ACES 2018: Full Schedule

Laura M. Browning is an ACES board member and the executive editor of The A.V. Club. She’s worked at an art museum, an environmental nonprofit, higher education, and an encyclopedia. She is also a husky owner, a moderate prescriptivist, and a staunch supporter of the Oxford com... Read More →

Sara Ziegler

General Editor, FiveThirtyEight

Sara Ziegler is the treasurer of ACES and a general editor at FiveThirtyEight, with prior stints at Law360 and the Omaha World-Herald. She is from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and attended Iowa State University, where she won an ACES scholarship for such scintillating headlines as “Deli... Read More →

Thursday April 26, 2018 9:30am - 10:45am CDT
Salon 2

Core Skills

9:30am CDT

How Much Editing is Too Much?

Amid today's avalanche of words, what approach should an editor take? Is the author's "voice" more important than the reader's time?

I'm an aggressive editor. I'm also a deft linguistic surgeon. A quarter-century of newspaper editing and eight years as executive editor for Ragan Communications have taught me how to wield machete and scalpel.

Let's look, for example, at when "conversational tone" devolves into sloppy writing. (That's a favorite topic: http://bit.ly/2HulAae)

#ACESTooMuchEditing

Speakers

Rob Reinalda

Executive Editor, Ragan Communications

A career journalist, Rob Reinalda has spent decades as an editor for renowned newspapers including the Chicago Tribune and the New York Daily News. He has been executive editor for Ragan Communications since 2008. His humorous essays on writing have been featured on Ragan.com, PRDaily.com... Read More →

Thursday April 26, 2018 9:30am - 10:45am CDT
Salon 3

Core Skills

9:30am CDT

Slaying the Chimera: Diagramming Some of the Worst Sentences Ever Published

These sentences laugh at subject-predicate structure, active voice and parallelism, but we will make the subjects and verbs agree and have some fun at the same time. I've collected the worst of the worst in print. Together, we will subject them to the kind of scrutiny that would make my high school writing teacher beam with pride. If you miss the pleasure of sentence diagramming, join us. If you have only seen these unnatural acts on YouTube, you are particularly welcome.

#ACESSentenceDiagrams

Speakers

Hillary Warren

Professor and T&C Media Adviser, Otterbein University

Hillary Warren, Ph.D., is professor of communication and student media adviser at Otterbein University. She has received the Board of Directors Citation for service to student media and the 2015 Distinguished Adviser Award from College Media Advisers. Her students, who have gone on... Read More →

WarrenDiagramACES2018 pdf

Thursday April 26, 2018 9:30am - 10:45am CDT
Salons 4, 5, 6

Core Skills

9:30am CDT

User Interfaces to User Manuals: Technical Editing in the Software Industry

Working as an editor in the software industry requires unique skills and knowledge. Technical editors are often asked to wear many hats within a development organization. Are you interested in working for a software company? Do you want to understand the challenges and expectations of a technical communicator working with a development team? Are you looking to expand your freelance editing business to include software development work? This session will go over the skills and experience necessary to work with software developers, integrate well into a software company, and develop as a technical communication professional.

#ACESTechEdit

Speakers

Patrick Gray

Technical Writer, Argo AI

Patrick Gray has a master’s in technical communication from Northeastern University. For the past five years, he has worked for ANSYS, a software company specializing in engineering simulation. The documentation provided with ANSYS software includes almost 50,000 pages of text... Read More →

Thursday April 26, 2018 9:30am - 10:45am CDT
Salons 7, 8, 9

Core Skills

9:30am CDT

Breaking into Academic Editing

What is academic editing all about? In this intro-level session, three freelance academic editors walk you through the ins and outs of scholarly publishing, including editing journal articles, dissertations, book proposals and books. How do academics' needs differ from those of other clients? What do university presses look for from their authors, and how can editors help them provide it? How much specialization do you need to do different kinds of academic editing? If you're interested in breaking into academic editing or making the transition from academic life to freelance editing, this session is for you.

#ACESAcademicEdit

Speakers

Sarah Grey

Owner, Grey Editing

Sarah Grey of Grey Editing was the winner of the ACES Robinson Prize for excellence in copyediting in 2016. She provides copyediting, developmental editing, proofreading, and indexing services. She writes and teaches for Copyediting.com and has spoken at conferences of ACES, Editors... Read More →

Cathy Hannabach

Owner, Ideas On Fire

Cathy Hannabach is the founder and president of Ideas on Fire, an academic editing and consulting agency helping progressive, interdisciplinary academics write and public awesome texts, enliven public conversations, and create more just worlds. Cathy sits on the executive boards of... Read More →

Summer McDonald

Editor, Ideas On Fire

Summer McDonald is an editor and indexer at Ideas on Fire, where she helps interdisciplinary scholars hone their arguments and create powerful work that resonates with readers. She also runs her own freelance editing business and is a former developmental editor at the Great Books... Read More →

Thursday April 26, 2018 9:30am - 10:45am CDT
Salon 1

Freelance Editing

9:30am CDT

Leadership in the Workplace

Four seasoned managers share leadership skills and techniques that will help you maximize the performance of your team of editors. Get tools for managing your boss and learn how employee-manager relations can foster mutual respect, with both sides acting as leaders in the workplace. Learn how to lead from the heart, earn respect, effectively teach skills and make your department the best it can be.

#ACESLeadersPanel

Speakers

David Brindley

Senior Vice President and Managing Editor, National Geographic magazine

David Brindley (@wordies) is senior vice president and managing editor for National Geographic magazine. In 2005, he created, staffed and served as director of the magazine's first copy desk. Before arriving at the magazine in 2002, he was a photojournalist, researcher, reporter and... Read More →

Rebecca Dyer

Copy Editor, Digital Producer, Night Editor, Arizona Republic

After almost a quarter-century at the East Valley Tribune, including as news editor, Rebecca "Becca" Dyer is now a copy editor/digital producer and Saturday night editor for The Arizona Republic/azcentral.com. Becca also teaches as an adjunct faculty member at Arizona State University's... Read More →

David Yontz

Senior Editor, Creators Syndicate

David Yontz has been a copy editor for about 11 years. He served as managing editor at Creators for more than five years. His philosophy is that every good editor should learn at least one thing every day.

Thursday April 26, 2018 9:30am - 10:45am CDT
Salon 12

Job Hunting

11:00am CDT

Peer Networking Lunches or lunch on your own

Peer lunches: Ticketed; advance purchase required.

