Editing Guide

1. Content:

   1. Maintain brevity. Does the article convey information in as few words as possible?  Is the verbiage here excessive or necessary? Good reporting does not hide behind a facade of fancy words.

   2. Stay up to date with information. Check the sources’ credibility and information.

2. Mechanics:

   1.  Headline is present, succinct, and well-written.

   2. Byline is present.

   3. Titles of articles are downstyled. The first letter of the first word is capitalized, and no other words except proper nouns are. Words after the colon are exceptions.

      1. Ex. National Honor Society introduces new members to the chapter

   4. Use the past tense.

   5. When reporting quotes or dialogue, use exclusively the verbs “said” and “added”.

   6. Information gained from a source, quoted or not, is attributed to the source. Add attribution at the end of the sentence.

   7. Reference AP stylebook (owl purdue) for more specifics on how to report:

      1. Abbreviations and acronyms, ages, referencing other works (books), dates and time, dimensions, numerals, locations and addresses, titles and names

   8. Accepted grammar conventions.

Once back and forth revisions with the writer are done, send it off to the Editor in Chief and wait to get approved.

Editors-in-chief note: Always bring to our attention any uncertainties or issues to address.