This guy must really be something

Phillip Blanchard · **Posted:** Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:05 pm

"The appointment of Quentin highlights our commitment to attracting the best and most experienced talent to the Dow Jones editorial team,"

***Usually, only small newspapers would announce the arrival of copy editiors because, I presume, readers might run into them down at the diner. *** (Publicity release)

onceahack · **Posted:** Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:18 pm

Quote:

"The appointment of Quentin highlights our commitment to attracting the best and most experienced talent to the Dow Jones editorial team,"

If they're truly committed to that goal, how have they managed to leave you and McIntyre on the sidelines?

Editer · **Posted:** Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:26 pm

Given that over there in Rightpondia they refer to people in our jobs as "sub-editors", it's not clear to me what a "copy editor" does. Maybe this is a bigger deal than it looks, equivalent to hiring an AME or higher. Dunno.

Wayne Countryman · **Posted:** Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:38 pm

Editer wrote:

Given that over there in Rightpondia they refer to people in our jobs as "sub-editors", it's not clear to me what a "copy editor" does. Maybe this is a bigger deal than it looks, equivalent to hiring an AME or higher. Dunno.

I had the same thought. It says he'll report directly to a managing editor.

But even if he's a sub-editor/copy editor, wouldn't it be news these days for a newspaper to hire one, instead of ridding itself of one?

Phillip Blanchard · **Posted:** Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:48 pm

Because DJ is a U.S. company, I would guess that it calls them "copy editors," rather than subs.

Editer · **Posted:** Tue Jul 14, 2009 6:37 pm

The release refers to him as a former "chief sub-editor". I can scarcely imagine the release, which apparently originated in London, would switch from AmE to BrE midway through.

Phillip Blanchard · **Posted:** Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:44 pm

He was chief sub for Thomson Reuters, a British company.

Wayne Countryman · **Posted:** Wed Jul 15, 2009 3:11 am

Someone editing this release should have raised the issue so that it could be clarified.

My guess: He might be the only person performing anything resembling copy editing for that division. Hence his importance, the release, and his reporting directly to a managing editor.

But that doesn't explain the "senior" in his title. Maybe he'll run a copy desk.
Or maybe it's one of those misleading titles that's meant to offer prestige to compensate for a low pay level. [How many papers have assistant managing editors but no managing editors, for instance?]

Phillip Blanchard · **Posted:** Wed Jul 15, 2009 5:29 am

I can't imagine the appointment of any copy editor that would justify a news release, unless the position includes custody of nuclear launch codes.

Wayne Countryman · **Posted:** Wed Jul 15, 2009 10:02 am

Phillip Blanchard wrote:

I can't imagine the appointment of any copy editor that would justify a news release, unless the position includes custody of nuclear launch codes.

Agreed.
Trying to read the minds of news executives is a hobby of mine.

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