Thursday April 26, 2018 11:00am - 1:45pm CDT
Red Lacquer Room (4th Floor)

Networking

2:00pm CDT

Editing and Emotional Labor

It is easy to overlook the amount of emotional labor involved in editing—the unrecognized, sometimes uncompensated and often gendered work of managing others' emotions, maintaining relationships and monitoring our own responses in the name of professionalism. This panel will look at how emotional labor functions in the editorial relationship. How can we understand and anticipate the emotional arc of a project? How do we set and maintain appropriate boundaries? What are strategies for self-care and resilience when we encounter difficult material? And how do we account for emotional labor in our pricing strategies?

#ACESEmotionalLabor

Speakers

Isabella Furth

Owner, Bluefish Editorial Services

Isabella Furth, Ph.D., is the owner of Bluefish Editorial Services. She specializes in academic writing in the humanities and social sciences and also works extensively with memoirs, biographies, textbooks, and nonfiction. In her previous lives, she taught literature and writing at... Read More →

Sarah Grey

Owner, Grey Editing

Heather Saunders

Owner, Just the Write Type Editing

Heather E. Saunders, owner of Just the Write Type Editing, is a proofreader and STM editor. With an education in and passion for the sciences, she uses her journalistic and editorial expertise to address even the most complex and technical subjects with precision and clarity. Heather... Read More →

Thursday April 26, 2018 2:00pm - 3:15pm CDT
Salon 12

Core Skills

2:00pm CDT

Editing for Inclusion

Creating accessible, digital content should become a core skill for copy editors. It is much easier to verify that content has the proper HTML tags, includes alt text for images and is formatted in a way that screen readers can accommodate during production than to go back and fix things after the fact. This session will also address issues of language use: How and when to describe disability. But the emphasis will be on editing for inclusion — making sure that ensuring accessibility is as much a part of preparing digital content as fact-checking.

#ACESInclusiveEdit

Speakers

Pam Hogle

Writer, Editor / Freelance Editor, The eLearning Guild

Pam Hogle has written extensively on creating accessible digital content for the eLearning Guild's Learning Solutions content site, and she was a presenter at the Guild's 2017 Summit on accessible content. Her interest in accessibility issues stems from more than a decade's work training... Read More →

Accessibility article links pdf

Thursday April 26, 2018 2:00pm - 3:15pm CDT
Salon 2

Core Skills

2:00pm CDT

How to Work Effectively with Writers to Edit Copy

How do you blow up and rebuild a story without leaving your relationship with the reporter in the wreckage? How do you tell a reporter they need a new nut graph without coming across like a jerk? We'll discuss strategies for these touchy newsroom interactions and look at real world examples from the viewpoints of the copy editor, assigning editor and reporter.

Speakers

Patrick Regan

Editor, Chicago Tribune

Patrick Regan is an editor in the Chicago Tribune metro department, where his primary focus is enterprise and investigative projects. Prior to the Tribune, he worked as a news copy editor and page designer at the Daily Herald and Daily Southtown, both in suburban Chicago. After graduating... Read More →

Thursday April 26, 2018 2:00pm - 3:15pm CDT
Salon 1

Core Skills

2:00pm CDT

Reaching the Fact-Resistant Audience

Why do people continue to support and share misinformation even when journalists have repeatedly reported the facts? It's tempting to give up on the fact-resistant. But in this interactive session, we'll discuss strategies — supported by brain research and media studies — that every journalist could deploy to reach and engage fact-resistant/partisan audiences.
#ACESFactResist

Speakers

Jane Elizabeth

Director, Accountability Journalism Program,, American Press Institute

API, she was The Washington Post's deputy local editor/digital. Her work at five metropolitan U.S. newspapers over the past three decades has focused largely on politics, regional news and education. She also has taught journalism as an adjunct faculty member at three universities... Read More →

Thursday April 26, 2018 2:00pm - 3:15pm CDT
Salon 3

Fact-checking

2:00pm CDT

The Human Connection: Bring Your Presentations to Life!

You've been asked to leave the comfort of your office and give a presentation. Now what?

If you want to face that prospect with confidence, this fun and interactive session is for you. Helping our readers is the foundation of our editing work. Helping your listeners is equally important in presentation skills. You'll learn to engage and energize your audience. We’ll help you focus on what your sole task is as a presenter, as well as the power of body language and how to use visuals wisely, so you can breathe easy and breathe life into your presentations!

#ACESPresenting

Speakers

Judy Straalsund

Presentation Coach, Graceworks Inc.

Judy Straalsund, of Graceworks Inc., has spent over 19 years working with corporations, providing creative solutions for a variety of programs, presentations and workshops. She's also a freelance copyeditor and proofreader. A dynamic combination of experienced corporate trainer, artistic... Read More →

Thursday April 26, 2018 2:00pm - 3:15pm CDT
Salons 7, 8, 9

Job Hunting

2:00pm CDT

Deep Grammar

You've mastered agreement; you know how to make a sentence parallel; pronouns give you no problems. But do you know what a fused participle is, how to use the hortatory subjunctive, when you need a double genitive or how to phrase a nominative absolute? The inner workings of grammar don't have to be a mystery. This session delves deeply into the mechanics of English, so that when you encounter a sentence that "just doesn't sound right,” you'll know why — and you'll know how to fix it.

#ACESDeepGrammar

Speakers

Lisa McLendon

Bremner Editing Center Coordinator, University of Kansas

Lisa McLendon runs the Bremner Editing Center at the University of Kansas journalism school, where she also teaches news editing and grammar. She previously worked as a copy editor at the Wichita (Kansas) Eagle and the Denton (Texas) Record-Chronicle after earning a doctorate in Slavic... Read More →

Thursday April 26, 2018 2:00pm - 3:15pm CDT
Salons 4, 5, 6

Language and Lexicography

3:30pm CDT

Singular "They" Revived?

Last year, both the AP and the CMOS announced their acceptance of "they" as a gender-neutral pronoun for singular referents in particular situations. This session will review corpus data from March 2016 to March 2017 to assess changes in usage after these announcements.

Speakers

Sandra Schaefer

director of communications development, University of Illinois

Sandra Schaefer is a language professional in many areas. Right now, she's helping accounting students prepare for workplace communications at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois. Her research focuses on feminist theory and its applications on language change within... Read More →

Thursday April 26, 2018 3:30pm - 4:45pm CDT
Salons 7, 8, 9

3:30pm CDT

Basics of Readability

In today's distraction-filled world, clear writing is more important than ever. We want readers to understand our messages — not be distracted by jargon and confusing copy. This session discusses the basic principles of readability and provides editors with a path to plain writing. You'll learn how to define readability, measure it with easy-to-use tools and improve it using straightforward editing techniques. We'll also discuss additional resources for learning more about readability.

