Table Of ContentSubediting and Production
for Journalists
The new edition of Subediting and Production for Journalists is a concise, clear and
contemporary introduction to the skills required for subediting newspapers,
magazines and websites. Tim Holmes describes how subediting has developed, from
the early days of print to the modern era of the internet browser and social media,
and explores the many challenges for the sub working today.
Using numerous practical examples drawn from print and online, Subediting and
Production for Journalistsintroduces the various techniques employed by the sub to
help make the written word stand out on the page, including:
(cid:129) subbing news and features for sense and style
(cid:129) writing headlines and sells
(cid:129) making copy legally safe
(cid:129) understanding production, using software packages and content manage-
ment systems
(cid:129) editing and rewriting stories for online publication
(cid:129) creating suitable page furniture for websites
(cid:129) handling and sizing pictures digitally
(cid:129) handling audio and video.
Subediting and Production for Journalists is the perfect guide for all those with an
interest in subbing in today’s multimedia environments, as well as anyone wanting
to see their words come to life.
Tim Holmes is Associate Director of the Centre for Journalism at the Cardiff School
of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, Cardiff University, UK. He teaches on
the MA in Magazine Journalism, the MBA in Media Management and the BA
in Journalism and Communic ations. He is co-author (with G. G. Mottershead and
S. B. Hadwin) of The 21st Century Journalism Handbook: Essential Skills for the Modern
Journalist (Routledge, 2012), and editor of Mapping the Magazine: Comparative
Studies in Magazine Journalism(Routledge, 2008).
Media Skills
EDITED BY RICHARD KEEBLE, LINCOLN UNIVERSITY
SERIES ADVISERS: WYNFORD HICKS AND JENNY MCKAY
The Media Skills series provides a concise and thorough introduction to
a rapidly changing media landscape. Each book is written by media and
journalism lecturers or experienced professionals and is a key resource for
a particular industry. Offering helpful advice and information and using
practical examples from print, broadcast and digital media, as well as
discussing ethical and regulatory issues, Media Skills books are essential
guides for students and media professionals.
Designing for Newspapers and Programme Making for Radio
Magazines Jim Beaman
2nd edition
Chris Frost Production Management for
Television
English for Journalists Leslie Mitchell
Twentieth Anniversary Edition
Wynford Hicks Researching for the Media
2nd edition
Ethics for Journalists Adèle Emm
2nd edition
Richard Keeble Reporting for Journalists
2nd edition
Feature Writing for Journalists Chris Frost
Sharon Wheeler
Subediting and Production for
Freelancing For Television and Radio Journalists
Leslie Mitchell 2nd edition
Tim Holmes
Interviewing for Journalists
2nd edition Writing for Broadcast Journalists
Sally Adams, with Wynford Hicks 2nd edition
Rick Thompson
Interviewing for Radio
2nd edition Writing for Journalists
Jim Beaman 2nd edition
Wynford Hicks with Sally
Magazine Production Adams, Harriett Gilbert
Jason Whittaker and Tim Holmes
Subediting and Production
for Journalists
PRINT, DIGITAL, SOCIAL
SECOND EDITION
Tim Holmes
Second edition published 2016
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2002 Wynford Hicks, Tim Holmes
© 2016 Tim Holmes; individual contribution, the contributor
The right of Tim Holmes to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying
and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification
and explanation without intent to infringe.
First published 2002 as Subediting for Journalists by Routledge
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Holmes, Tim, 1953–.
Subediting and production for journalists/Tim Holmes. – Second edition.
pages cm. – (Media skills)
“First published 2002 as Subediting for Journalists”–Title page verso.
1. Journalism – Editing. I. Hicks, Wynford, 1942–. Subediting for journalists.
Based on (work): II. Title.
