Copy Reading

and
Headline Writing
 COPYREADING

❖ It means editing written copy for publication.

❖It requires serious and comprehensive revision

of an article using Copyreading marks based
on the standards of publication.
 What does a copyreader do?

❑ He takes the story as it comes from the reporter and

puts it through a refining process.

❑ He uses a heavy black or lead pencil for corrections.

❑ He does not erase the original writing when he edits.

 What are the essential qualities of a
copyreader?

❑ A love of good writing and the ability to see the potential in a piece, the skill
to help bring it out – or the good sense to know when to leave it alone.

❑ Skepticism that raises doubt in everything and fortitude to check it.

❑ Invisible – meaning, a good copyreaders’ personality or style is not seen on

each article he reads. He does not impose his own style but respects
the style or individuality of each author.
 What are the essential qualities of a
copyreader?

❑ Knowledge of journalistic conventions: for hard-news

copyreader: inverted pyramid, the different types of stories;
or the conventions of a feature article, an editorial, etc.

❑ Ability to recall style rules.

❑ An eye for detail.

 What are the essential qualities of a
copyreader?

❑ He has good command of the language and

comprehensive knowledge of rules of grammar.

❑ He must be wide reader and always updated on current

information.

❑ As watchman of newspaper he must know well the policies

of newspaper.
 What are the duties of a copyreader?

A. Errors in form

✔ To correct errors in grammar

✔ To correct errors in spelling

✔ To correct errors in punctuation

✔ To correct errors in usage

 What are the duties of a copyreader?

B. Errors in content

✔ To correct errors in fact

✔ To improve news value

✔ To guard against criticism

 What are the duties of a copyreader?

B. Errors in content

✔ To expand copy

✔ To reduce copy

✔ To write headlines of news and check heads or titles of editorials,

features, and literary articles
 What are the duties of a copyreader?
B. Errors in content

✔ To delete unnecessary adjectives and opinion in news

✔ To delete libelous, seditious, and rebellious matter and all those

contrary to laws, and good taste.

✔ To correct redundancy and rewrite sentences with verbal deadwood.

 What are the duties of a copyreader?
B. Errors in content

✔ To rewrite sentences or paragraphs that violate the principles of

unity, coherence, and emphasis

✔ To correct errors in style and structure

 A. Identify the error, then tell whether it is in form or
in content. Explain your answer.

1. The guard did not saw all the students coming in.

2. The Core luckily tops prestigious press tilts.

3. In a news story-The most efficient and knowledgeable principal represented the

school in the well known national schools press conference.

4. The final conclusion revealed that the dead corpse was a victim of fatal murder.

5. The old man was bring to the hospital.

COPYEDITING
SYMBOLS
COPYEDITING
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COPYEDITING
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COPYEDITING
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COPYEDITING
SYMBOLS
1. 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.

2. 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 “PBBM” for
news about Pres. Bongbong Marcos. The slug is used for
identification and for recordkeeping.
3. Start typing the story about three or 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.

4. Indent five or ten spaces at the start of each paragraph.

5. Write “more” at the bottom of the page of unfinished story and

continue on the next sheet. Do not use the back page of the
paper.
6. On the second page, instead of numbering as page 2, label it “first
add” or “add one” followed by the slug. Example, “first add
kidnap” or “add one kidnap”.

7. End the story with number 30 or double cross mark (xx).

8. After typing the story, through the use of soft-leaded pencil and copy
reading marks, correct errors and improve it.

9. If the copy could hardly be read because of so many corrections,

retype it if time permits to facilitate editing and typesetting.
 HEADLINE WRITING
❑ HEADLINE is the title of a newspaper story.

❑ It serves as a quick source of information.

❑ It is written to tell the story what is it all about, to attract readers, and to
grade the news on its importance. It is always short and simple.

❑ Headline writing requires skill and concentration.

