Copyreading

and Headline Writing

Meden F. Fadriquela
New Era University Integrated
ScThool
Copyreading and Headline Writing
The art of arranging, correcting, and selecting
the quality and type of news that are within
acceptable journalistic standards in terms of style
and editorial policy.

Specialist in this field is called copyreader/

copyeditor. Copyreading gives the article the final
touch before it goes to the printer.

Copyreading, editing, correcting are synonymous

terms.
The copyreader goes over the article, makes all
the necessary corrections.

He reads the article very carefully looking out

for errors in grammar and spelling, errors in fact
and in style.

He also does away with libelous statements

which harm the reputation of the persons involved.

The copyreader writes the headline and

determines the typography for it.
Responsibilities of
Copyreader
edits errors on grammar (spelling, tenses,
etc.) edits errors of fact (accuracy check)
checked the structure of the news
judges news value (grading of nesw)
edits verbose copy (keeps the copy
tight) writes the headline
QUALITIES of a GOOD COPYREADER

♥ Must possess certain qualities not everybody in

the staff may have.
♥ Must have a good command of the language.
♥ Must have at his fingertips a good working
knowledge on the rules of grammar.
♥ Must have a wide vocabulary.
♥ Must be well-read and must have a
storage of general and current
information.
PROCEDURES in COPYREADING
♣ Whenever the copyreader sits down to work, he
has the intention of making the copy free of
♣ It is the goal of copyreader, therefore to do his
errors.
work systematically and efficiently.
♣ It would be good to follow the following steps:
1.Read the whole article first to
determine what kind of story it is.
2. Having determined the type of story,
read the article again.
This time, determine which is the lead
3. Read the story again and mark all paragraph
beginnings. Then correct errors in grammar,
spelling, punctuations and style using
copyreading symbols.

4. Improve the organization of the story. Make

sure the lead features the lead fact.

5. Go over the whole story again. Remove

all unnecessary and irrelevant
materials.
6. Check the length of the story, then
prepare the clean copy.
8. Write a very catchy and fitting headline
for the story.
9. Give the printer’s mark for the body
text and the headline. Encircle the
slug line.
10.The article is now ready for printing.
Copyreading Symbols
insert comma three tomatoestewed three tomatoes, stewed
insert period three stewed tomatoes.
threestewed tomatoe)q
insert apooophe
Jackie's honey chicken recipe
insert quote JackiÎ$ hooney
Jackie's ney chicken recipe
chickenrecipe
Jackie's ‘honey chicken“
marks he dùv ldo after dark
recipe he seldom drives after
Panspose overnor
make uppercase dark Governor
¢Îovernor
make lowercase gOVCITlOT
Gov
small œpîals Gov
ggaal o GovuRNOR
abbreviate G Gov.
don't Governor
abbrevia@ 9 9
use figures nine
insen hyphen smal busineu small-business owner
set in ialic type owner
a friend a tme
set in roman befriend friend a
type a jjg¡g friend true friend a
set in boldface §@$;friend true friend
set in ligbtface 1853J296 a true friend
type a tune
0 hummed 1952—I960
en dash Later
' Al hummed
insen new text a tune. Later
riend
Twe•<olor vz:mion of this fi& available at: http://www.ed•epros.com/download.html
let sand a irue friend
VERBAL DEADWOOD
A useless phrasing of any sort like
unnecessary introductory passages, pointless
modifiers,
or repetitious and aimless phrasing.