#ACESReadability

Speakers

Samantha Enslen

Samantha Enslen runs Dragonfly Editorial, an agency that provides writing and editing to customers worldwide. She is the former editorial manager for CSC and a former contributing editor to the Editorial Eye. She is also an award-winning writer who has been recognized for her websites... Read More →

Thursday April 26, 2018 3:30pm - 4:45pm CDT
Salon 1

Core Skills

3:30pm CDT

Digital Ad Units: Revenue Beyond the Banner

Last year digital ad spending surpassed television ad spending, but for online publishers, digital revenue is still weak. The most promising solutions beyond the banner include native advertising, affiliate programs and working with influencers. While these approaches can offer better engagement for readers and higher CPMs, they require more work than banners and must be handled with care: ethically, legally and with respect for readers and long-term publisher equity. Editors can and should play a role in deploying these units.

Speakers

David Kamerer, PhD

Associate Professor, Loyola University Chicago

David Kamerer, Ph.D., serves as associate professor in the School of Communication at Loyola University Chicago, where he teaches courses in digital media, measurement and public relations. His research focuses on the space where earned and paid media meet online. He earned a Ph.D... Read More →

Thursday April 26, 2018 3:30pm - 4:45pm CDT
Salon 12

Core Skills

3:30pm CDT

How to Be a Reader Whisperer

Copy editors use a lot of metaphors to describe what they do: nit-picker, quality-control inspector, grammar cop. But much of the power of editing lies in editors' ability to channel readers — to be a Reader Whisperer. So what do readers want? How do you set priorities as an editor that keep the reader top-of-mind? And how do you persuade your bosses or clients that you're doing the right thing? Learn all that and more in this session.

Speakers

Nick Jungman

Director of Student Media, University of Oklahoma

Nick Jungman (@nickjungman) is director of student media at the University of Oklahoma, where he also teaches news editing. He has been an editor at The Oklahoman, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the Tampa Bay Times, The Wichita Eagle and the Wichita Business Journal. For two years... Read More →

Thursday April 26, 2018 3:30pm - 4:45pm CDT
Salon 3

Core Skills

3:30pm CDT

Is This Biased? How Editors Can Identify Hidden Traps in Language

Catching discriminatory language requires more than an awareness of slurs and pejorative terminology. In this session — a follow-up to the 2017 panel “Is This Racist?” — we will discuss how many -isms can take subtle forms, connoting biases not just in terms of race and ethnicity but also in class, gender, age, and other factors. These include the lack of fair and equal media representation, prejudicial words arising from juxtaposition, and the unintentional “othering” of the people we write about.

Speakers

Henry Fuhrmann

AAJA-LA

Henry Fuhrmann is an editor and instructor and a retired newspaper copy desk supervisor. He worked for the Los Angeles Times from 1990 to 2015, serving in his final post as assistant managing editor for standards and the multiplatform editing desks. Henry is a longtime member and... Read More →

Maisha Maurant

Manager of the Communication & Creative Services team and Chief Corporate Editor, Health Alliance Plan of Michigan

Maisha Maurant is manager of the Communication & Creative Services team and chief corporate editor at Health Alliance Plan of Michigan. She leads a team of strategists, writers and graphic designers. She also sits on the System Patient Education Council of Henry Ford Health System... Read More →

Ruthanne Salido

Ruthanne Salido is a multiplatform desk manager with the Los Angeles Times' daily arts and entertainment section. In addition to managing a crew of about 10, she works with assignment editors, reporters, graphic artists, photo editors, and print and web page designers in producing... Read More →

Thursday April 26, 2018 3:30pm - 4:45pm CDT
Salon 2

Core Skills

3:30pm CDT

Going rogue: Using (and Breaking) Style Rules to Create a Culture of Conscious Editing

Words matter. From seemingly small instances, like whether to capitalize "internet," to larger decisions, like whether to include a trans person's dead name (pro tip: don't), the words we choose to publish have repercussions in society, public policy and beyond. So what happens when traditional style guidance clashes with an outlet's morals, values or mission? This session examines how to navigate that conflict and successfully implement change for more nuanced and representative journalism. Going beyond creating a house style guide, it covers how copy editors can be cultural leaders and influence newsrooms to ask thoughtful questions about the language they use.

#ACESGoingRogue

Speakers

Kaitlyn Jakola

Copy Chief, Mic

Kaitlyn Jakola is Mic's copy chief. She leads the team of copy editors as they edit Mic content across written, video and social distribution platforms. Before Mic, she was a copy editor, researcher and writer at publications including New York magazine, Chicago magazine, Mashable... Read More →

Ali Killian

Deputy Copy Chief, Mic

Ali Killian is the deputy copy chief at Mic. Previously, she was a web producer at CBS DFW and a web writer for various entities including SXSW and Emmis Austin Radio. She also worked as a journalism writing coach at the University of Texas at Austin, where she obtained her journalism... Read More →

Sarah Schweppe

Copy Editor, BuzzFeed

Sarah Schweppe is a copy editor in BuzzFeed's creative department, working on sponsored content, primarily for the U.S. and U.K. Previously, she worked for The Cheat Sheet and freelanced as a copy editor.

Dan Toy

Copy Chief, Creative at BuzzFeed

Toy manages the branded content copydesk at BuzzFeed, where he's worked for the past four years. In addition to copyediting BuzzFeed's staple formats (lists, quizzes, etc.), he also oversees the creative team's "LitForm" product, which comprises long-form feature articles and personal... Read More →

Thursday April 26, 2018 3:30pm - 4:45pm CDT
Salons 4, 5, 6

Language and Lexicography

5:00pm CDT

Education Fund Spelling Bee

Tickets for spectators ($10) available at door.

Thursday April 26, 2018 5:00pm - 6:30pm CDT
Empire Room (Lobby Level)

Spelling Bee

6:00pm CDT

Opening Night Reception

Appetizers and cash bar.