❑ It must give the essence of the story. While explaining the story
accurately, your headline also must fit into a limited space.
STEPS IN WRITING HEADLINE:
Step 1- Read the article, especially the lead (first) paragraph. The headline
must convey a brief synopsis of the article and must be accurate, so
knowledge of the information in the article is imperative.
STEPS IN WRITING HEADLINE:
Step 2- Decide on the most important information to be conveyed in the
headline: what will grab the attention of the most readers? In news
articles, the most significant information should be in the very first couple
of sentences. The headline has to fit within the space available for it. If the
amount of space available is known, be prepared to edit down the headline
as needed in order to fit.
STEPS IN WRITING HEADLINE:
Step 3- Check guidelines: each publication has different
guidelines regarding what to include in the headline. Some
allow certain forms of punctuation, such as a colon, while others
do not. Verify with the publication what their guidelines require.
STEPS IN WRITING HEADLINE:
Step 4- Consider the appearance of the headline. The font size of
the letters used often convey to the reader the article's
importance. Major world events are typically one or two words in
very large font size across the entire top of the newspaper, while
smaller local stories or news that isn't that unusual are printed in a
smaller font size that only takes up a column or two in the paper.
STEPS IN WRITING HEADLINE:
Step 5- Write the headline. There are several things to consider
while writing the headline

Step 6- Confirm that there are no more errors in form and in

content.
 Let’s Try this:
THE Philippines has taken a new tack in addressing the
aggressive actions of China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS)
— intensifying maritime patrols and making public acts of
harassment and bullying.

_____________________________

Subject (Who) + Verb + Object

 Let’s Try this:
THE Philippines has taken a new tack in addressing the aggressive
actions of China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) — intensifying maritime
patrols and making public acts of harassment and bullying.

PCG intensifies maritime patrols

_____________________________________

Subject (Who) + Verb + Object

Guidelines in Writing Headline
1. Use specific words. Make the information as exact as you
can in the limited space of the headline

Wrong: Philippines intensifies maritime patrols

Correct: PCG intensifies maritime patrols

Wrong: Politician wins election.

Correct: PBBM wins presidential post.
Guidelines in Writing Headline
2. State facts, avoid opinion.

Fact: The Core first in press tilts

With opinion: The Core luckily tops prestigious press tilts
Guidelines in Writing Headline
3. Use Active voice. The doer of the action must be in the
subject position. However, use the passive voice when the
action is more significant than the doer.

Example: SC postpones general meeting

(Passive: Burglar who murdered former navy officer jailed for 27
years)
Guidelines in Writing Headline
4. Use the historical present (the present form of the verb for
the past events, and the infinitive form for the future events).

Wrong: The Core copped 5 trophies at NSSPC

Correct: The Core cops 5 trophies at NSSPC

Wrong: Mayor will open Shopping Mall

Correct: Mayor to open Shopping Mall
Guidelines in Writing Headline
5. Omit all articles a, an, the and other unnecessary words.
Wrong: The 7 cops hurt in ambush
Correct: 7 cops hurt in ambush

6. Avoid label head

Wrong: Auctioned
Correct: Imelda jewelry auctioned
Guidelines in Writing Headline
7. Do not editorialize your headline.
Wrong: Ang Alab shows great performance in DSSPC.
Correct: Ang Alab wins 6 out of 7 in DSSPC writing
contests

8. Do not use the same word twice in the headline or kicker

Gun haul
Manila cops seize 25 guns
from suspected bandits
Guidelines in Writing Headline
9. Never use the word “may”. It denotes the uncertain element
of the story.

Wrong: Sayyaf may demand P1M for release of 3

captives

Correct: Sayyaf demands P1M for release of 3 captives.

Guidelines in Writing Headline
10. Write numbers in figures or spell them out depending upon the allotted
space for headlines. Generally use numerals, although numbers through
nine may be spelled out

Tennis team dominates: Eight head to leagues after an almost

flawless season

Senior class collects 123 pints in blood drive

Guidelines in Writing Headline
11. Do not be in the negative.

