How to Become a Better Newspaper Editor

Just as each writer gets better with each article, each editor improves with time. This is a guide to developing better newspaper editing skills, where one can ask for top pay for the right kind of words.

Things You'll Need

• Elements of Style

Instructions

1. Omit needless words. In Stephen King’s “On Writing,” the talented novelist brings up an old story from his days at a small paper. In short, an editor took a red pen and crossed out all the “extras” King added to a newspaper article. Omit needless words, King tells us. This advice also comes from the first style book you should buy, “Elements of Style.” The book works for any writer at any level because it practices what it preaches. It may not entertain you like a good Stephen King novel, but you will learn the basics.

2. Headlines with potential. With a headine, you are grabbing a reader. Just like a sentence, you need a strong verb. Here's an example of a headline: “Phil Mckee Pens Another Wonder.” Take a minute to look at it and decide how you'd edit that. It’s important to say the proper names in a headline, because many are glancing through the pages looking for something of interest. A better headline would be, “Mckee Pens Another Wonder With ‘Trip.’” Always cut out the first name, because headlines are rarely more than five to seven words. It is supposed to state what’s needed and nothing more.

3. Study, study, study. Pick up smaller newspapers rather than the big players. You will see far more errors there than in the New York Times because these papers are short on staff writers and time. However, some will show plenty of talent. If you get ideas from the Times, it may be obvious. If you take a few newspaper writing tricks from a small paper, few will notice. This just means studying papers with an editor's eye, looking for powerful leads and headlines that capture the whole story.

4. Leads make cents. An article's lead is the hook of the story. This is the toughest part of the newspaper business for some and a good editor knows leads, what verbs will work and when to grab attention with some excitement. Developing a lead isn't something you need to do from the outset. Write the article, grab a few ideas and offer them to another editor. Or when you give the draft for review, type out as many quality leads as you can.

5. Three drafts. Generally an article will go through three drafts for a newspaper. Revisions include omiting needless words and working in a powerful headline. However, you can't edit a piece forever. While screenwriters go through twenty drafts, newspaper writers work more in threes. Yes, awards are won in the newspaper business, but it is still a business and in the end, speed wins out over the masterpiece people will recycle in a week.

Tips & Warnings

• Make your leads stand out. They are the most important part of the whole article.

• Incorporate the most interesting facts early and the least important ones later, as readers will always scan the beginning of the article.