Thursday April 26, 2018 6:00pm - 8:00pm CDT
Red Lacquer Room (4th Floor)

Networking

7:00am CDT

Yoga

Friday April 27, 2018 7:00am - 8:00am CDT
Price (5th Floor)

Yoga

8:00am CDT

Coffee Break

Friday April 27, 2018 8:00am - 10:30am CDT
Salon Foyer 7-10 (3rd Floor)

Networking

8:00am CDT

Registration

Friday April 27, 2018 8:00am - 5:00pm CDT
Salons 1-6 Foyer (3rd Floor)

Registration

8:00am CDT

Sponsor and Info Area

Friday April 27, 2018 8:00am - 5:00pm CDT
Salon Foyer 7-10 (3rd Floor)

Sponsor and Info Area

9:00am CDT

Copy Editing Comics

How does copy editing comics differ from copy editing text alone? What exceptions can we make to standard style and usage rules, and what additional sorts of errors do we need to watch out for? In this session, we’ll discuss best practices for copy editing several different types of comics, including graphic novels and manga, as well as both hard-copy and PDF markup techniques.

#ACESComicsCE

Speakers

Janice Lee

Freelance Copyeditor

Janice Lee began her editorial career as an in-house copyeditor at alternative comics publisher Fantagraphics Books, where she worked on graphic novels, manga, collections of classic comics, and nonfiction books about the history of comics. As a full-time freelance copyeditor, she... Read More →

Friday April 27, 2018 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Salons 7, 8, 9

Book Editing

9:00am CDT

Checking Consistency and House Style: How PerfectIt Increases Speed and Accuracy

Even the most eagle-eyed editor can find it difficult and time-consuming to check for consistency errors and ensure documents are in line with house style. Those tasks are easier, faster and more accurate with PerfectIt. Because actual intelligence is superior to artificial intelligence, PerfectIt is a Word add-in that relies on the editor to make every decision. Used by over 500 members of the UK Society for Editors and Proofreaders, and recently available for Macs as well as PCs, this session will show how PerfectIt makes it faster and easier to correct errors.

#ACESPerfectIt

Speakers

Daniel Heuman

CEO, Intelligent Editing

Daniel Heuman is the CEO and founder of Intelligent Editing. He developed PerfectIt, used by thousands of professional editors around the world, including over 500 members of the U.K. Society for Editors and Proofreaders.

Friday April 27, 2018 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Salon 12

Core Skills

9:00am CDT

Making Conflict Work

In this interactive workshop, key concepts and techniques for handling conflict effectively will be discussed and practiced. Through interactive discussion, role play and media examples, participants will recognize barriers to addressing conflict effectively, identify their own conflict patterns, and increase comfort using conflict resolution tools that will strengthen relationships and improve outcomes.

#ACESManageConflict

Speakers

Mac Steele

Global People & Culture Partner, Rotary International

Mac Steele is a global people & culture partner at Rotary International and an adjunct professor at the Northwestern University School of Professional Studies. He is a presenter, trainer, facilitator, and mediator with experience in a number of practice areas of alternative dispute... Read More →

Friday April 27, 2018 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Salon 2

Core Skills

9:00am CDT

How Do I Say That?!

Editors work with words but often find it difficult to say things that might be seen as bad news. How do you raise your rates, fire a client, turn down a project, apply for something you're not fully qualified for or deliver bad news? Learn how to spin things to your advantage, focus on the positive and be firm when necessary. We'll cover actual examples and invite discussion of your experiences.

#ACESHowDoISay

Speakers

Laura Poole

Co-owner and director of training, Copyediting.com

Laura Poole has been a freelance copyeditor for over two decades, specializing in scholarly nonfiction. She is also co-owner and director of training for Copyediting.com.

Friday April 27, 2018 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Salon 3

Freelance Editing

9:00am CDT

Getting Student Journalists to Care About Editing in the Digital Age

Today's student journalists see an erosion of editing skills at the personal level — involving "social media" communication — and at the professional level where incorrect grammar, factual inaccuracies and just plain bad writing are readily available. As a journalism educator and media adviser, it is a continual challenge to encourage students to be not only aware of but also passionate about editing and fact-checking. This session will offer some strategies to help combat editing malaise.

#ACESJStudents

Speakers

Kay O'Donnell

Assistant Professor of Journalism and Student Media Adviser, North Central College

Kay O'Donnell is a journalism/digital media professor with more than 15 years of teaching experience. Advisor for more than a decade to award-winning student news media, operating on all platforms. Transitioned "legacy media" curricula into digital age.

Friday April 27, 2018 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Salon 1

News Editing

9:00am CDT

What’s New in the AP Stylebook

Paula Froke, lead editor of the AP Stylebook, gives a sneak preview of some of what’s new in the 2018 Stylebook, which is now at the printer and due out May 30. Some of these changes will take effect today on AP Stylebook Online, and ACES members will be the first to know.

Colleen Newvine, AP Stylebook product manager, will share some highlights of recently digitized AP reporter’s handbooks dating to the early 1900s to contrast how the news business has changed — and what remains the same. Tweet your style questions to @APStylebook or stop by the AP Stylebook’s sponsor table to get your AP style question to the top of the list.

#ACESAPStyle

Speakers

Paula Froke

Lead Editor, AP Stylebook

Paula Froke is editor of the Associated Press Stylebook and executive director of the Associated Press Media Editors. She started her 30-plus years with the AP as a Dow Jones News Fund intern on the AP's main editing desk in New York. Her AP career has included jobs as news editor... Read More →

Colleen Newvine

product manager, AP Stylebook, AP Stylebook

Colleen Newvine is product manager for the Associated Press Stylebook. She was a reporter and editor at daily, weekly and monthly publications before getting her MBA and moving to the business side of news. She joined the AP in 2006 and is based at headquarters in New York City... Read More →

Friday April 27, 2018 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Salons 4, 5, 6

Other

9:00am CDT

New Moms Room

Friday April 27, 2018 9:00am - 5:00pm CDT
Dearborn (7th Floor)

New Moms Room

10:30am CDT

Editing for the Federal Government

Uncle Sam has his eyes on your commas! Thanks to the Plain Language Act, all government documents must be in plain language. If Jane Public is going to read your work, you better make the language simple and easy to understand. Enter the editors. Whether you work for a government agency or a subcontractor or as a freelancer, you may have discovered that streamlining government canon is tough. In this session, we'll arm you with ideas that work: how to apply plain language to government editing, why established editing procedures are your best friends, that a style guide is just a guide — when to use it and when to back down, how to communicate artfully with someone who last thought about grammar in seventh grade.

