Is Copy Editing Right For You?

It’s a career that involves anonymity, long hours, and work that is underappreciated. So why do it? Why remain behind the scenes of the journalism world as a copy editor?

For Ted Tompkins, Assistant Managing Editor of the Connecticut Post, the answer is easy: because something about the work of a copy editor draws you in. The ability to affect change instantaneously, to correct problems and to meet fast approaching deadlines, provides a sense of thrill and urgency in the copy editing profession.

Tompkins, who recently joined professor James Simon’s Journalism: Editing and Design class for a discussion, spoke about the life of a copy editor. “I like the sense of having a deadline. There are always problems, and I like to solve problems. I take initiative. I don’t sit back and wait for someone else to do something for me,” Tompkins said.

As a copy editor, all the articles, pictures, and advertisements come to you. It is imperative to read the piece, find any mistakes, make the corrections, work on the layout of the news page, and do this all within the constraints of the deadline that is quickly approaching.

“Making a deadline is everything. We have two goals: be perfect and be on time,” said Tompkins. The job of the copy editor is to ensure that these two goals are met. Not only must the article be flawless, but it must be ready for print when the deadline approaches.

A copy editor must have the ability to know when to make a correction and when to leave a piece as is. This skill is an art and must be honed through discretion, practice, and learning from mistakes.

According to Tompkins, whenever a newspaper makes a mistake, such as misspelling the name of a person or location, the readers lose a little of their confidence in that newspaper to bring them accurate information. If too many mistakes are made newspapers begin to lose their credibility, and when credibility is lost, readers can no longer look to that source for accurate information.

The work of a copy editor involves some anonymity. The copy editors do not get the glory and recognition that reporters get when their name appears underneath a large headline. However, Tompkins said that the work of a copy editor keeps a newspaper’s credibility and ensures accuracy to its readers and that in and of itself is enough for him to take pride in.

Tompkins stressed the fact that copy editing is not for people who do not have passion for the journalism world. A copy editor must understand the functioning and flow of the news world as well as use good judgment to make the necessary corrections to every aspect of the news.

However, for those who enjoy a fast paced environment with the ability to enact change and solve problems, then Tompkins agrees this might be the perfect profession for you.