Evening Argus Protest

[Gwylan]

Do the reporters not read a final draft before it goes to press to ensure the accuracy, or is this not possible so they virtually proof read their own article after it has been edited by somebody else.

It's very hard to sub one's copy. If the hack has made a mistake in a street name, for example, then he/she might not recognise it. There's also the fact that when reading back copy, a hack reads what he or she meant to write, rather than what was actually written.

As someone who's been a sub, I can tell you that some journalist copy is shocking, riddled with spelling mistakes and nonsensical sentences.

Take a look at Tim's blogs to see what copy that doesn't get subbed looks like.

 

[The Large One]

Do the reporters not read a final draft before it goes to press to ensure the accuracy, or is this not possible so they virtually proof read their own article after it has been edited by somebody else.

They submit the copy - hopefully having checked for accuracy, literacy and relevance - to the sub-editors, who will also read it for those points as well as house-style and length. The subs also add the headline, which is where some articles are seen to come unstuck; they do like alliteration at some papers (or in the case of the Argus, excruciating blandness).

If there is time to add to a story, the original writer may get that opportunity, or if the subs require some clarity from the writer. Of course, if the whole article is a pile of horseshit, that's another matter entirely...

 

[BensGrandad]

I read somewhere that provided the first and last letters ofa word are correct and some of the middle very few people notice a spelling mistake so you are probably right about the journalists and their spelling etc.

As I said I know nothing about newspapers and just tread an article and either like or dislike it and take in the information given accordingly as to whether or not I think it is correct or possible.

 

[Gwylan]

they do like alliteration at some papers (or in the case of the Argus, excruciating blandness).
.

This is changing though - the days of clever and punning headlines are over. The key phrase is search engine optimisation, all headlines must be SEO-friendly now forwebsites. This means they're considerably blander and the skill of clever headlines is dying a death.

 

[eastlondonseagull]

Petition, here...

http://www.petition.co.uk/keep-the-brighton-argus-local

 

[eastlondonseagull]

As someone who's been a sub, I can tell you that some journalist copy is shocking, riddled with spelling mistakes and nonsensical sentences.

Absolutely. A surprising number of nonsensical sentences get put through.

 

[Deleted User X18H]

Indeed.

They are increasingly relying on "readers pictures" and "do you know any of the victims of this tragedy? ... contact us on ..." sort of stuff.

At least when Roz wrote her weekly 500 words of 'Terrace Talk' a few years back, they paid her the going rate.

Yeah but isn't she a journalist?

 

[Deleted User X18H]

It's very hard to sub one's copy. If the hack has made a mistake in a street name, for example, then he/she might not recognise it. There's also the fact that when reading back copy, a hack reads what he or she meant to write, rather than what was actually written.

As someone who's been a sub, I can tell you that some journalist copy is shocking, riddled with spelling mistakes and nonsensical sentences.

Take a look at Tim's blogs to see what copy that doesn't get subbed looks like.

I think they all do.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Blimey, even the Tories are supporting this action

Brighton Argus action: Support from Mary Mears, Leader of Brighton and Hove City Council

Brighton Argus action: Support from Mike Weatherley MP

This shows you how out of touch they are. Does anyone really give a toss about this paper? It's utter rubbish.

 

[The Large One]

Brighton Argus Blog

Good f***ing grief.

 

[krakatoa]

Shame, cos it used to be a decent paper. The net is slowly killing local newspapers nationally.

 

[Westdene Wonder]

I used to purchase the Evening Argus but after the move to Hollingbury found the style and substance disappointing, I mentioned this to a member of the administrive staff at the paper who suggested that the reason for this was items were picked up off the internet and were in fact second hand,made possible by the fact The Argus is produced later than the Daily papers.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

What a terrible typo. Almost as bad as this.