This course is prerequisite for all succeeding journalism courses except JN 436 and JN 437. Philosophy and purpose Editing lies at the heart of journalism. It is an essential craft for those pursuing careers in newspapers, magazines and broadcasting, as well as new media, such as web publishing. Editing involves the preparation not only of text, but also of supporting elements.
Examples are headlines, cutlines, photos, illustrations, graphics and page layouts.
Indeed, on many publications today, editing is the most intense activity, as editors explore new ways to attract busy consumers while protecting the environment and reducing costs. Editing demands mastery of traditional language skills and logical thinking, decisiveness, precise expression, problem solving and intellectual integrity. For their publications, and by extension for the public, editors are the guardians both of language and of journalistic integrity. Editors have a grave responsibility for providing truthful, accurate and fair accounts of the events, people and ideas that form the raw material of journalism. Lately, the landscape of journalism has been littered with debris from lapses in ethics and judgment.