WHEN 6 weeks, May 27 - June 30 Chats Mondays, 9-10 pm ET WHERE Online. Click here for more information. LEVEL Intro PRICE $425 ($400 for ) more info

Course Details

Do you know the difference between an optician, an optometrist, and an ophthalmologist? Do you know that Philadelphia is also a place in Mississippi? And that "Kleenex" is always capitalized? A good copy editor does -- or at least knows where to find out. If you're a true stickler for detail and get a special charge out of saving a newspaper, magazine, or Web site from the public embarrassment known as the typo, copy editing is for you.

In this class, you will learn:

• How to determine when a sentence needs tweaking or is best left alone
• How to understand copyediting lingo, including proofreading symbols and common terms
• How to navigate AP style
• How to find the best reference materials for the job
• How to prepare for and master a copyediting test
• How to find the best reference materials for a copyediting assignment
• How to tailor a resume� and where to find copy editing jobs

By the end of class, students will have:
An overall knowledge of the copy editing field and the tools to pursue a job as a copy editor.

• Instructors post lectures once a week. You can read them online, print them, or download them at your convenience.
• Students post completed assignments for feedback and discussion by the instructor and class.
• Weekly chats allow your class to get together via instant message. Transcripts are available for review if you can't attend.
• Technical support is available from mediabistro.com staff.

Related Courses

Instructor Bio

Robin Aigner's Courses

Robin Aigner is the copy chief for Blender magazine. She has been wrangling words, commas, typos, and editors for more than 10 years in the New York publishing industry. She has worked for countless magazines including Rolling Stone, ELLEgirl, Psychology Today, and Playboy, high-end book/media projects (Rolling Stone Press, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame) and academic and cultural institutions (Columbia University, arts initiatives). A freelance writer and copy editing wiz, Robin knows the ins and outs of current style, the secrets to being a successful copy editor and, most important, will not shy away from discussing proper treatment of the colon.

Testimonials

Intro to Copyediting is a wonderful, insightful course. Robin Aigner is funny and brings all of her experience from magazine publishing and the tricks-of-the-trade to the table. -- Nyrie Jackson

"Robin is awesome! She not only taught us the basics of copy editing, but also the real world applications of the skills we learned. She also had invaluable advice on how to go about looking for copy editing work, what to do and not to do on a copy editing test, and how to win over a prospective employer. She was also great at facilitating discussion each week and answered any questions we had. Overall, Robin was a great instructor and an interesting person in the biz to learn from." -- Rebecca Takahashi