Proofreading Galley Proofs and Bluelines

Do not select a photograph for publication that might cause embarrassment to the subject or command. Depending on the nature of the event, use extreme caution when selecting photographs for publication. CUTLINE INFORMATION Check the cutline information with the photograph. Each of the five W’s and H that can be answered must be answered. Check the spelling of names, position titles, nomenclature of equipment and other facts. Make sure individuals are clearly and consistently identified and that the cutlines are formatted according to the rules outlined in your local stylebook. PROOFREADING GALLEY PROOFS AND BLUELINES Learning Objective: Recognize the importance of proofreading galley proofs and bluelines as a staff function. As you read in JO3 & 2, proofreading is one of the final steps in the printing process of the newspaper. After the publisher typesets your copy, he will return it to you with a set of galley proofs. Galley proofs, for the purpose of this chapter, are photocopies of the actual pages of the newspaper, including headlines, copy, cutlines, captions and artwork. Photographs and ads (in CE newspapers) will not appear on the galley proofs, but the publisher will indicate their positions. In the CE and funded newspaper business, these first copies are called “whites” (fig. 7-5). Your particular deadline structure will determine the days in which you will receive the galley proofs. Regardless of the deadlines in place, make sure the galley proofs are thoroughly proofread by all staff members. Granted, proofreading is a tedious facet of newspaper production, but it is well worth it when you catch a typographical error, misaligned column or other mistake (no matter if your staff or the publisher is to blame) before it ends up in print. Have your staff members initial each galley proof after proofreading. When all the pages have been reviewed, go through them yourself one more time, then call or visit the publisher and give him the changes. The final proofreading step involves the “blues,” or blueline (fig. 7-6). The blueline is a replica of the newspaper in reverse and is similar in appearance to a blueprint. The size of the publisher’s press determines whether the blueline is in eight or 16-page signatures. This is your last chance to make corrections before the plates are made and the newspaper is printed and distributed. Most publishers will not mind a small amount of blueline corrections. However, this is not the time to make wholesale changes. The bulk of the corrections should have already been made on the galley proofs. If an accident or incident requires a sizaable change of the bluelina, the publisher will normally accommodate the necessary changes. Remember, the amount of cooperation you receive depends largely on the relationship you have fostered with the publisher. Closely scrutinize the blueline. It is a good idea to bounce the blueline against the galley proofs for the most comprehensive check possible. Make sure folio lines, by-lines, cutlines, tag lines and page numbers are on the pages and are correct. Look for the following errors: . Reversed or upside-down photographs and art . Photographs and cutlines or captions that do not match . Headlines that do not match stories . Smudges or stray markings that might repro- duce Because of time constraints, the publisher may ask you to proof the blueline at the printing plant. DESKTOP PUBLISHING Learning Objective: Define desktop publishing and identify its hardware and software requirements. There is a technological innovation in newspaper production that is changing the way words are put on paper. This innovation is called desktop publishing. Desktop publishing (also known as electronic publishing and electronic makeup) refers to the use of a microcomputer (personal computer) to compose and print newspapers, documents and other publications. It is a process that encompasses design, composition, page makeup and document reproduction. By combining the microcomputer with desktop publishing software, you 7-13