COPYREADING

AND
HEADLINE
WRITING

JONELL SEGADOR GREGORIO

 What is Copyreading?
–Evaluating and correcting the draft news
or sports news story, or sometimes
editorial, feature or other articles
– COPY— the draft article

– READING— understanding the story;

checking the grammar and journalistic error
to improve copy
 What does a copyreader check?
–FACTUAL errors
–GRAMMATICAL errors
–TYPOGRAPHICAL errors
–STRUCTURE errors
–VERBAL DEADWOODS
–OPINION & EDITORIALIZING statements
Copyreading Process

1. Read the whole story. Do not

start the marking. Strike out the
writer’s opinion paragraphs.
 2. Check the grammar

– Tense of the verb based on the DATE of the story

– Subject-verb agreement and order of words
– Redundant phrases ( repetition of words)
– Verbal Deadwoods
 Examples of Verbal deadwoods

– for the reason that -because

– a large proportion -many
– at the present time -now
– succumbed to injuries - died
– at an early date - soon
– is of the opinion that - believes
– In the neighborhood of - near
– In the event of -in case
Verbal deadwoods

– In spite of the fact that - although

– Draw attention of -remind
– Tendered his resignation -resigned
– Affixed his signature -signed
– United in holy matrimony - married
– Held a conference -met
– Told his listeners -said
 Verbal deadwoods

– in the person of Rodrigo Duterte

– in order to achieve the target
– in the month of May
3. Strike out.

–Unnecessary adverbs
–-abstract adjectives ( beautiful,
lovely, intelligent)
 What should be removed here?

More than 200 eager young writers, who are all

brilliant and promising, attended the very exciting The
District Journalism Training in the beautiful school of
Altavas National School, July 24-25.
 Over 200 young writers attended
the District Journalism Training at
Altavas National School, July 24-25.
4. For WHO lead in the national
Publication
* For popular persons in the nation,
the complete name is in the 1st
paragraph
*Otherwise, the name (not popular)
appears in the second paragraph. Use
common noun in 2 paragraph
nd
Duterte calls Congress to pass death penalty

Sotto pledges support for death penalty

Robredo not impressed with SONA

NOT VIP

Aklanon wins bronze in Asiad ‘18

Pagwawasto ng Sipi at Pag-uulo
ng Balita
– Ang kopya ay maaring isang
– balita, editoryal o tudling,
– editoryal o iba pa, o isang pitak
– na pampanitikan.
TUNGKULIN NG
TAGAPAGWASTO NG
BALITA (COPYREADER)
–  Magbigay ng tagubilin sa printers
tungkol sa uri at laki ng nais gamitin at
kung ano ang lapad ng kolum.
–  Magwasto ng kamalian sa mga talang
nakalap.
–  Magsulat ng ulo ng balita.
(Headline)
 Pag-uulo ng Balita
Panghinaharap
– ‘Ompong’ nagbabanta sa Hilagang Luzon
– Jinggoy hindi pa suspendido
– DAP ng PNP, pinasisiyasat ng VACC
– DAP gagawing legal
– Pope Francis bibisita sa Pinas
– ‘Inday’ lalabas sa Biyernes
– ‘Inday’ palabas na
 Ang, si, ng, at, nang
– Ang bata, nahuli sa shabu
– Bata, huli sa shabu
– Senado at Kamara, nagbalik -sesyon
– Senado, Kamara balik –sesyon
– DAP gagawin nang legal
– DAP gagawing legal
– Si Napoles ay nasa Bicutan na
– Napoles, nasa Bicutan na
 Headline— shortest way to state
the lead

Subject-verb-important word in the

*

predicate
 Verb

– From PAST TENSE in the story, use PRESENT TENSE in

headlines

– Example: Lead: Capiz Division was adjudged First Place

in the 2018 Regional Evaluation for Most Effective
Division of Western Visayas
Headline: Capiz tops Regional Evaluation
Two died while two others were injured in a
car accident that happened in Murayan,
Altavas, Aklan, Tuesday, September 13.
 President Rodrigo declared war
against illegal drugs, and urged
Congress to pass death penalty for drug
lords during his fourth State of the
Nation Address at the Batasang
Pambansa, Monday, Juy 22, 2019.
Headline:

Duterte declares war against illegal drugs;

urges Congress to pass death penalty
Senate of the Philippines has approved the
redistricting of Aklan into two districts on
its third reading today, September 14.
Senate approves Aklan redistricting
on third reading
“I cured myself of being gay.”

