Thanks for your column. It's a great resource for journalists of all ages and places.

ASK JOE A QUESTION

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I have been working as a news copy editor and page designer for a few years now since college and am ready to look into something new. I would like to apply for a similar position at a young-reader publication, and the job advertisement asks for a design and editing portfolio. Thankfully, I have a great design portfolio already; that's easy. But I have no idea what to put in an editing portfolio.

Side-by-side comparisons of reporters' originals and edits? Good headline samples? Pieces I've written myself? Some of these elements will be evident in the page-design samples I will submit, but what would you, as a recruiter, like to see?

Ambidextrous

Two sets of evidence can demonstrate your editing skills. The first is a letter-perfect resume and cover letter. All your e-mails should go out that way, too.

Joe Grimm

Then, to the work samples. A sheet or two of headlines should be easy.

 

As for editing, send annotated clips. One copy editor I know "deconstructs" the stories by attaching a note next to the published story explaining her role in getting the story ready. These are focused on big-picture edits, such as the merging of two or more stories or the rearrangement of a story.