This course will provide editors concrete steps to make copy sharper and to help writers grow. It does so by addressing three basic topics:

• How to establish trust.
• How to improve existing copy.
• How to challenge writers going forward.

These techniques are not designed for beginners, students or even bad writers. Nor do they only work for journalists. These are the techniques Steve Padilla of the Los Angeles Times uses any time he writes or edits.

The relationship between editor and writer is sacred, and in this course you’ll hear top suggestions for approaching this relationship with reverence from the outset.

Once editors have done their due diligence to create trust and rapport, we’ll offer myriad nuts-and-bolts suggestions that serve as best practices for improving the actual copy itself.

Finally, we learn that writers certainly can thrive with good coaching, but there’s a lot they — and editors — can do to hone their craft.

General information

This is a self-directed course; you may work through it at your own pace. It should take about 1-2 hours to finish.

This course consists of a series of videos, text lessons, and pop-up activities that test your knowledge. Activities within the course have right and wrong answers, but these activities are for practice only and will not impact your completion of the course.

To complete each course, you must pass a test at the end that consists of 10 questions. You will have 20 minutes to complete each course test once they have begun. You must answer at least eight of the 10 questions correctly to gain a score of 80% or higher to pass the course and get credit toward the certificate.

You are allowed three attempts to pass the evaluation at the end of each course. 

If you are still unable to pass the evaluation with an 80% or better after three attempts, please contact our customer service department at info@poynter.org.

This course is part of the Poynter/ACES Intermediate Certificate in Editing, though it can be taken on its own, independently of the certificate. The certificate consists of seven courses, seven end-of-course tests and an overall final assessment covering material from all seven courses.

To earn the Intermediate Certificate, you must pass a final assessment at the end of all seven courses. 

The certificate’s final assessment consists of 30 questions drawn from material throughout all seven courses. You will have one hour to complete this final certificate assessment and three chances to pass with an 80% or better.

If you are still unable to pass the final assessment with an 80% or better after three attempts, please contact our customer service department at info@poynter.org.

We recommend that before starting the Intermediate Certificate, you first complete the Poynter/ACEs Introductory Editing Certificate, though it is not a prerequisite.

Questions?

If you need assistance, email us at info@poynter.org.