Magazine Websites Suffer From Poor Editing: Columbia Journalism Review Study

A survey of magazine web sites by the Columbia Journalism Review shows that there are vastly different standards between the print and online editions of many magazines.

The study, led by former Nation editor Victor Navasaky, relied on responses from 665 magazines (including many with large circulations) found the following:

• Either no, or less vigorous, copy-editing online than in print (59%).
• Less rigorous fact-checking when Web, rather than print, editors are in charge (40%), and sometimes no fact-checking when independent Web editors make content decisions (17%).
• No indication to readers when corrections are made that a mistake had been there (54%).

Navasky told the New York Times, "There isn't yet a generally accepted set of norms for this new medium. There's chaos out there."

He added that he hopes the study's findings could inspire a conference.

The study is embedded below and also appears at the CJR's website.

CJR: Magazines and Their Web Sites

Comments

[jukesgrrl]

11:03 PM on 03/03/2010

Such as the grammar, spelling, and content errs that constantly dog HuffPost headlines?

[donnieg]

10:15 AM on 03/03/2010

I didn't know the Huffington Post had a magazine.

[thelazypaperboy]

10:53 AM on 03/02/2010

seems that there's an extra helping of lazy on this plate, not that i can properly claim to have anything against that. it just seems easier to rush to post and fix it later if it's wrong when the words are online and not in print.
i'm regularly lazy at jrdeputyaccountant.com

[thelazypaperboy]

10:49 AM on 03/02/2010

Maybe there's a large portion of lazy on the plate here, not that I can claim to have anything against that. The rush to post and the, "Eh, we can always fix it if it's wrong" point of view seem a lot more prevalent when there's no ink to dry.
i'm regularly lazy at jrdeputyaccountant.com

[Two Cents]

08:38 AM on 03/02/2010

. . . ironic, no? (This should be the head on the main. ;o)

[Nijel]

07:02 AM on 03/02/2010

Somewhat troubling news.

I fear that as journalism continues to move towards the internet as opposed to print, the quality of said journalism will decrease!

Of course, as viewership increases online, revenue should follow. As revenue increases, quality (should) go up. Publications will be able to afford a proofreader, or decent editors!

[MyFatCat]

01:15 AM on 03/02/2010

I blame the one-minute newscycle.

[BluebirdofUnhappiness]

12:05 AM on 03/02/2010

Not enough money in the web to pay for editors--or content, com to think of it. (I know from experience.)

[Boxxphotog]

11:28 PM on 03/01/2010

You all sound like those old farts who used to read things like books. Can't we all just find new joy n happiness pointing and clicking our way through the rest of our lives.

Seriously, I deal with teachers and parents daily who, on occasion, have complained to me when expanded vocabulary is introduced to their young ones. Some balk at suggestions to engage their children by more smartly using technology as a device for research or study. Curses NCLB. Focus left comprehension behind and locked in on testing results.

[sierraseven]

09:49 PM on 03/01/2010

It's going to get worse. My niece's "Advanced Placement" English teacher has a family website, and it's full of spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. If the current crop of high-school students have mediocre teachers, what can we expect?

[Jim Reisert]

08:58 PM on 03/01/2010

Even HuffPo is not immune;

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/01/consumer-watchdog-aues-an_n_481532.html

"Consumer Watchdog Aues [sic] Anthem Blue Cross Over Policy Changes"

[skippy20008]

08:24 PM on 03/01/2010

Wow, really. Who knew? Aside from everybody.

[DrJohnS]

07:01 PM on 03/01/2010

Having a proofreader would be a good idea if you can find one with spelling, not texting, abilities. If the study were widened the errors would apply as well to books which have been transcribed to appear on the web, which I assume comes from hiring a temp to do the typing or else shoveling it off on the busiest most overworked secretary in the firm.

[Havnagudtim]

06:36 PM on 03/01/2010

I keep saying it....texting erodes language skills!