Date Approved

2011

Degree Type

Open Access Senior Honors Thesis

Department or School

English Language and Literature

First Advisor

James Pinson

Abstract

This thesis examines coy editing before the Internet and software were introduced to the newsroom and compares it to what it is like now to be a copy editor in the digital age. It consists of a collection of interviews from 12 copy editors around the country with one year experience to over 30 years of experience and who are currently in the field of copy editing.

Initially, the expectation was that copy editors struggled with software and the changes made in the newsroom, possibly preferring to go back the way thinks were (i.e. with a backshop), but after extensive research and a series of interviews, it was revealed that it was only one small and very temporary challenge to accomplish for copy editors and that they prefer having the software to aid them with their layout, design and publishing.

Also, the expectation was that copy editors may feel a sense of nostalgia for the demise of print newspapers, but that was only one small thought by few copy editors. Most copy editors prefer digital journalism and copy editing over printed pages and red ink. They appreciate the software made available to their newsroom and it is now mandatory that a person pursuing the profession of copy editing have a thorough understanding of the necessary software in the newsroom

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