Urban legend?

Once, after typing in an obituary into the system, the copy editor added the following note at the bottom for the other editors to see: I know this reads like (blank), but that's how the (blank) of a funeral director wants it to read. And, yes, the blanks do replace what you think they do.

This obituary made it into print, complete with the copy editor's note.

Muphry's Law (sic)

Something I came across this morning that I had to share: Muphry's Law gives a name to conventional copy desk wisdom.

What's in a name?

Like two, to and too, Wisconsin has Menomonie, Menomonee and Menominee. Menomonie is a city in western Wisconsin, home to UW-Stout. Menomonee is a river in Milwaukee and the name of a Milwaukee suburb, Menomonee Falls. Menominee is the county north of Shawano County.

Proofs

Lately, the night desk has been finding several dayside proofs left for us over the weekend. This past Saturday, there were almost a dozen. I understand that with furloughs, people's job expectations have changed and expanded.

Beginning next week, there are 4 people scheduled every Friday on night desk. Please, whoever is proofing pages during the day Friday, continue to do so. If you are working on night desk on Friday night, please make sure that all proofs are looked at before you leave Friday, with 4 of us, it should be doable. It's just a bit much for 2 people to do on Saturday with the normal pages.

Basically, I'm asking that night desk copy editors make sure all day side proofs are edited and to Dan before Saturday. Make sure to check the round table. Thanks!

--Kristy

Double check addresses

I just had an important reminder about the need to confirm addresses. In Wednesday's restaurant review, Brokaw Corners address was listed as 17550 County Road W. Something in my gut said that address was wrong. After checking it out, it turns out the address is T7550 County Road W. T as in town of Texas.

As former Daily Herald managing editor Joel Christopher told me, "If your gut tells you something is wrong, trust your gut."

Internal links

Copy desk,

You folks have, for months, done a fantastic job of including internal links and following the myriad requests I've made of you (adding stories to special sections (themes) ,embedding video, etc.) .

Given our need to keep everyone at the appropriate number of hours during the furloughs and Liz's leave, I'll ease the burden of these "extras". Please, perform this duty when you can, but if you can't, e-mail me and I'll do what I can in the morning (although I'll be helping the day desk quite a bit over the next couple of weeks and likely won't be in as early as usual).

I appreciate the enhancement you have added to countless stories. Just keep me posted on what's left undone.

Thanks,

— Brian O.

Page proofs

With the furloughs and such, I'm trying to find a better way to get Life, GO! and Everest Herald page proofs edited in a timely, efficient manner so the evening copy editors don't have to edit many, if any, pages. I've tried two ways:
1: The honor system, in which I leave them near Amy Kimmes and hope people find the time to edit a page or two.
2: The draft, in which I drop pages off at editors' desks (sometimes when they aren't there) and expect them to find time.
Does anyone have a third way?