nagpakamatay
 MGA TUNTUNIN SA PAGSULAT NG
ULO NG BALITA
Gumamit ng mga pandiwang panghinaharap sa mga
pangyayaring magaganap pa.

Panggagahasa sa maid sa San Ramon ipabubusisi ni Mayor Jaime

Gumamit ng isahang panipi sa halip na
dalawahang panipi
Pangulo ng ‘Driver’s Group’
inambus ng mga sandatahan
‘Piston’ naghanda sa welga bukas
 MGA TUNTUNIN SA PAGSULAT NG
ULO NG BALITA
Gumamit ng maikli ngunit positibong salita sa ulo
ng balita.
Makakaliwa, nakiisa sa welga ng tsuper
Gumamit ng mga pandiwang pangkasalukuyan
sa mga pangyayaring nakaraan na.

Parol ni Gloria kay Teehankee binabatikos ng

medya
 MGA TUNTUNIN SA PAGSULAT NG
ULO NG BALITA
Ang huwarang ulo ng balita ay kinakailangang
makapaglahad ng mensahe sa pinakamadali
at magaang paraan. Dahil dito’y
kinakailangang di- masira ang kaisipan sa
bawa’t linya
COMMON HEADLINE FAULTS
The gap. This is the practice of leaving
wide empty space in the head.
Dean suspends
student for misbehavior
Padding. This is the reverse of gap. You fill the gap with
unnecessary words.
Student Council composition to be known later this
month
SC members known soon
COMMON HEADLINE FAULTS
Split phrases and hanging prepositions. This is the reverse
of gap. You fill the Never split words that go together.
Gov’t to hike import duties this month
Gov’t to hike import duties this month

Editorializing. Just report the facts; don’t editorialize.

School dean gives very inspiring talk
Dean speaks at symposium
COMMON HEADLINE FAULTS
Lack of attribution. All declarative statements
must have a source or attribution.
Tuition fees to hike soon, says dean
Question form. If you are not sure of your conclusion in
the headline, don’t ask your reader for the answer.
Will the council be disbanded?
 COMMON HEADLINE FAULTS
Don’t use the same word twice in the
headline and the kicker.
School fees

School fees to be hiked soon

Despite condemnations
School fees to be hiked soon
 COMMON HEADLINE FAULTS
Be careful in using words with double meanings. Look at
this example and see the danger.
Top lady performer to play organ Lady pianist serenades
poor families PUKI opens today

Phl-UK firm opens today

Example 1:
15 Seniors get
UPLB scholarship
UPLB names 15 scholars
UPLB cites 15 scholars
•Splitting: Object of the verb “get” is not on the same deck or
line.
•Shorter headlines are preferred.
•Which element is more important?
Example 2:
will never get far -- GMA
‘Terrorism will never get far’ says GMA
GMA says ‘Terrorism will never get far’

•The use of 2 dashes indicates a direct quotation.

•If quotation marks are preferred than dashes, use single quotation to save
space.
Example 3:
Tension yesterday gripped the headquarters of the Government Service Insurance
System(GSIS) in Pasay City when thousands of protesters stormed the agency demanding the
resignation of Winston Garcia, GSIS president and general manager.

Protests rock GSIS

Protesters urge
GSIS chief to resign
GSIS chief urged to quit post
Example 4:
A defiant Philippine National Police Director General Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr.
yesterday refused to resign even after the PNP has had to endure disgraceful
incident under his watch.

PNP chief refuses to heed calls to

quit

PNP chief refuses calls to quit

Ebdane ignores calls to quit
Halimbawa 5:
Inilunsad na kamakailan ang pinakamalaki at pinakamakabuluhang proyekto ng
General Parents-Teachers Association alinsunod sa Computerization Program
ng DepEd upang lalong maiangat ang antas ng pagtuturo sa Honorato C. Perez,
Sr. Memorial Science High School.
HCPSMSHS GPTA, naglunsad
ng Computerization Program
Computerization Program ng DepEd, sinuportahan

GPTA, naglunsad ng proyekto

Halimbawa 6:
Masusubukang muli ang galing at tibay ng katawan ng IBF Super
Bantamweight Champion na si Manny Pacquiao matapos ipahayag ng mga
promoters ang kanyang laban sa isang undefeated American champion sa
susunod na buwan.

Kampeon, sasabak sa boxing

Pacquiao, susubukang itumba