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.