Copy editors

The New York Times' Editorial Observer by Lawrence Downes has an eloquent Elegy for Copy Editors. The piece begins with a lament that the Newseum in Washington has no exhibits about copy editors. In the changing word of online journalism, Downes worries, the time for thoughtful copy editing is vanishing. He lays out succinctly what copy editors do. Here is a quote:

The copy editor's job, to the extent possible under deadline, is to slow down, think things through, do the math and ask the irritating question.

 
A colleague at The N&O once said, "Copy editors are roadkill on the information superhighway." That was a funny line, and sometimes we feel that way. But the truth is that every piece of copy ever published in any form could benefit from a copy editor's eye. Even if the copy editor comes to the piece after it is published for the first time, he or she can still improve the next version.