The moment you see verbal deadwood

and redundant words in the article you're
editing, delete and change with better
and more appropriate words and phrases.
Verbal Deadwood, Redundant
Words (wordy & weak)
(better/briefer)
• 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
• in spite of the fact -------------
although
Verbal Deadwood, Redundant
Words
(wordy & weak) (better/briefer) tendered
his resignation -------resigned affixed
his signature -------------signed united
in holy matrimony--- --married held a
conference -----------------met
told his listeners -------------------said
access …………….….................…obtain
accompanied by ………......…... with
acute emergency ….......………. emergency
additionally ………………............in
addition adequate enough ………..........
Verbal Deadwood, Redundant Words
Administrative assistant
.......secretary/Clerk Advance planning
……….........planning Advance reservations
………...reservations Affiliated with
………………........with
forcible rape
………...................rape
• Alcoholic liquor ……………...…liquor
• And or ……………………….........or
• Answered in the negative ….said
no
•At 4 a.m. this morning ……….4
a.m. At 5 p.m. last night ….........
…...5 p.m. At an early date
Verbal Deadwood, Redundant
Words
at this point in time ………...now
at which time …………….......when
/During attempted hold up ………....hold
up authored …………………........wrote
avenues to explore ………...ways
avid readers/sports fan …..readers
be cognizant of ……………....know
be in receipt of …………........get
bitter quarrel
…………….......quarrel
Verbal Deadwood, Redundant Words
conceptualize …………....…....think
concept ………………….....…....idea
by virtue of the fact that
…..because during the period from
……..from has the capability
of………....can
he is the man who …………....he
in the final analysis ……….....finally
brutal slaying ……………........murder
by the same token
Verbal Deadwood, Redundant
Words
close proximity …………….....near
come in contact with ……….meet
counterproductive ……….....futile
currently ………………….........now
despite the fact that
…….....although downsizing
…………......……...layoffs end result
…………………........result exact replica
…………….........replica featured
speaker ……….......speaker
Verbal Deadwood, Redundant Words
economically disadvantaged ….....poor
feedback ………………………...............response
for the purpose of ……………...........for / to
foreseeable future ……………..........future
general consensus
……………..........consensus in case of
……………………..............….if
in close proximity ……………............near
in excess of ……………………..............more than
in regard to
Verbal Deadwood, Redundant
Words
innovative ………….....…………new
is of the opinion
……………....believes make inquiry
regarding ……inquire make
mention of ………….....mention near
future …………………......future oral
conversations …………...talks
prioritize ………………………....rank
razed to the ground…….……razed
reach a truce …………………...agree
Verbal Deadwood, Redundant
Words
repeat again
…………………..repeat rose to his
feet ……………….rose
state of the art ……………….new /
modern student body
………………....student subsequent to
………………..after sufficient number
…………..enough terminated
………………….....fired
time frame ……………………..schedule
Verbal Deadwood, Redundant Words

transpire………………...….. happen
true facts ………………...….facts
unconfirmed rumor ……..rumor
visual observation ………..see /
saw voted unanimously ………
passed were as follows
…………….were would be killer
……………..suspect
THE HEADLINE

☺An assemblage of words written in bigger, bolder

letters than the usual page text at the beginning
of the news, also known as the head, but not a
title.

☺The word “headline” is understood by many

people to mean the biggest story of the day.
In journalism, however, “headline” is the title of a
news story big or small.
☺ A well-written story will go unread if the
headline does not grab the reader. Headlines
also serve as a graphic element on the page.

☺ Bad headlines confuse readers, turn them off,

invite criticism, invoke laughter (for the wrong
reasons), or are just moronic.

☺Good headlines capture the readers’

attention and make them want to explore
the story.
2 Major Types of Headline:

♦ News headline – deals with hard facts

and summary
Ex.: Business leaders tackle global
crisis

♦ Feature headline – deals with novelty,

human interest element
Ex.: The sea is on red alert!
(pertains to red tide
As title of the news, the headline serves the
following purposes:

1. It gives the summary of the news.

2. It allows the hurried reader to get a quick glimpse
of the news. Later in the day, when he has the
time, he will read the story in its entirety.
3. It contributes to the physical
attractiveness of the paper.
RULES IN WRITING HEADLINES

1. The headline must have a verb and it must be

in the present tense.
Wrong: Santos topped
editorial tilt Correct: Santos tops
editorial tilt

2. Minimize punctuation marks. Use single

quotation marks. Use a comma in place of
“and”
and a semicolon to separate sentences.
Wrong: Rolling stores to sell rice and
3. Do not use period

4. Don’t use the articles- a, an, the

Wrong: A fire hits Tondo squatters’
area Correct: Fire hits Tondo squatters’
area

5. Don’t use names unless the person is well-

known. Wrong: Simon electrocuted
Correct: Electrician electrocuted
6. Use the infinitive for future events.
Wrong: City Hall will push anti-squatting
drive Correct: City Hall to push anti-
squatting drive

7. Use specific terms instead of generalities

Wrong: School official gets
scholarship
Correct: Principal gets US
QUALITIES OF A GOOD HEADLINE:

1. The headline presents the news in capsule, thus it

is telegraphic.
2. It must contain the most important fact of the
story It is not the place for details.
3. It must be constructed as to catch the
reader’s attention and make him read the
story.
4. Size and length of the headline
must be proportional to the length of
the
5. The headline makes use of special vocabulary
which which is not suitable for ordinary
communication situations.
6. No hanging prepositions
7. No repetition of word.
8. Uses familiar abbreviations only
9. No typographical errors/ grammar errors
10.No editorializing
11.Not labels
Headline Writing: TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

fit into space

must know the head unit count
must know the font size of
letters must know the number
of decks (layers of headline)
must know the number of
columns (one, two, three, four
etc.)
 Headline
Vocabulary
decrease ……........…dip dismiss …...............quash
examination ………..quiz charge …….............rap
announce …………… bare question …............grill
highlight ……………...cap urge …………...........prod
speak ……………….....urge mad killer …..........amok
conference ………….confab disregard...............rule
investigation ………..probe out
investigator …………prober sign ………...............ink
disapprove capture ……...........net
………….buck,scrap
 Headline
Vocabulary
strengthen…..........beef up approval ..............nod
agreement ............accord arrest ...................nab
practice ..................hone student ................stud
up e
writer ...................scribe
praise .....................laud
year ........................milestone government ........govt
delay ......................snag councilor .............da
identify ...................finger d
start ........................trigger
end .........................wind
up
THE ACTIVE VOICE IN
HEADLINE
♦The verb is said to be in the active voice
when the subject is the doer of the action.