#ACESGovtEdit

Speakers

Elizabeth LaPlante

Senior Manager, HighPoint Global

Elizabeth LaPlante, senior manager of the editing team at HighPoint Global, was new to government contracting work when she started in 2013. Her team edits more than 150,000 pages each year in more than 6,000 product iterations. And she still loves it! She has worked with Helen O’Guinn... Read More →

Helen O'Guinn

Senior Editor, HighPoint Global

Helen O'Guinn, an editor at HighPoint Global, plunged into government contracting work at the urging of co-presenter Beth LaPlante. O'Guinn has 40 years of editing and writing experience, ranging from editing transmission manuals for an automotive-parts company (strong coffee required... Read More →

Friday April 27, 2018 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Salons 7, 8, 9

Core Skills

10:30am CDT

An IRL Reading and Q+A! A World Without "Whom": The Essential Guide to Language in the BuzzFeed Age

Emmy Favilla reads from her new book, A World Without “Whom”: The Essential Guide to Language in the BuzzFeed Age, followed by a Q+A. With an irreverent and comical tone, AWWW encourages a staunchly descriptivist "follow your heart" approach to many of the "rules" of language and grammar we were once taught to hold dearly as hard-and-fast. It explores recent language and punctuation trends that have been influenced by the omnipresence of social media and digital communication in addition to practical advice for writers and editors—such as tips for editing content across various English-speaking regions.

#ACESEmmyFavilla

Speakers

Emmy Favilla

Senior Commerce Editor, BuzzFeed

Emmy Favilla is a senior commerce editor at BuzzFeed, where she writes and edits shopping content that covers a breadth of categories, from pet products to home goods to beauty and skincare. She is the former global copy chief of BuzzFeed and has been with the company since 2012... Read More →

Friday April 27, 2018 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Salons 4, 5, 6

Digital/Social Media

10:30am CDT

Financial Strategies to Grow Your Freelance Business

You've heard you need to spend money to make money. This is true, but for it to work, you must become savvy with your finances and in the ways you earn and spend money. Your success depends on it. In this session, you'll hear from three freelance editors who will share some of the financial philosophies and strategies that have led to their success. They'll cover hiring and becoming subcontractors, diversifying and specializing services, outsourcing both business and personal tasks to free up time, and building the confidence to do what it takes to help your business grow.

#ACESGrowYourBiz

Speakers

Sea Chapman

Freelance Editor

Sea Chapman has 12 years of experience working as an editor. From book manuscripts and audio transcripts to press releases and ELL programs, she has worked on a little bit of everything. She has specialized in editing speculative, thriller, mystery, and historical fiction manuscripts... Read More →

Michelle Lowery

Owner, Sevillana Publishing, LLC

Michelle Lowery is a digital content editor. She's been a writer and editor for more than 25 years and an entrepreneur for 10 years. Her background both as a linguist and in the SEO and digital marketing industries has strengthened her understanding of language, content and influence... Read More →

Melanie Padgett Powers

Owner, MelEdits

Melanie Padgett Powers is the owner of MelEdits in the Washington, D.C., area. She is a writer, managing editor, copy editor and proofreader. She has written for the American Optometric Association, Georgetown Business magazine, Bethesda Magazine, Cleveland Clinic, Indiana University... Read More →

Friday April 27, 2018 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Salon 3

Freelance Editing

10:30am CDT

One on One: Working with Independent Authors

The publishing landscape is continually evolving as more and more indie authors seek professional support to publish their best book possible. Where do professional editors fit in? In this session, we'll discuss strategies for attracting and working with independent authors, self-publishing clients and small presses: finding the right indie clients for you, handling pricing and scheduling, working with indie budgets, managing client expectations, building editor-author relationships, creating long-term partnerships.

#ACESIndieBooks

Speakers

Christina M. Frey

Senior Developmental/Line Editor, Page Two Editing

Christina M. Frey, J.D., is co-executive director of the Editorial Freelancers Association and senior developmental/line editor with Page Two Editing. With over 20 years of experience in writing, editing, and publishing, she now works with select authors and small presses on full-length... Read More →

Friday April 27, 2018 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Salon 1

Freelance Editing

10:30am CDT

Computer-Assisted Copy Editing: Using Tansa's Products for Clear, Concise and Consistent Copy

Software may not be able to identify alternative facts, but it can save editors a tremendous amount of time by checking for spelling, style, word usage and proper names. Editing tools like Lingofy, StyleGuard and Tansa go far beyond spell-checking. See how today's technologies can help writers and editors follow a published style guide, like the AP Stylebook or an organization’s in-house style.

#ACESTansa

Speakers

Chris Grimm

Managing Director, Tansa Systems USA

Chris Grimm joined Tansa in 2006 to head up its US sales, and in 2009 he took on the role of managing director for Tansa's US operations, where he is involved in all aspects of the company, including software development, installations and sales. In 2014, Chris played an intricate... Read More →

Friday April 27, 2018 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Salon 12

Other

1:00pm CDT

Cookbook Editing from Soup to Nuts

What do you need to know to edit a cookbook, for either a traditional book publisher or an individual looking to self-publish? We'll first look at the different types of cookbooks, and what that means for the copyeditor, plus a rundown of the typical outline of a cookbook. Then we'll dig in to the nitty-gritty—all the required and optional components of a recipe, including sequence, style conventions, and the many do’s and don’ts. We'll also talk about which reference works to rely on, and what to do when they don’t agree.

#ACESCookbooks

Speakers

Karen Wise

Freelance Copyeditor

Karen Wise got her start in book publishing in 1984 and has been a full-time freelancer since 1995. She provides copyediting and proofreading services for traditional book publishers as well as educational services companies, magazines, and corporations. Her specialty is cookbooks... Read More →

Friday April 27, 2018 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT
Salons 7, 8, 9

Book Editing

1:00pm CDT

More Styles, More Substance: An Overview of Changes to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate and Online Dictionaries

For editors, a dictionary is a professional tool. Though standards of spelling and line breaks may change slowly, new vocabulary and standards for hyphenation and usage require the kind of continuous revision that had been impossible until recently. Online updates made at a faster pace and without the space restrictions of the printed page mean that the most current research is readily found online. In this session, we will explore recent changes and additions at Merriam-Webster.com, the Collegiate publishing schedule, and the ongoing work by our editorial staff to keep your tools sharp.

