A penny for your thoughts

1. The most important factor in the relationship between media and consumers is credibility.

2. Understanding the newsroom and what editors do, especially copy-desk chief.

3. Diagram the flow of copy from the reporter through the copy-desk chief.

 It starts with the reporter then it goes to the city editor and then from his desk it goes to the copy-desk chief and he decides where it goes and then flows back to the copy editor who polishes the story and then finally it goes back to the copy-desk chief.

4. List the segments of the three-step editing process.

 The first step is to read the entire story, then you go back through and edit it thoroughly and finally go back through rereading the  story and looking for anything else you missed.

5. What are the three R's of copy editing?

 Reader-centered, readable and right. It means that the story has the reader in mind and they can understand and read the story the way it was meant. The right part means to make sure that every part of the story is correct so you will not get in trouble for libel.

6. Difference between proofreading and copy editing.

 The main difference is that the proofreading stage is not the time to continue editing or rewriting the story. It is just to make sure that everything is correct with capitalization and minor changes.

7. Difference between macro editing and micro editing.

 Macro editing deals with the big picture of editing. Where does the story go and how does it fit with the paper. Micro editing deals with all the details of each story and editing of each story.

8. Huntington City Council on Monday approved $435,000 for road repairs in the central city. The city's 2008 budget for repairs was $410,000.

 A. Did the budget for repairs increase or decrease? Increase

 B. What was the percentage increase or decrease? 94% (410,000-435,000)

 C. Last year's budget was what percentage of this year's? 75% 

 D. This year's budget is what percentage of last year's? 25% (435,000-410,000)

9. Mayor Bart Jones announced more bad news. The city plans to spend $5.25 million on bridge repairs, a cut of 35 percent from its $6.5 million budget. 

 80% (5.25/6.5)

10. These were the scores on a test in JMC 305: 100, 98, 95, 93, 93, 90, 88, 87, 87, 86, 85, 85, 84, 70.

 The mean score is 88.7.  The median is 87.5.

11. These were the scores on a test in JMC 360: 100, 98, 95, 93, 93, 90, 88, 87, 87, 86, 85, 85, 84.

 The mean score is 90. The median is 90.

12. What would the sales tax be on a purchase of $7.80 if the state charges a 6 percent sales tax?

 The sales tax would be $4.68.

I think checking numbers and doing the copy editing involved with numbers is very complicated. Math is not one of my strong suites in life and so it some times is slightly confusing when you have to try and figure out if what the reporter put is correct. I do believe that it is very helpful and efficient to make sure the numbers are correct.

Copy Editors finding more of a market in Online Journalism

According to a research done by C Max Magee of 400 online managers and producers said that for online journalism, the most desired skill sets were relatively compared to that of print copy editors. I feel that the way that I'm going with in my major of Online Journalism is going to be very beneficial because I already know how to use photoshop and video editing software, as well as some dreamweaver and other html software. And by the end of my college years and I get my degree I will be able to do everything that most news jobs want. I think with the trend moving into the digital age and my abilities with programs to make and produce the internet news stories will set me ahead of most other people. I can take the knowledge I have of print newspapers and the story writing and copy editing along with the software knowledge should give me a big edge over others. 

Read this article for your self.

MU Baseball Team

The Marshall University baseball team possesses something that can possibly help the program stay successful for years’ to come.

                  Thundering Herd head baseball  coach Jeff Waggoner said what he believes to be the key to the team’s future success is simply freshmen talents. “We have some good young players that will continue to get better and better,” Waggoner said. “To get playing time as a freshman is so valuable. We have a lot of young guys that are playing right now and that will help us be a great program for a long time.”

                  Last season Waggoner utilized the skills of Victor Gomez as the team’s designated hitter. As a freshman, Gomez recorded a .358 batting average, 34 runs, 77 hits, 11 home-runs and had 47 RBIs in 215 plate appearances.

                  Waggoner has inserted another freshmen into the designated hitter role Gomez previously occupied, because Gomez has continued to show significant improvement at the plate and has also been able to contribute defensively during his sophomore season. That player is Thor Meeks, a freshman slugger from Hurricane, WV.

                  So far this season Meeks has recorded a .248 batting average, 18 runs, 28 hits, 7 home-runs and has 24 RBIs in 113 plate appearances. Meeks’numbers have declined slightly over the past few games, but Waggoner said it’s fairly common among freshman.

                  “Gomez went through the same thing last year where he went through some tough times and he fought through it. They’re both great players and great hitters. I look for great things out of both of them and I think their work ethics will get them there.”

Not only are the two comparable statistically, but their physical characteristics also bare an eerie resemblance. Both have dark hair and stand 6 feet 1 inch tall. Gomez weighs in at 230 pounds, while Meeks trails slightly at 226.

“Well, I’m a better hitter than (Meeks) is, but he has more power,” Gomez said with a laugh. “I can see how he reminds everyone of me last year because we pretty much had the same role on the team. We have the same approach at the plate and we both try to do things to help the team win.”

Meeks said he welcomes the comparisons. Gomez said, “It is always good when a freshman comes in and has a big impact.He’s been a solid part of the middle of the lineup and he’s been there all year,” “He’s been helping me and Nate (Lape) get good pitches to hit, and that’s an important thing.

                  The Herd will take on conference opponent Houston in a three-game series at Appalachian Power Park this weekend. First pitch is scheduled for Friday at 7:00 p.m.

                  Jonas Becker can be contacted at jbecker@marshall.edu.

I enjoyed having to edit this story because lately I have been reading more on the AP style and also in the reading of the book. It made me feel like I was finally getting somewhere in this class even though everything that I edited may not have been correct or in the right spot. It was very exciting to see some progress instead of feeling completely lost in this course. I am nervous though, since I have never really done any type of editing before.