Poor: Summer Training in Journalism won’t be held

Better: Summer Training in Journalism cancelled

Guidelines in Writing Headline
12. Avoid wooden heads or headlines without a verb.

Wrong: Ten student delegates at UN

Correct: Ten student delegates visit UN

Guidelines in Writing Headline
13. Avoid splitting words that naturally go together

Wrong: SJNHSians celebrate Buwan

ng Wika with beauty tilt

Right: Garcians hold Buwan ng Wika with beauty

contest
Guidelines in Writing Headline
14. Punctuate headlines correctly: omit periods

15. Use the comma (,), the punctuation mark, instead of the
conjunction and in headlines. Commas are often used to replace
and. In all other cases, Standard English usage rules that apply
for commas apply in headlines.

Yellow Ribbon Week reminds friends, family to listen

Guidelines in Writing Headline
16. Use the semicolon to attach two related thoughts,

Floods destroy field house; cleanup to take three weeks

17. Use single quotation marks rather than double.

Putting ‘the boot’ down

18. Do not use obscure or unnecessary abbreviations.

Wrong: New FHS principal changes discipline
Right: New principal changes discipline
Guidelines in Writing Headline
19. Never abbreviate a day of the week.

20. Never use a day of the week and the date together

21. Do not abbreviate months except when a numeral

follows (Jan. 27)
Headline Vocabulary
accord – agreement cite – enumerate, mention
allay – calm confab – conference
allot – apportion, set a side cop – police
anew – again cow- frighten
assail – attack crown – win
ax – dismiss curb – control, stop
bare – reveal, expose cut – decrease
bat – defend dip – decrease, decline
bid – request draw fire – to be criticized
blast – criticize dry run – rehearsal
Headline Vocabulary
due – deadline, scheduled hike – increase
ex – former hit – attack
to eye – consider inquiry – investigation
feud – quarrel, dispute ink – to sign a contract
foil – thwart, reject junk – to throw way, decline
gab – conference kin – family
gird – brace, prepare kit – package
letup – temporary easing up
go – try
link – connect
grill – question, interrogate
lull – calm
hail – welcome
Headline Vocabulary
meet – conference, to convene power – electricity
memo – memorandum probe – to investigate
mull – plan, to think of prod – prick
mum – silent quit – resign
nab – arrest
quiz – question
nix – reject
ratify – approve
okay – approve, accept
raze – destroy
peg – to fix at a certain amount or
level revamp – to change, reshuffle
pit – oppose rift – disagreement
post – position, to assign row – dispute, disagreement
Headline Vocabulary
rule – decide, decision
sans – without
scan – examine
scribe – newspaperman
shakeup – reshuffle
skip – avoid
slay – kill, assassinate
solon – lawmaker
try – attempt
Unit Count in Headline
Headline Schedule Chart
1 2 3 4 5 6
Font Size
Column Columns Columns Columns Columns Columns
18 points 16 units 33 units
24 points 13 units 27 units 40 units
30 points 10.5 21.5 32 units 43 units
units units
36 points 9 units 18.5 28 units 38 units 47.5
units units
42 points 7.5 units 15.5 23.5 32 units 40 units 48 units
units units
48 points 13.5 20.5 28 units 35 units 42.5
units units units
54 points 12 units 18 units 24.5 30.5 37 units
units units
60 points 16 units 21.5 27.5 33 units
Technical instruction for a headline
An example of a technical instruction for a headline is the following.
3 – 20 BB UN w/ KICKER

The first number (3) means that the head will run across three columns of the page.
The second number (20) stands for the type size to be used. BB refers to Bodoni Bold, a
type family with the corresponding weight (how thick and black the letters will appear on the
page). UN stand for universe a type of style. Kicker refers to the preliminary head. The line
below refers to the number of lines or decks your headline will have.