PN4778.H48 2015
070.4(cid:2)1 –dc23
2014047230
ISBN: 978-0-415-49200-3 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-415-49201-0 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0-203-14354-4 (ebk)
Typeset in Goudy and Scala Sans
by Florence Production Ltd, Stoodleigh, Devon, UK
Contents
List of figures vi
Acknowledgements vii
Text acknowledgements viii
Preface x
List of abbreviations xii
1 Introduction 1
2 How to be a modern subeditor 13
3 Professional subediting practice
With Glyn Mottershead 37
4 How to create great news headlines 68
5 Headline systems and searchability 99
6 How to write great feature headlines 114
7 Page furniture systems: sells and captions 140
8 Page furniture systems: pull quotes, cross heads, tags 176
9 Legal and ethical problems for subeditors 192
10 Covers, splash pages and landing zones 217
Glossary of terms used in journalism 231
Appendix: Copy editing and correction marks 251
References 258
Index 260
Figures
3.1 Drop cap illustration 54
4.1 Front page of The Independent, Thursday 29 January 2004 90
4.2 Front page of the Daily Telegraph, Friday 2 March 2012 95
4.3 Front page of the Times, Thursday 18 July 2013 97
8.1 A simple example of symmetry in a double page spread 180
Acknowledgements
There are many people who contributed to the making of this book but
I would like to thank the following in particular:
First and foremost must come Wynford Hicks, co-author of the first
edition, the person who brought me into the project and from whom I
have inherited it. I hope this new edition meets his exacting standards.
The many students who have bought, borrowed or otherwise used the
first edition and their tutors, who put it on reading lists and gave me
kindly and positive feedback.
Students on the MA in Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University on
whom I have road-tested much of the new material.
My colleague Glyn Mottershead for his contribution to Chapter 3 and
his insights into digital publishing.
Professor Duncan Bloy of the Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and
Cultural Studies for his material help and careful guidance in matters of
law as they affect journalists. Chapter 9 would not have been possible
without his unstinting assistance.
Niall Kennedy, who spotted that ‘Super Cally’ should in fact be ‘Super
Caley’ when referring to his football team of choice, Inverness
Caledonian Thistle. Niall’s unending patience saw the book through
several upheavals and brought it safely home.
Sue Leaper and her colleagues at Florence Production for taking such
care with proofing and corrections.
Finally, to my wife Rebekka Smith and my son George Smith Holmes,
thank you for tolerating the ups and downs of authorship. It wouldn’t
mean anything without you.
Tim Holmes
[email protected]
Text acknowledgements
‘Who needs sub-editors? Read David Montgomery’s 2,200-word missive
on the future of Local World in full’ by Axegrinder. Courtesy of The Press
Gazette.
‘Standard Chartered share price falls 16%, wiping £6BILLION from
its value, after claims the UK bank laundered billions for Iran and
Hezbollah’ by James Salmon. Courtesy of The Daily Mail/DMG Media.
‘Huge data blunder by the Serious Fraud Office sees 32,000 pages of
evidence in BAE Systems bribery case released by mistake’ by Matt
Chorley. Courtesy of The Daily Mail/DMG Media.
‘UK has had the fastest growing population in Europe for a decade’
by John Bingham, 26 June 2014. © Telegraph Media Group Limited
2013/2014.
‘Children of Paradise’ by Todd S. Purdum, originally published in Vanity
Fair. Courtesy of Todd S. Purdum.
Text from This Is The Order, Issue 3. Courtesy of Ross Cairns/Vince
Medeiros.
‘The Grande Dame of Charing Cross Road’, first featured in Riposte,
Issue One. Courtesy of Riposte.
‘Walls of Death, Wheels of Life’. Courtesy of Boneshaker Magazine.
‘The Desert Stage’ by Buzz Bissinger/Vanity Fair/© Conde Nast.
Text from Autocar, 15 January 2014. Courtesy of Haymarket Media.
‘How to Pass the Xavi Way’, SportsDirect.com magazine. Courtesy of
Haymarket Media.
Text acknowledgements ix
Text from Creative Review’s London Underground 150 commemorative
issue, March 2013. Courtesy of Creative Review.
Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood collection summaries,
Marie Claire Runway, Spring/Summer 2014. Courtesy of Time Inc. (UK).
‘The nine lives of Felix’ by Sean O’Hagan. 2 June 2013, originally
published in The Observer Magazine. © Guardian News & Media Ltd
2013.
‘How to Spend Time Alone’. The article first appeared in the March
2015 issue of Red Magazine. Courtesy of Red Magazine/Hearst Magazines
UK.
Extract from Buck Owens’s memoirs, featured in Country Music maga-
zine. Courtesy of Team Rock publishers.
‘Definitive guide to using important meta-tags’ by Shaun Anderson
[Hobo]. Available at: www.hobo-web.co.uk/seo-blog/. Courtesy of Shaun
Anderson.
‘TwoTwentyTwo is a landmark of bad taste’ by Marina O’Loughlin.
Originally published in The Metro, 23/7/2009. Courtesy of Solo
Syndication.
