Pointing the Finger

Scott Rosenberg looks at the amusing 911-9/11 error at The Washington Post, but finds another lesson to be learned. Among other things, he believes newspaper corrections should identify the person who makes the error.

It's an intriguing concept. I wonder if all reporters really really want to have correction policies that point a finger? It's been my experience over the years that nearly every error was made by a reporter or assigning desk editor.

Not always, of course, and an error introduced by the copy desk is probably extremely galling. But if I had a nickel for every time the copy desk was blamed until the systems audit trail proved otherwise, I would be rich and no longer working for a newspaper. As it happens, only the last part is true.

The transparency issue is interesting though I really wonder whether readers care who made the error. Or whether explanations are best left to ombudsmen columns at some later point.  I don't, but then I rarely read stories because of the byline. Are people so much more invested in the individuals behind the story or is that a writer fantasy?

When a Band-Aid Won't Do

At the risk of sounding as if I'm piling on, I'm wondering how many newspapers, other than The New York Times, could afford to indulge in the Newspaper Copy Editors Full Employment Act, AKA, Alessandra Stanley?

Better yet, how many of you either in the business or forced out in recent months by stupid corporate decisions, would be willing to take on the job of Personal Copy Editor to a mistake-ridden reporter?

I'm holding back on commenting on whether the copy editor who started working on this error-loaded piece on Walter Cronkite and then had to set it aside handled it properly. I don't know the Times' system, and each paper has its own rules and culture about how to deal with story hand-offs. Obviously some are better than others.

But one thing about these trying times: if you've got someone who is adding to the work of a depleted staff, please, think some more about what to do. When people are bleeding all over the battlefield, and your company is down to platoon strength, you can't afford to stop to put a Band-Aid on one of them. It really isn't a good use of your resources.

It's triage time.

Copy Editing Gene/Updated

Recovering editor Bob Keane flags this great Gene Weingarten column. Copy editors everywhere salute you, Gene!

UPDATED Here's one, different, take on the value of copy editing.