Paul Walsh, a Minneapolis Star Tribune copy editor, thought that the details in the wire photo's caption were a little thin. So he went to work getting more information - and by the time he was done, his paper not only had a complete caption, but quite possibly the only accurate one in the country. This "If you ran the newspaper" column, which appeared on Page 25A of the Star Tribune on Feb. 17, 2002, was written by Lou Gelfand, who at the time was the paper's reader representative. Paul Walsh is now an assigning editor.

List All Study Tools of the Trade Tagged with: Accuracy, Best practices, Cutlines

Knowledge of how the world works is the special province of copy editors, and the work that they do - putting a story "in printable form with its values disclosed and brought within the understanding of the reader," as Adolph Ochs once said - protects a news organization's relationship with its audience. Hear more of what Nieman Curator Bob Giles had to say and download the full text of his speech. It's one of nine sessions at Editing the Future.

List All Study Tools of the Trade Tagged with: Best practices, Journalism law, Management, Training

Reporters, assigning editors and copy editors are wired differently, and that can lead to newsroom clashes. Watch as Jacqui Banaszynski, Knight chair for editing at the University of Missouri, offers a path to better working relationships and download her PowerPoint. It's one of nine sessions at Editing the Future.

List All Study Tools of the Trade Tagged with: Best practices, Management, Morale

New technology can enhance the work of editors - and it can obscure their core mission. Watch as John Russial of the University of Oregon and John McIntyre of the Baltimore Sun trace the evolution of the copy desk and offer advice for helping it face tomorrow's challenges. It's one of nine sessions at Editing the Future.

List All Study Tools of the Trade Tagged with: Best practices, Management

When the Chicago Tribune misidentified a top Tribune executive in an obituary, the resulting "meltdown" led the paper to adopt procedures that reduced the error rate. Watch as editor Margaret Holt explains what the newsroom did and get advice and strategies from around the country. It's one of nine sessions at Editing the Future.

List All Study Tools of the Trade Tagged with: Accuracy, Best practices, Management

The Editors' Blog, written by five of the paper's top editors, answers reader questions and explains the N&O;'s print and online policies. You'll find links to more blogs at the top of the page, including one for the Triangle Grammar Guide, written by longtime N&O; staffer Pam Nelson. Public editor Ted Vaden also writes a regular column.

List All Study Tools of the Trade Tagged with: Best practices, Current Events, Language, News judgment

Instead of asking frontline editors to come to a training center, NewsTrain takes training to them. Two-day workshops cost only $35 and are held throughout the country.

List All Study Tools of the Trade Tagged with: Best practices, Training

A copy editor changes a lead without first checking with the reporter. The city desk treats the copy desk like proofreaders instead of professionals. Protocols are designed to help the copy desk and the city desk create a more productive environment. Here's a guide to writing one.

DOWNLOADS: Copy desk protocols

List All Study Tools of the Trade Tagged with: Best practices, Management, Morale

Living a pure and noble life on the desk is simple. Just follow these 10 easy rules.

List All Study Tools of the Trade Tagged with: Best practices

NABJ was launched in 1975 by 44 men and women; it has grown to 3,300 members and is the country's largest organization for journalists of color. Its goals are to build community among black jurnalists, sensitize the media to issues of fairness and increasing the ranks of black journalists.

List All Study Tools of the Trade Tagged with: Best practices, Diversity, Training

AAJA encourages Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to consider a career in journalism and works for fairer and more accurate coverage of its community. The 2,000-member organization has 19 chapters and offers programming for students and professionals.

List All Study Tools of the Trade Tagged with: Best practices, Diversity, Training

Editors of weekly newspapers formed ISWNE in 1955 to help weekly papers improve news reporting and strengthen their editorial voices.

List All Study Tools of the Trade Tagged with: Best practices, Training

The NCEW is the professional organization for editorial page editors and writers, and it places considerable emphasis on editing and managing the opinion sections of newspapers.

List All Study Tools of the Trade Tagged with: Best practices

Perhaps the oldest and largest organization with 10,000 members, SPJ's mission is to protect the First Amendment and provide professional development for pros and students.

List All Study Tools of the Trade Tagged with: Best practices, Training

APME works with AP to improve the journalism in the newspapers of its members. It's also the home of NewsTrain, which sends experts on the road for high-quality, low-cost training.

List All Study Tools of the Trade Tagged with: Best practices, Training

ASNE, founded in 1922, is the main organization for daily newspaper editors. Its initiatives focus on building credibility, improving diversity and defending the First Amendment.

List All Study Tools of the Trade Tagged with: Best practices, Training

Not until you edit yourself. Dr. Karen Brown Dunlap, Poynter's president, offers these tips for high school journalists, but it�s good advice for everyone.

List All Study Tools of the Trade Tagged with: Best practices

Founded in 1976, FACS offers educational programs for journalists and publishing guides on important topics related to news reporting.

List All Study Tools of the Trade Tagged with: Best practices, Current Events, Training

ASNE has gathered ethics codes from large and small newspapers, news organizations and journalism associations.

List All Study Tools of the Trade Tagged with: Best practices, Ethics

Poynter offers guidelines, articles, e-mailed columns, a toll-free hotline if you need some advice - even help for students doing research papers.

List All Study Tools of the Trade Tagged with: Best practices, Ethics, Journalism education, Journalism law