The gatekeepers
By Don Shoultz
CNN Headline News
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Story Tools
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(CNN) -- When I was asked to write a story on the CNN Headline News copy editors, I started thinking about how to define their work.
The word "gatekeepers" immediately came to mind, and it really does define who they are and what they do. They are the final link in the story chain before the script is printed and goes to the anchors.
CNN Headline News has 14 copy editors, seven women and seven men. They range in age from their 20s to their 40s and come from a variety of professional backgrounds. Some are "homegrown," having started with CNN Headline News right out of college and working their way into copy editor slots. Others have come from the "outside" where they worked as reporters in television or radio.
The job of a copy editor demands a long list of skills, and some of them have nothing to do with journalism. People skills is a big one. So is restraint. Keeping your cool in a high-pressure environment isn't always easy. It's sometimes difficult not to raise your voice when you're waiting on a story that is supposed to air in two minutes! (Some copy editors handle this better than others.)
There's also the "trust factor" ... knowing whom you can count on in a crunch situation to get a late-breaking story written quickly, accurately and with the appropriate visual information in the script. Copy editors learn very quickly which writers can turn out certain types of stories the best.
The copy editor is a cross between a boss, a pal and a confessor. The job demands you ensure the workflow proceeds at a pace that guarantees everything gets on the air on time. There is no time in the news business to regroup. The copy editor sometimes has to deal with a colleague's ruffled feathers, a spat between shift workers, or someone just having a bad day. It's the editor's job to keep everyone focused and get the show on the air.
OK, you've heard about the "social responsibilities" of being a copy editor, but where is the journalism? That's the core, of course. What exactly do they do?
When a writer finishes a story, the copy editor looks at it from a variety of angles. First, the editor checks the video and graphic information to make sure it matches the copy. Next, it's "check-the-facts" time, then a read-through to make sure the story is relevant and contains all the important aspects. Then, examine the lead to be sure it grabs the viewer's attention. Finally, another read-through for overall continuity and it's ready for air.
Doesn't sound too tough? Well, multiply that by about 30 for each half-hour, and consider that we do 36 live half-hours a day. Now THAT can produce some stress!
All the copy editors were writers for CNN Headline News before promotion.
There's something else they have in common. They want to make sure that your serving of news is meaningful and fulfilling.
After all, they are "The Gatekeepers."
