The Importance of Leadership
"I think you're capable. No, I know you're capable. you know more now than I did when I was in your position."
"I think you're capable. No, I know you're capable. you know more now than I did when I was in your position."
-Franco Vidal, Former Head Copy Editor on The Muse
After one year on the staff, I decided to apply to become The Muse's Head Copy Editor to carry on my editor’s legacy after he graduated. I had ideas on how to improve the magazine's content quality and the copy section's functions from my time as a staffer, so I decided to try to make a positive difference by taking this opportunity to become a leader. I wanted to refine the writers' skills with remedial tactics to help them learn from their mistakes. For example, I created a checklist of commonly-forgotten errors or commonly-forgotten copy processes in general.
In newsmagazine format, there is no option to rewind or replay what was said. Readers do not stop and ponder the meaning of a sentence past their first read. It is important for them to understand what the writer means the first time around.
Keeping it short and sweet for our readers is a big part of working on a publication, and as a copy staffer, it is important that I help the writers keep sentences brief and clear at the same time.
Using the AP Stylebook as a guide across all of our content creates a sense of uniformity, and we know this style is correct.
Editors have a responsibility to support and teach their staffers.
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