As an assignment editor looking for other similar jobs, I
often come across requests for "editing clips."
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What's the best format
for these, because what I would consider an editing clip -- drafts in a
prepublished state, allowing for comparison to a final product -- would
seem to be proprietary information owned by my company.
Alan
Great question. Showing someone's unedited work can seem a little cruel, too. (I am so happy to have an editor!)
Unless an editor specifically asks for before and afters, I think I
would submit a clip where you have done good editing and written a
smart headline. In the margin of the clip, I would tell a little about
what you did to help the article. You'll want examples where you have
done relatively big stuff: new lead, restructuring, combining stories, a huge
trim, meeting a hard deadline.
Your cover letter, resume and e-mails will demonstrate your line-editing skills.
Coming Wednesday: She wonders whether a former employer will tell people why she left -- and that she collected unemployment.
