Detroit Free Press 1. News copy desk does news, Sports does sports and a Universal desk does the rest. The copy is pretty good coming in and much better going out. On each desk, usually two or more slots and a half dozen on the rim.
Some copy editors become slots, some prefer the rim.
All are hired as copy editors or, in a few cases, become so by their choice. Five department he ads have copy editing backgrounds. Professional and almost always amiable. Frequent slotting, which pays more. No particular pattern.