#ACESMWChanges

Speakers

Peter Sokolowski

Editor-at-Large, Merriam-Webster

Peter Sokolowski joined Merriam-Webster in 1994 as the company’s first French-language editor, and has since defined and edited entries for many of the company's dictionaries. He blogs and appears in the Ask the Editor videos at M-W.com and was named among TIME's 140 Best Twitter... Read More →

Friday April 27, 2018 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT
Salons 4, 5, 6

Core Skills

1:00pm CDT

Save Time and Your Sanity: Increase Your Efficiency with Microsoft Word

Many of us use Word regularly. But are we using it efficiently? Learn practical tips to help you become more efficient with Microsoft Word for Windows, including: Show all formatting marks, fields, bookmarks, track changes, styles, etc.; set up an efficient workspace, Quick Access Toolbar, custom ribbon; automate tasks, autocorrect, keyboard shortcuts, TOCs, preformatted tables/text, etc.; use the power of find and replace (including wildcards) to zip through changes. NOTE: This session focuses on Word for Windows. Mac users should be able to do similar things, but there are no guarantees.

#ACESMSWordTips

Friday April 27, 2018 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT
Salon 12

Core Skills

1:00pm CDT

Women in Management

This session aims to foster conversation about being a female manager and all that goes with it: navigating workplace dynamics and politics, taking over a team and learning how to lead it, and figuring out how to get ahead in your organization. It’s designed to be interactive, so please show up with questions and comments.

#ACESWomenManage

Speakers

Jesse Lewis

Multiplatform Editing Chief, The Washington Post

Jesse Lewis is the multiplatform editing chief at The Washington Post. Before coming to The Post, Lewis worked at The Wall Street Journal, where he was the National and Global copy chief. He then moved to The Wall Street Journal Europe for seven years, finishing up in 2010 as managing... Read More →

Maisha Maurant

Manager of the Communication & Creative Services team and Chief Corporate Editor, Health Alliance Plan of Michigan

Courtney Rukan

Deputy Multiplatform Editing Chief, The Washington Post

Courtney Rukan is the deputy multiplatform editing chief at The Washington Post. Rukan has been at The Post since 1999, working as a copy editor in sports and style before the universal multiplatform desk was created in 2010. She was also the sports copy chief from 2004 to 2009. For... Read More →

Dana Sitar

Editor, The Penny Hoarder

Dana Sitar is the lead editor for branded content at The Penny Hoarder, a personal finance website with a mission to put more money in people's pockets by sharing job opportunities, personal success stories, practical tips and more. Before joining The Penny Hoarder in 2015 as a staff... Read More →

Friday April 27, 2018 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT
Salon 2

Core Skills

1:00pm CDT

Streamline Your Editorial Business with Systems

Editing is a craft, but you’re running a business. More time = more money. Efficiency = more money. Systems and automation = more money. Setting up templates, processes and systems enables you to work more efficiently and spend your time doing what you love (manuscript reviews, editing, working with authors), rather than admin tasks. We'll review project management programs like Trello and Asana, discuss Google Drive as a storage portal, and more. What works for one person won’t work for another. Use trial and error to find what works for you, and then run with it!

#ACESStreamline

Speakers

Jodi Brandon

President, Jodi Brandon Editorial

Jodi Brandon has more than 20 years' experience in book publishing. After graduating from Elizabethtown College (PA) with BAs in professional writing and business administration, she began her career in New York City on staff at William Morrow (now part of HarperCollins), and later... Read More →

Friday April 27, 2018 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT
Salon 3

Freelance Editing

1:00pm CDT

What to Know Before You Send Your Copy for Translation

In this session, attendees will learn what they should consider before sending a text off for translation. They will also learn how to work closely with a professional translator and editor who specializes in a specific content area and what questions to ask to ensure that the spirit of the text is maintained after it is translated to the target language.

#ACESTranslation

Speakers

Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo

CEO, Accessible Translation Solutions

Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo is the owner and chief executive officer of Accessible Translation Solutions. Her background in the industry as a translator, interpreter and project manager has allowed her to lead the company in becoming a successful and leading business in its areas of... Read More →

Friday April 27, 2018 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT
Salon 1

Other

2:30pm CDT

Macros 201: The Shell Game

Already using basic macros in Microsoft Word? Now learn to use three simple but effective macro "shells" to power up your current tools. Learn to (1) run a macro through an entire document, (2) automate turning off tracking as needed and (3) set up a dialog box to access and categorize your favorite macros. Attendees should be familiar with creating and editing macros, using the Visual Basic Editor and creating keyboard shortcuts in Word. Various useful individual macros will also be demonstrated during the session.

#ACESMacros201

Speakers

Amy J. Schneider

Owner, Featherschneider Editorial Services

Amy J. Schneider, owner of Featherschneider Editorial Services (www.featherschneider.com), has been a full-time freelance copyeditor and proofreader since 1995. Her editorial experience includes college textbooks, trade nonfiction, university press books, and best-selling fiction... Read More →

Friday April 27, 2018 2:30pm - 3:45pm CDT
Salon 12

Core Skills

2:30pm CDT

Women in Management Part II

This session is a continuation of Women in Management.

#ACESWomenManage

Speakers

Jesse Lewis

Multiplatform Editing Chief, The Washington Post

Maisha Maurant

Manager of the Communication & Creative Services team and Chief Corporate Editor, Health Alliance Plan of Michigan

Courtney Rukan

Deputy Multiplatform Editing Chief, The Washington Post

Dana Sitar

Editor, The Penny Hoarder

Friday April 27, 2018 2:30pm - 3:45pm CDT
Salon 2

Core Skills

2:30pm CDT

How to Get Your Dream Job on the Web

Want to land a job as a copy editor for the web but unsure where to start? This session will cover getting your foot in the door, preparing for an interview and copy test, and crafting the perfect resume and cover letter. Learn the best methods for networking and making a presence for yourself on the web, as well as what hiring editors for online publications are looking for. This session is aimed at entry-level and early-career editors.

