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majorbabs · **Posted:** Wed Mar 10, 2004 2:28 pm

Today's "Chip on My Shoulder" from Poynter talks about what Mr. and Ms. Wonderful Reporter or Editor dolls would say, such as "This story is perfect. I wouldn't change a word" and "Of course you can cut it. I just padded it with meaningless information anyway to make your life more difficult." I bet the Testy Copy Editors have some lines they'd like to hear from Mr. or Ms. Wonderful Publishers. Or maybe other reporter responses. Let's hear some.

Wayne Countryman · **Posted:** Wed Mar 10, 2004 4:20 pm

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by majorbabs:
Today's "Chip on My Shoulder" from Poynter talks about what Mr. and Ms. Wonderful Reporter or Editor dolls would say, such as "This story is perfect. I wouldn't change a word" ... <hr></blockquote>As the new guy on a copy desk, I edited an especially irksome reporter's live story on deadline, then jumped out of my chair to, umm, go powder my nose before the next deadline. The reporter was lurking behind me, eager to check my editing before the story was typeset for the first edition.I blurted out a lie: "The story's perfect." And kept moving. "That's the first time any copy editor ever said that to me," she said. And for the next six years she didn't check my editing and harass me the way she did everyone else.[ March 10, 2004: Message edited by: Wayne Countryman ]

paulwiggins · **Posted:** Wed Mar 10, 2004 6:52 pm

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by Wayne Countryman:
. The reporter was lurking behind me, eager to check my editing before the story was typeset for the first edition.<hr></blockquote>
I'm saddened that a reporter would be allowed to hover. It is entirely counter productive.
From the Ms Wonderful Reporter comment file is this one: ''Every sub [our lingo for copy editor] I've ever worked with has been great.''

Bumfketeer · **Posted:** Wed Mar 10, 2004 7:53 pm

Wayne writes: "the reporter was hovering, waiting to check my editing."Well, we have identified problem No. 1. Next...

DominEditrix · **Posted:** Wed Mar 10, 2004 8:23 pm

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by majorbabs:
Or maybe other reporter responses. Let's hear some.<hr></blockquote>"I not only spell-checked, I even checked the dictionary."

paulwiggins · **Posted:** Wed Mar 10, 2004 8:28 pm

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by majorbabs:
Or maybe other reporter responses. Let's hear some.<hr></blockquote>I read our paper on the train this morning.[ March 10, 2004: Message edited by: Paul Wiggins ]

Phillip Blanchard · **Posted:** Wed Mar 10, 2004 9:22 pm

"Look over my shoulder and I'll cut your eyes out."

majorbabs · **Posted:** Wed Mar 10, 2004 9:39 pm

Reporter to editor, breathlessly with awe in his/her eyes, "Oh, yes, your way is MUCH better. How lucky I am to have you as an editor."

paulwiggins · **Posted:** Wed Mar 10, 2004 9:45 pm

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by majorbabs:
Reporter to editor, breathlessly with awe in his/her eyes, "Oh, yes, your way is MUCH better. How lucky I am to have you as an editor."<hr></blockquote>
Hey folks, let's not get carried away. This happens.

SusanV · **Posted:** Thu Mar 11, 2004 3:46 pm

Actual conversation between a writer, who is worse than extremely nitpicky, and me when I went out to run some errands just about an hour ago:Writer: Hey, long time no see!Me: Well, you never come down to the newsroom to visit.Writer: That's because you and the other guys are so terrific, I don't have to.Made my day.

Wayne Countryman · **Posted:** Fri Mar 12, 2004 4:11 pm

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by Bumfketeer:
Wayne writes: "the reporter was hovering, waiting to check my editing."Well, we have identified problem No. 1. Next...<hr></blockquote>She wasn't near enough to see the screen. She wanted to ask me what I'd done. She does this often.Some reporters at that paper have access from home, which they use to check their stories. Am told one called a rim editor recently and got told off.

nstockdale · **Posted:** Fri Mar 12, 2004 9:36 pm

True story: A reporter whose last day was today paid for a catered dinner for all copy editors and designers "as a small token" of his gratitude. I was floored.

Phillip Blanchard · **Posted:** Fri Mar 12, 2004 10:10 pm

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by Nicole Stockdale:
True story: A reporter whose last day was today paid for a catered dinner for all copy editors and designers "as a small token" of his gratitude. I was floored.<hr></blockquote>What did the "designers" ever do for him?

nstockdale · **Posted:** Fri Mar 12, 2004 10:45 pm

Give his words a crisp and attention-grabbing presentation? Hell, I don't know.

ToddJBehme · **Posted:** Fri Mar 12, 2004 11:28 pm

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by Bumfketeer:
Wayne writes: "the reporter was hovering, waiting to check my editing."Well, we have identified problem No. 1. Next...<hr></blockquote>Reporters literally hovering would be annoying, sure, but how many of us have seen OUR writing screwed up in the editing process? If a reporter has been victimized, I wouldn't blame him or her for keeping tabs.I used to work at a magazine where stories got three reads, and after that they were sent back to the reporters so they could check them over. That isn't practical at daily newspapers, but I liked it.

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