Reply #35: That's what happens when editors, fact-checkers, and proofreaders get laid off [View All]

[Withywindle]

The rampant embarrassing inaccuracies in major newspapers of late can frankly be traced to layoffs, cutbacks, downsizing, etc.


When I worked for a free weekly newspaper in the 90s, every single piece of copy made several rounds through at least a half-dozen pairs of very intelligent eyes. I mean, I'm talking about the 60-word movie blurbs here. Cover images required sign-offs from at least two senior editors even after they'd passed the grunt gauntlet.

The fewer people you have doing the critical work, the faster copy is expected to move, the more intimidated and inexperienced (and cheaply-paid) the workers are, the more shit like this will be inevitable.