#ACESWebedit

Speakers

Drusilla Moorhouse

Deputy Copy Chief, BuzzFeed and BuzzFeed News

Drusilla Moorhouse is deputy copy chief at BuzzFeed and BuzzFeed News. Her diverse editorial background includes five years as a senior manuscript editor at the University of Chicago Press (sup, 14th edition!), spearheading E! Online’s switch from Chicago to AP style (nothing personal... Read More →

Megan Paolone

Copy Chief, BuzzFeed and BuzzFeed News

Megan Paolone is the copy chief at BuzzFeed and BuzzFeed News. She manages a team of seven editors in London, New York, and Los Angeles to edit content for the site and its platforms. As BuzzFeed's second full-time copy editor, she helped create and publish the BuzzFeed Style Guide... Read More →

Friday April 27, 2018 2:30pm - 3:45pm CDT
Salons 4, 5, 6

Job Hunting

2:30pm CDT

Outsourcing Editing: Getting the Best for Them and for You

You need editing help — fast! Beyond core competencies, what else do you need to consider? Should you provide a training day? What tools do you use? How do you equitably share the workload? How do you send and receive work? How do the external editors get paid? Do the editors know of each other? Do you provide feedback? How do you stop using an editor if performance or interpersonal issues surface? Learn how to get the best editor and keep them in this “how to” workshop. Discussion encouraged.

#ACESOutsourceEdit

Speakers

Jane Hurge

In-House Editor and Reviser, Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health

Jane Hurge has been an in-house editor and reviser at the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) in Ottawa, Canada, for more than 12 years. She created CADTH’s first in-house style guide, now in its fifth edition. Jane has hired more than a dozen contract editors... Read More →

Friday April 27, 2018 2:30pm - 3:45pm CDT
Salon 3

Job Hunting

2:30pm CDT

"Mother" or "Pregnant Person"? Why Words Matter When Covering Reproductive Rights

Is it "mother," "pregnant person," or "woman"? What about "pro-life" or "anti-choice"? As managing editors at Rewire.News, a nonprofit online publication, we ask ourselves these questions and dozens of others every day to ensure we're minimizing harm and being as accurate as possible. For example, when an outlet refers to "the health of the mother" with regard to abortion laws, it sends the message that all pregnant people keep their pregnancy and raise their offspring, which is not true. In this session copy editors will learn how to get it right when reviewing articles on reproductive health, rights, and justice.
#ACESReproRights

Speakers

Kat Jercich

Managing Editor, Rewire

Kat Jercich is a writer and editor based in Chicago. Before joining the Rewire.News staff, she edited labor news at In These Times and honed her digital campaigning skills at Care2.com. Her work has appeared in BUST Magazine, Sacramento News and Review, and on Bitch Magazine's "Bitch... Read More →

Regina Mahone

Managing Editor, Rewire

Regina Mahone is a writer and editor based in Queens, New York. Prior to joining Rewire.News, she was a staff writer at Philanthropy News Digest, a publication of the Foundation Center, where she covered the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Before that, she was a freelance writer... Read More →

Friday April 27, 2018 2:30pm - 3:45pm CDT
Salon 1

News Editing

2:30pm CDT

"French Toast" vs. "French Fries": The Wild West of Food Editing

Despite the popularity and abundance of cookbooks, online recipe sites and food blogs, food-writing style is still a Wild West. Cheddar (uppercase) or cheddar (lowercase)? Is it farmer's, farmers' or farmers market? Oddities like these equal opportunities for sharp copy editors who can spot the holes in recipes, make so-so copy sizzle, and keep a company out of the legal frying pan. In this session, we'll review some frustrating (and amusing) inconsistencies, clichés, and red flags running amok in this field. But never fear, we'll also share resources and tips to help you tame the chili…or is it chile?

#ACESFoodEdit

Speakers

Wendy Allen

Editor, Organic Valley / CROPP Cooperative

Wendy Allen (@DriftingEarth) is staff copy editor for Organic Valley, one of the nation's largest organic food brands, and freelance digital editor and copy editor for Edible Madison magazine, a member of the award-winning Edible Communities family of regional food publications. She's... Read More →

Friday April 27, 2018 2:30pm - 3:45pm CDT
Salons 7, 8, 9

Other

4:00pm CDT

Style Guide Superjam (or is it Super Jam?)

Editors from the AP Stylebook, Chicago Manual of Style and other major stylebooks compare and contrast their style rules and how they approach their roles.

#ACESstylejam

Speakers

Paula Froke

Lead Editor, AP Stylebook

Angela Gibson

Director of Operational Strategy, Modern Language Association

Carol Fisher Saller

Editor, The Chicago Manual of Style Online's Q&A

Carol Saller is editor of The Chicago Manual of Style Online's Q&A and writes Editor's Corner for the CMOS Shop Talk blog. She is the author of The Subversive Copy Editor and of several books for children, most recently the young adult novel Eddie's War.

Peter Sokolowski

Editor-at-Large, Merriam-Webster

Susan Wessling

Editor, The New York Times

Susan Wessling has been an editor for more than 25 years, at newspapers including The Courier-Journal, The St. Paul Pioneer Press, The Chicago Tribune and The New York Times. In her current job, as senior editor for editing standards at The Times, she worries about quality, editor... Read More →

Friday April 27, 2018 4:00pm - 5:15pm CDT
Salons 7, 8, 9

Superjam

4:00pm CDT

Silent Auction

Benefits the ACES Education Fund. Cash bar opens at 6 p.m. at the Red Lacquer Foyer

Friday April 27, 2018 4:00pm - 7:00pm CDT
5th Floor Foyer

Silent Auction

7:00pm CDT

Banquet

Dinner, awards presentations and keynote speaker Lynne Murphy.

Friday April 27, 2018 7:00pm - 9:30pm CDT
Red Lacquer Room (4th Floor)

Friday Night Banquet

8:00am CDT

Coffee Break

Saturday April 28, 2018 8:00am - 10:30am CDT
Salon Foyer 7-10 (3rd Floor)

Networking

8:00am CDT

Registration

Saturday April 28, 2018 8:00am - 5:00pm CDT
Salons 1-6 Foyer (3rd Floor)

Registration

9:00am CDT

Registering Register

Registering Register revisits the topic broached in the ACES Chat last year, about the varying formalities of written English. Learn what "frozen register" means; find out how to use register to effect in your own personal writing; and see how register can make or break a fictional piece.

Speakers

Karen Conlin

Karen Conlin has been providing editorial services to indie authors since 2012. She cut her editorial teeth on tech editing for computer hardware and software training manuals, moved on to educational software manuals, and then made the leap to role-playing games. While she's done... Read More →

Saturday April 28, 2018 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Salons 7, 8, 9

9:00am CDT

What Journalism Can Teach You About Good Editing

Journalism has some great principles that can translate to whatever kind of editing you do. This session will cover some basics and some not-so-basics, including identifying and working with content structure, managing the time you have, learning when to break "rules," and handling writers' egos. We'll tell you some stories and get you to tell some, too.

