Their reactions may take one or all of several forms. Some editors print the copy and mark it up with questions. Others add electronic notes with queries and send the file back. Some send a list of questions to the reporter without the text. One very effective editor marks what she wants to talk about, and then sits at the reporter s desk and discusses the marked passages.
Some editors read the piece aloud and ask reporters what they think needs changing.
And some editors use all these techniques because different methods work better with different writers. The author may decide the piece is simply hopeless, and by extension, so is the writer. In general, if you identify the big problems, the smaller ones take care of themselves. This system also depends on timely return of the piece to the reporter s control for action. You can t let it sit for a few hours while you go to meetings.