I've never really been a huge fan of quick transitions. Prior to working as assistant viewpoints editor, I spent long nights at The Daily Gamecock as a copy editor, going word nerd crazy on stories. But now, working my new position, I can't shake this overwhelming compulsion to copy edit every story before I pass it on to the copy editors, and it's driving me mad. I can feel my hand creeping for the AP style guide, and I have to slap it away with my other hand, saying "No, that's not what I do anymore."
I have to be efficient for the sake of everyone else, and you just can't be efficient when you're trying to go over everything with a fine-toothed comb. With the mindset switch that accompanies taking on a new position, invariable come the mistakes. For instance, I ran someone's name when it should not have been run, and then there was the design fiasco that was the giant filler that ran last week.
I hereby apologize for all of my mistakes, and I'm trying. I really am. But, should you ever feel the urge to jump all over me about a mistake, you try stifling a somewhat creepy obsession with words.
-- Zach Toman
Assistant Viewpoints editor
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Zach:
You shouldn't feel any pangs about grabbing an AP Stylebook and checking something. As a backfield or assigning editor, you have the same responsibility as a copy editor -- to do everything you can to prevent mistakes from getting through. It is not an efficiency thing -- the copy editor is supposed to look at the copy differently from you, as a surrogate for the reader, and with a different fine-tooth comb. But as a former AP news editor, no assigning editor I have known would say it's not his or her job to deal with basic grammar, style, etc., while also dealing with larger story structure issues.
The more eyeballs, the better.
-- Doug Fisher
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