Things S(t)imulation Editors Need to Know

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For Everyone

• The publication date of your newspaper is Thursday morning,11 December. Although your work will be spread out over several days, whenever you are working function as if it is Wednesday, 10 December, which is when Thursday's paper would be produced. Thus "Yesterday" in a story means Wednesday and "tomorrow" means Friday.
  
  
• Each newspaper has its own folder on the JOR Server. To edit a story, open and Save As SLUG-yourname.
  
  
• Each "editing staff" member must do a minimum of four stories and headlines.
  
  
• Editing staff should produce "clean" copy, i.e. no need to use strike through etc. [Original stories will remain in a paper's folder for reference.]
  
  
• Editing staff should use boldface (cq) ONLY to mark facts they have verified.
  
  
• Finished stories should include the copy editor's name in the upper left corner and the word count in the upper right corner of first page.
  
  
• Finished headlines should be written on the 1/2 sheets of colored paper provided and stapled to finished stories. They must show specs and counts.
  
  
• Cutlines should be written on the computer, double-spaced. Be sure to include the slug and your name. After you print your finished cutline, cut the paper in half. Staple the cutline to the photograph; if it goes with a story, clip them to the story.
  
  
• You can print one copy of your finished story. If, after printing, you see other changes that need to be made, please make them in pencil. If, during read-back, a story is found to have serious problems or for some other reason is returned to you for revisions, you should make your changes on the computer and reprint the story.
  
  
• Story length formula: 40 words per inch.

For The Editors

• Page 1 of broadsheet has about 80 inches of space available for stories (rest is headlines, photos, cutlines et al).
  
  
• Inside pages have 125 inches before advertising is included.
  
  
• Put desired lengths of stories and headline specs on Story Logs before assigning stories. This should be done by the start of class on 2 December.
  
  
• Page 1 stories should be listed on log in rank-order, starting with the most important.
  
  
• Every story you use must be cut a minimum of 10 percent.
  
  
• If you use a roundup(s), have one staff member handle all of the stories (will count as two of the required four stories).
  
  
• Page 1 headlines should be assigned based on story ranking (you may not have this many stories; if you have more, ask for additional headline specs):
  • No. 1 story = 6-60-1 w/ 2-30-2 deck
  • No. 2 story = 2-48-3
  • No. 3 story = 5-54-1
  • No. 4 story = 1-30-4
  • No. 5 story = 4-42-1
  • No. 6 story = 1-24-3
  • No. 7 story = 1-24-3
  • [If you use a feature story = 2-60-1 hammer w/ 5-30-1 head]
  • [If you want to "jump" a story, also ask for a jump headline; make them all 3-36-1]
  
  
• Inside page headlines should be assigned based on length (mix 'em up some):
  • 1-10 inches = 1-24-3 or 2-30-2 or 3-36-1
  • 11-15 inches = 2-36-2 or 3-42-2 or 4-48-1 or 5-54-1 (1 story maximum)
  • 16-20 inches = 4-48-2 or 4-54-1 or 2-42-3 or 1-36-4 or 2-48-2 w/2-24-2 deck or 3-36-2
  • 21+ inches = 6-60-1 or 5-54-1 or 4-48-1 w/2-30-2 deck or 2-48-3 or 1-36-4
  • Features = 2-48-1 hammer with 4-30-1 head or 2-24-1 kicker with 4-36-1 head
  
  
• Copy desk chief should use a red pencil to mark up stories and headlines; assistant should use a blue pencil; news editor should use a green pencil.
  
  
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