Aims

This course will provide you with a more in-depth understanding of sub-editing. You will concentrate on your weaknesses in sub-editing, look at ways of improving these as well as text handling, headline writing, creating standfirsts and picture captions to maximise the effect on the reader.

Suitability

You should already have at least six months experience of sub-editing. Although the course would be helpful to chief subs and people wanting to be chief subs, it does not intend to cover the mainly organisational and production aspects of that job.

Materials

Please bring along two pieces of unsubbed copy from your own publications (which could be pieces that you need to work on for an upcoming publication), as well as a copy of the publication itself (or printouts of on-line material).

Content

exercises and practical guidance

drawing on participants' own publications

demonstrating techniques for sharpening up text

deciding when a rewrite is necessary and how to set about it

gaining the confidence to produce headlines, standfirsts

handling rewrites or heavy workloads quickly and accurately

revising copy and page proofs

overseeing the work of more junior staff members

improving copy flows

handling problems

practical exercises in difficult layouts and features

organising time better and making deadlines

working with advertising departments, production and printers

Duration: 2 days

Dates: See below

Location: Elephant and Castle