This was the statement made by

President Rodrigo Duterte during an
appearance before the Filipino
community in Tokyo last week.
‘I cured myself from being gay’- Duterte

or

Duterte says he ‘cured’ himself from being

gay
How to add a kicker?

– We add kicker in order to minimize headline

DSPC 2018
Akeanon writers clash
for RSPC slots

Asian Games 2018

Diaz lifts Phl’s
first gold
Filipino: Verb retains past tense

– National Museum, nagbukas na sa publiko

– 2 LPA, nakalabas na ng bansa
– Klase sa NCR, kinansela
 For Passive Voice, the form of
the verb BE is deleted
Example:
Wrong: Druglords are nabbed at airport

Right: Druglords nabbed at airport

For quotation lead

–Use key words of the message

Use say/ says

Your days are numbered

President says to druglords
 Use ‘to’

– Duterte to druglords ‘Your days are numbered’

 Use –
‘Your days are numbered’— Duterte
Use one word for VIP (rank/last
name only
– Duterte lifts mining ban
– Arroyo assumes as new Speaker
– Solon backs lifting mining ban
– Batangas Mayor shot dead
Single quotation marks indicate
doubt

- ‘Dead’ man attends own funeral

- ‘Lost’ boy safe in bed
Show ‘proof’ of corruption, senator
urges critics
Simplicity is the key

Witnessed – saw
Depart – go
Consultations – talks
Commence – start
Purchase – buy
Line-up – slate
Recommend – urge
Appropriate – due
– Act: take action; do something
POWER CRISIS: GOVERNMENT TO ACT
– Aid (verb): to help
UNIONS AID BANK STRIKERS
– Alert: alarm, warning
TERROR ALERT IN THE CAPITAL
– Appear: appear in court accused of a crime
MP TO APPEAR ON DRUGS CHARGES
– Axe (verb): abolish, close down
POSTAL SERVICES AXED
SMALL SCHOOLS FACE AXE
– Back: support
OPPOSITION BACKS PM
– Ban: forbid, refuse to allow something
GOVERNMENT BANS SMOKING IN PUBLIC
– Bar: refuse
HOTEL BARS FOOTBALL FANS
– Bid: attempt
WOMAN MAKES SUICIDE BID
– Blast: explosion
Blast: criticize violently
BLAST AT AIRPORT
OPPOSITION BLASTS PM
– Blaze: fire
SIX DIE IN TEMPLE BLAZE
– Blow: bad news, unfortunate happening
SMITH ILL: BLOW TO WORLD CUP HOPES
– Bond: political or business association
INDIA CUTS TRADE BONDS WITH CHINA
– Boom: big increase; prosperous period
ECONOMIC BOOM: URBAN RICH TO BENEFIT
– Boost: encourage
GOVERNMENT PLANS TO BOOST EXPORTS
– Brink: edge of disaster
GLOBAL WARMING: EARTH ON BRINK OF DISASTER
– Call for: demand/ appeal for
TRADE UNIONS CALL FOR STRIKE
– Claim (verb): make a statement that something is true
US SCIENTISTS CLAIM CANCER BREAKTHROUGH
– Clamp down on: deal firmly with
POLICE TO CLAMP DOWN ON EVE TEASING
– Clash: quarrel, fight
STUDENTS CLASH WITH POLICE
– Lash: criticize violently
OPPOSITION LASHES GOVERNMENT REFORMS
– Lead: clue (in police enquiry)
LEAD IN RESORT MURDER CASE
– Leak: unofficial publication of secret information
PM FURIOUS OVER TAX PLAN LEAKS
– Leap: big increase
LEAP IN FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
– Toll: number killed
QUAKE TOLL MAY RISE
– Urge: encourage
ENVIRONMENTALISTS URGE GOVERNMENTS TO ACT ON
POLLUTION
– Vow: promise
EXILED PRESIDENT VOWS TO RETURN
– Peg: hold (prices etc) at present level
BANKS PEG INTEREST RATES
– Plea: call for help
BIG RESPONSE TO PLEA FOR FLOOD AID
– Press: the newspapers
BID TO GAG PRESS OVER DEFENCE SPENDING
– Press for: ask for urgently
OPPOSITION PRESS FOR ENQUIRY ON DEFENCE SCAM