Requirements for professional media editing have undergone enormous technological change. Editors still edit copy. But today they do much more. Mass media editors must demonstrate skills from computerized pagination to social media monitoring, from image manipulation to Search Engine Optimization. The need for editing skills is reaching far beyond traditional journalism and into all areas of mass media, from newspapers to strategic communication. Public relations practitioners are expected to edit. Even advertising creative professionals must edit. And journalists taking on new roles as social media editors need to understand editing at the speed of digital media. This textbook aims to prepare university-level students for these expanded editing roles in an age of convergence. Thirteen authors representing many years of collective media experience examine both traditional editing roles and new editing needs. While many mass media students will not become professional editors, this textbook assumes nearly all will need competent editing knowledge to produce products of professional quality. Editing, the authors believe, remains a bedrock skill for all students who hope to be successful in the mass media. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

This volume encompasses a compendium of diverse perspectives on media effects. All the contributions are original pieces which attempt to represent thought, research and ethics in the massive endeavour of understanding cross-cultural media effects. A list of variables which ought to be considered in future research is suggested and the contributors emphasize that there is no one methodology for the study of these processes.

Because journalism and mass media students need and benefit from writing skills for print-based media, this text first provides a strong foundation in newspaper writing techniques. Following chapters cover other media writing styles and discuss how and why these writing styles differ from (and resemble) newspaper writing. A final chapter discusses legal aspects of writing, including libel, invasion of privacy, and First Amendment rights.

Textbook

Special features, such as syndicate directories, annual newspaper linage tabulations, etc., appear as separately paged sections of regular issues.