We have had former reporters join the desk, and these people have been some of our best and brightest copy eds. Some assigning editors do ask their new hires to work at least a day on the desk to start. Those who behave as professionals are treated as such. We have learned it's harder to be nasty to each other face to face than when we're dealing with total strangers over the phone. The more we work closely together in collaborative workgroups, the more mutual respect we cultivate.
Top editors pay good lip service to the importance of copy editing.
And copy editors aren't allowed the time to do their jobs the right way. Too often copy can get only a cursory read and a quick hed because of deadline pressure and missed deadlines by writers. Again, there's lip ser vice about everyone meeting deadlines all along the way. It varies greatly. As each side makes efforts to get to know the individuals involved, the traditional antagonism is bating.