Copy Editors

*Copy Editors Proposal*
Most real newspapers have copy editors if they can afford it. That suggests that if we can get people to be copy editors then we should. But why are copy editors valuable?

Definition of Copy editor: person who sees first draft of piece to check spelling, grammar, and linguistic errors. We could use another term like "Honi Proofreader" to differentiate copy editors from ourselves.

Practical proposition:
Reporter sends pitch to Editor.
Editor approves it.
Reporter writes article and sends first draft to Copy Editor.
Copy Editor does quick revision and sends it to Editor who can easily see what changes the Copy Editor made.
Editor makes their own more meaningful changes and returns it to Reporter.
Follow up drafts are sent back and forth between Editor and Reporter as is currently the case.

Not done for time-critical pieces. We don't need many people like this. People could be copy editors and also reporters.

Benefits of Copy Editors:
1. They save us time. We don't want to be picking up on small grammar errors. This is a zero sum game because we have limited time. If we spend that time on correcting their grammar, we spend less time on developing their skills/angle.
2. They make the paper tighter. The number of spelling/grammatical errors in Honi has occasionally been atrocious. The current editors are all - I'm sure - great at grammar; the errors arise from a lack of time. Those errors delegitimise the paper as a professional and important publication. Copy editors reduce those errors.
3. They can develop new skills. Some people are inexperienced at thinking up article pitches but are still grammar/linguistics whizkids. Honi should be a place for people like that. We are helping them hone their skills when they otherwise wouldn't have been involved at all.