i newspaper, September 26, 2018
I was pleasantly surprised to see ‘Antony’ correctly spelled in this headline but just to check I looked at the caption:
and I was not let down. There is some cretin at the i newspaper who not only does not know how to spell Shakespeare’s Antony (perhaps Shakespeare comes into the category ‘It’s before my time so how should I be expected to know?’ which seems to be the covering excuse for ignorance these days) but cannot even copy the name. And if we are to believe the editor (see #450), he or his deputy reads every word in the paper, as do a whole bunch of other titles. If this is the case they all need sacking.
Hi Margaret.
I’m a sub for a title you routinely take to task on this website and share your anger at the state of this underrated profession. That said, I think you’re a bit harsh at times.
You can’t on the one hand acknowledge that ‘Staffs have been so reduced that no one has time to guide anyone else’ and on the other write off everyone as useless and deserving of the sack. The small band of freelance subs I work with (4 or 5 per shift) are expected to race through articles at light speed. A single (frazzled) revise sub is expected to look over the entire newspaper, while the senior editors sweat over the big stuff. Most nights it’s mayhem. The old days of spending hours on a single article are over. Yes, some of the errors you describe are unforgivable, but they’re also inevitable when subs are undertrained, underpaid and overworked .
Anyway, on a more positive note, I’ve learnt a lot from your blog over the last few months; it really is a fantastic resource. Thanks so much for putting it out there.