DISTANCE LEARNING - EDITING COURSE
Become a successful editor or proof reader!
Proof readers and editors work both as:
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freelance contractors running their own business from home;
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in house staff; employed by book or magazine publishers, printers, newspapers, broadcast media and other enterprises.
This certificate is designed to provide the knowledge and skills to work as a freelance editor or proof reader; or seek employment in the media.
You will be mentored by a team that includes experienced media professionals, journalists, authors and editors; led by principal John Mason, a former editor for four national magazines.
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Many of the teaching staff have worked in the publishing industry. As an ACS student, you have full support from these professionals to not only help you with your studies but also advise and guide your career development.
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Our unique online student magazine offers opportunities to get hands on experience with publishing; which can help you get over that first hurdle in order to get a start in this industry.
Accreditation: International Accreditation & Recognition Council I.A.R.C
Modules
Note that each module in the Certificate in Editing and Proof Reading is a short course in its own right, and may be studied separately.
What's Covered in the Modules?
EDITING I
This course contains eight lessons as follows:
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Introduction to Editing
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the role and scope of editing
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what an editor does
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tools for editing
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editing skills; the things that make a good editor
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danger signs (mistakes to avoid)
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the publishing team (the publisher, business manager, production manager, designer, marketing staff)
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the production process
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the production schedule
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The Mechanics of Clear Writing
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Assessing Manuscripts
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the readers report
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reviewing a manuscript (structure, punctuation, accuracy, illustration, other improvements)
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authors responsibilities
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nature of a manuscript
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libel, slander, defamation
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what an editor should look for
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Copy Editing I
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what the copy editor does
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basics of copy editing
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the procedure (check manuscript, read, edit text, edit other components)
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style sheets
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house style
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introduction to mark up
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marking up copy
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Copy Editing II
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marking up
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parts of a publication (preliminary pages, text, end matter)
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editing non-text material
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illustrations
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Preparing Copy for Printing
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Proof Reading
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The Final Stages
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indexes
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prerparing an index
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blurbs
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checking final proofs
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bromides, dyelines, etc.
EDITING II
There are eight lessons in this module as follows:
1. Introduction to Editing - State of the Art
2. Editing and Design
3. Headings, Headlines and Captions
4. Graphics
5. Refining Text Exiting - Common Traps
6. Matching Style and Context
7. Legal and Ethical Issues
8. Editing Project
EDITING PRACTICE
This is a unique, hands on course that develops your practical skills to edit professionally. This course takes you through the processes of editing for a specific publication, submitting work for publication, and meeting the requirements of an editor and publisher.
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Working to Specifications
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Editing Articles for Online Publications
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Submitting Articles for Online Publications
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Preparing and Submitting Layout for Publication
Under the guidance of a mentor (a writing/editing tutor), you will learn to edit according to specific criteria, deal with a publisher, and communicate effectively with others involved in the publishing process.
This module gives you hands-on experience in copy editing an online publication. You will work with a tutor (member of our academic staff) who will oversee your role as copy editor for an online publication.
PHOTOSHOP
The course is divided into nine lessons as follows:
1. Learning The Menus
This lesson will familiarize you with all of the main menu options and their basic functions.
2. Working with Digital Image Files
This lesson provides an overview of the major digital file types as well as how resize an image and save from one file type to another.
3. Understanding the Tool Palette
This lesson teaches you the various uses of the major Photoshop tools for creating and manipulating artwork, photos and digital compositions.
4. Using Layers, Actions and History
This lesson explores the creative power of the Photoshop Layers Palette, which is the foundation of why Photoshop is such a powerful creative tool.
5. Digital Painting, Shapes and Colours
This lesson begins to explain the basic concepts of colour. The lesson continues by walking the student through a "How-to" guide to creating simple original artwork.
6. Selecting, Resizing, Transforming and Masking
This lesson explores the tools available to manipulate and transform various components of an image or composition.
7. Adjustments and modifications
This lesson lists the steps needed to improve the quality of an image by applying adjustments and modifications.
8. Adding Filters and Styles
This lesson will focus on the various styles and effects that can be applied to an image or composition.
9. Preparing Files for Print and Web
This lesson will list the steps to prepare the finished files for use in Print, The Web or Email.
ELECTIVES
These are designed to build extra skills which compliment the job of an editor, in areas such as writing and research. A range of options are offered to provide students the chance of persuing areas of specific relevance or interest to them. This way every student can build a slightly different set of skills, ddifferentiating themselves from others in industry, and allowing them to develop a reputation as a "specialist" fulfilling a niche.
WHY CHOOSE US?
- Distance education doesn't mean you're going it alone - you have tutor support every step of the way
- Don't follow the crowd - develop unique skills unlike others in your field
- Resources are extensive and under continuous revision
- Study to suit your commitments - your education doesn't need to stop as life makes demands
- Our program design has less focus on assessment and more on your lifelong learning
- Affordable study and payment options available
- Our independence from government means we can offer courses suited exactly to employer needs and wants chance of business success.
