Are newspapers making more spelling, fact mistakes online?
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A friend of mine recently asked me if newspapers and the publishing world are riddled with more spelling and factual errors than ever before. I have to believe news orgs are making more mistakes online. With more people being involved in the production of stories, including posting stories online, the probability of mistakes rises.
Is there a problem?
I pointed out to my friend that errors have shown up in newspapers regularly since the beginning of print. But now that the content has made its way online, where many more people can scrutinize copy more easily, I’m sure it’s sticking out more.
With an emphasis to publish, publish, publish, I’d hazard to guess many copy editors aren’t getting the necessary time they need to clean up grammar errors and factual missteps. Is this true? Are copy editors getting pushed aside for timeliness?
News orgs could require reporters to spell check their pieces before submitting them. Or, what about or going as far as fining reporters for sloppy writing, as a Swiss newspaper has done?
What do you think? Are news orgs putting out more mistakes now that publishing has become such an easy thing to do?
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November 10th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
In today’s world of publish lots , technology that makes it easier for one person to do more than one task and a growing emphasis on making money, mistakes happen.
There was a time when copy editors edited copy. Today, they also put the copy on the page, get it to fit and send it to the press. You lost the folks who took the typewritten copy and turned it into type. You lost the chance to look at a page proof.
Computers also have made it easier for folks to tinker with copy. So a reporter can spellcheck a story, but that doesn’t mean errors won’t come along later.
Somedays I curse the person who invented NOTES mode, which allows notes to be “hidden.” When you remove the notes, new errors can pop in.
Sometimes I curse the person who invented spellcheck - especially when I drift and suddenly, foolishly, accept all suggestions.
Sometimes, I curse IM and email as it beomes more acceptable to use abbreviations, shortcuts, and other tools to deliver the message. (That’s what is important, mom, just relax my daughter says.)
Sometimes, I curse that speed becomes more important than language. (Wow, I just realized I haven’t done a single Coaching Writers session anywhere in more than 3 years - I used to do one at least once a quarter. Worse yet, it’s not even on my resume. I am the enemy?)
Somedays, I just curse.
(No spellcheck on post your comment???)
November 10th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
I definitely feel you on this Mary Ann - especially “speed becomes more important than language.” Nice point there. I’ll work on the spell check
November 10th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
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