♦The ACTIVE Voice is preferred over the PASSIVE

voice because it is more vigorous; however, the
PASSIVE voice must be used when the action is more
significant than the doer of the action.
Effective headlines usually involve logical sentence
structure, active voice and strong present-tense
verbs. As with any good writing, good headlines
are driven by good verbs.

Express a complete thought. Headlines usually

read like simple sentences.
ACTIVE Headlines: Write tThe correct form of tThe verb in tThe
following Theadlines. Observe agreement between subject and tThe verb.

CA (deny) Leviste’s petition for bail

World pirate attacks (soar) in first
quarter
Duterte Syria as RP ‘strategic
(hail)
Shell, Petron partner gas prices
(raise)
SC oil deregulation
(uphold)
DSWD law ‘war’ vs child
(launch)
Local bets abuse in science
(win)
Faculty Club fair achievers
(honor) Rotary Club computer
continuation.... Active
Headlines
Santos (cop) 4 National awards
Researcher (receive) US grant
Local cadets (spearhead) projects
Barangay (launch) livelihood
projects
Go (vow)to continue helping Pinoys in crisis Isko
(will assert)claim over Sabah Duterte (wil sign)
Electrification EO
SDO Pampanga (are having) Journ
 Pacquiao hits trapos over political
changes S
Manny Pacquiao
CEBU CITY, Philippines D —O
V
criticized po liticians or “trapos”
Senator
traditional
changing political stands. for their

Caloocan govt to review dress code ordinance

S
MANILA, Philippines — The Caloocan City government
will reviVew its dress codeDoOrdinance after a woman
complained of being accosted for wearing “short shorts,”
Mayor Oscar Malapitan said yesterday.
 DOH reminds public COVID19 still a threat
The Department of Health (DOH) reminded the public
that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to be a
threat despite the easing of restrictions and the
downward trend of cases in the country.

'The biggest problem facing the

country today is government itself'
-Lacson
DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — The biggest problem facing
the country today is government itself, Sen. Panfilo
Lacson said yesterday.
ACTIVE
Headlines
Pasig City eyes vaxxing all minors 12-17 this
month
Vaccine makers apply for booster immunization

Caloocan to review dress code over ‘short

shorts’ 5 Abu Sayyaf bandits surrender in Sulu

DOLE to resume face to face job fair

The Passive Headline
A passive voice headline tells what
happened, but hides the who.

What happened is more important than the

doer. We usually use passive headline in
accident story.

The verb here is in the past participle ( d, ed,

en or changed)
PASSIVE Headline: Write tThe correct form of tThe verb in
tThe following Theadlines
Feeding program (launch)
Two jail guards caught gambling
(fire) Resto owner (sue)
Governor (probe) for P72M
deficit
Jueteng protectors in CL (identify)
Boy scout master (kill) in camp
site Shanties in Quiapo (demolish)
Absentees (warn) of
expulsion Parents of honor studes
 Trader Thilled in indiscriminate firing
CAMP LIM, Laguna, Philippines — A
VICENTE
businesswoman was killed when suspected
members fired shotsgangin the air in Dasmariñas, Cavite,
authorities said yesterday.

New NLEX Meycauayan service road opened

MEYCAUAYAN, Bulacan, Philippines — The Meycauayan
East Service Road along the North Luzon
Expresway (NLEX) was opened to motorists yesterday.
 Drug suspect nabbed over fatal
stabbing
CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — A
drug suspect said to be behind the killing of three
family members in a stabbing incident in Kawit,
Cavite on Sunday night was arrested yesterday.

P25 million giant clams seized in Cebu

MANILA, Philippines — Up to 1,686 kilos of
fossilized giant clams with an estimated market value
of P25.29 million were confiscated in Oslob, Cebu on
Passive Headlines

Centino named Armed Forces chief of

staff

Vaccination required for onsite

workers Rookie cop nabbed for killing

of student 2 died, 5 injured in

grenade blast
 News Arial
70 pts -
EU head
reaffirms... EU reaffirms commitment to 2 cols -

MFF Mindanao head 1 deck

- head 11 pts
11-17-21 -2lead
cols 10 pts
- text
- downstyle
text
p.2

11 pts -
lead 10 pts
- text 2 cols
- text
 "W hen l o v e a n d s k i l l w o r k t o g e t h e r,
expect a masterpiece." -J o h n
Ruskin

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