Copy editor/designer, Richmond VA

Or they could be neither.

 

Maybe I'm an exception, I don't know. I was hired at my current gig, yes, to be a designer. That was where the focus was, because we had separate people to do almost all of the copy editing. I was supposed to give stories a final look on the page, before they got to the slot. But my primary responsibility was design.

Took about a week for that to change. ... It always takes about a week for that to change, in my experience. I've never been able to concentrate solely on design, because there is *always* editing that needs to be done. ... I don't know a single "copy editor/designer", at any paper I've worked at or been around, who forsakes the editing for the design.

Maybe the major metros are different, I don't know. My paper is less than 100K. We have to be jacks and jills of-all-trades every night. I know from experience that it's that way at every smaller paper I've been around. I can't imagine it's much different at most other papers our size, either.

Just my $0.02.

 

I agree with most of what DyePack says about design not helping circulation. However, I think it's grossly unfair to criticize an SE for a specific hire without knowing the makeup of his staff and each person's strength. Perhaps the editing was already in good shape, allowing the SE the flexibility to improve the desk rather than merely fill a hole. I don't know how old you are, DyePack, but SEs made these kinds of choices before any of us were called "designers." Even in the composing room days, if a rim editor left, he or she was not always replaced by a rim person (and vice versa), and it had nothing to do with valuing one over the other but in trying to upgrade the staff if someone especially skilled came along.

 

when a designer kills your mother, let me know what you think then smartguy

 

Because clearly, if Chris Wilbers is a good designer, he must not be able to write or read.

 

Or feed or dress himself.

 

Dang (slapping head)! I forgot to ask him if he could read or write. Or dress himself.
Good thing he's just a designer.

I'm posting another job soon. I don't think DyePack will be interested.