#ACESjournalismCE

Speakers

Merrill Perlman

Freelance Editor, Merrill Perlman Consulting

Merrill Perlman spent 25 years at The New York Times in jobs ranging from copy editor to director of copy desks, in charge of all 150-plus copy editors at The Times. (Both titles are, sadly, now extinct at The Times.) Now, she's a freelance editor and trains writers and editors for... Read More →

Saturday April 28, 2018 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Salon 12

Core Skills

9:00am CDT

How Does a Copy Editor "Pivot to Video"?

So your company is taking the plunge into producing video content. Want to stay relevant, keep up with the terminology and be able to copy edit any text, no matter the platform? This session will include a brief tutorial on the stages of video copy editing, discuss how copy editing elevates the quality of videos and delve into the specifics about what sets video copy editing apart from traditional copy editing and proofreading.

#ACESVideosCE

Speakers

Kaitlyn Jakola

Copy Chief, Mic

Ali Killian

Deputy Copy Chief, Mic

Saturday April 28, 2018 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Salon 2

Digital/Social Media

9:00am CDT

What Words Trigger Sharing, Liking, Commenting on Social

In an ideal world, your reader would take the time to engage with your content. No matter how easy it has become to like, share, or comment—your words are a driving factor in making someone take your desired action. Jaime will show you a couple of techniques to engage your reader and why having the right words isn’t enough. In this session, you’ll learn how to look at your writing more critically, measure the value of your content, and demonstrate improvement over time.

#ACESsocialwords

Speakers

Jaime Endick

Digital Communications Strategist, Rotary International

Jaime Endick is the lead digital strategist for Rotary International’s corporate flagship program, End Polio Now. For the past 10 years she’s worked across industries (from healthcare to education) with a focus on making digital communications accessible and approachable to... Read More →

Saturday April 28, 2018 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Salon 3

Digital/Social Media

9:00am CDT

Is This Resource Reliable?

Where and how do you find the best verification resources, both online and in print? This session will give editors tools for determining whether a resource is reliable, help them build a list of the best online resources for fact checking, and develop best practices for doing accuracy checks.

#ACESFactCheck

Speakers

Gerri Berendzen

editorial adviser, The University Daily Kansan

Gerri Berendzen is a member of the ACES Executive Committee and has worked as a copy editor for 35 years. She is the editoral advisor for the University Daily Kansan and teaches in the KU School of Journalism and Mass Communication. In her last newspaper gig, she supervised the digital/print/design... Read More →

Saturday April 28, 2018 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Salon 1

Fact-checking

9:00am CDT

Why Is English Spelling So Wierd?

English spelling, with its caprices and vices, has often put its users through tough thoughts. But no language is an island, and we owe our words and their weird orthography to many sources, and to our own greed, laziness and snobbery. Come hear the tale, by turns subtle and obtuse, of how our forebears' designs and ignorance have bequeathed us this dog's breakfast.

#ACESEngSpelling

Speakers

James Harbeck

Senior Medical Editor, MediResource Inc.

James Harbeck is an experienced editor and a popular writer and speaker on language. He has an M.A. in linguistics and a Ph.D. in theater. You can read his articles on TheWeek.com, BBC.com, Slate.com, and several other sites, as well as on his blog Sesquiotica and the group blog he... Read More →

Saturday April 28, 2018 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Salons 4, 5, 6

Language and Lexicography

9:00am CDT

New Moms Room

Saturday April 28, 2018 9:00am - 5:00pm CDT
Dearborn (7th Floor)

10:30am CDT

Editing Children’s Books

This session will shed some light on how the children’s book publishing industry works from a publisher’s point of view. We’ll discuss the different types of children’s books and their age ranges, the process from acquisition to publication, and the ways children’s book publishing differs from the adult market. We’ll end with a Q&A, so bring your questions!

Speakers

Erin Stein

publisher of Imprint, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group

Erin Stein is publisher of Imprint, part of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. She publishes commercial fiction for all ages, develops new intellectual property, and partners with brands to develop original content. Before launching Imprint, she was at Little, Brown Books for... Read More →

Saturday April 28, 2018 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Salons 7, 8, 9

10:30am CDT

Creating a Pro-Editing Culture in a Corporate Environment

This session will look at ways to make your editing team an essential part of any corporate office. From encouraging project managers to utilize your skills, to developing new initiatives to keep editing fresh in staff members' minds, we will discover how to go from being a disconnected and rushed pass at the end of document development to an integral part of the project team. Additional topics will include schedule management, dealing with resistance and learning to let go.

#ACESCorporateEdit

Speakers

Kristen Legg

Technical Editor, Floyd Snider SPC

Kristen Legg has nine years of experience as a technical editor, six of which have been at Floyd|Snider, where she works to ensure consistency, accuracy, and overall quality in all documents. Kristen manages a dedicated team of editors, formatting experts, and project assistants to... Read More →

Saturday April 28, 2018 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Salon 2

Core Skills

10:30am CDT

Keeping Current Amid Evolving Editing Skills

Editing jobs have been changing at an ever-increasing pace, both because of technology and because of the changing nature of the workplace. A majority of ACES members no longer work at newspapers; instead, they edit across a variety of disciplines and on a variety of platforms. In this session, two editors-turned-editing professors will share research on how both professionals and academics view editing skills today. They'll also provide resources for editors wanting to master new skills and polish traditional ones, plus a few hands-on exercises that can be used in a classroom or a workplace.

#ACESKeepCurrent

Speakers

Sue Burzynski Bullard

Associate Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Sue Burzynski Bullard, an ACES board member, teaches journalism at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications. Before she began teaching, Sue held a variety of editing positions at The Detroit News, including three years as managing editor... Read More →

Lisa McLendon

Bremner Editing Center Coordinator, University of Kansas

Saturday April 28, 2018 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Salon 12

Core Skills

10:30am CDT

Sharpening Your Skills: A Headline Workshop

This session is a hands-on workshop about writing headlines for digital media. We will begin with a short discussion of trends and techniques. Then participants will write headlines for news stories and press releases. The session will conclude with a critique.

#ACESHeadlineWorkshop

Speakers

Andy Bechtel

Associate Professor, UNC-Chapel Hill

Andy Bechtel teaches editing at UNC-Chapel Hill. He has 12 years of experience in newspapers. He has been a frequent presenter at ACES conferences, and he is a member of the Education Fund board.

Vicki Krueger

System Web Communication Coordinator, The Poynter Institute

Vicki Krueger has worked with The Poynter Institute for more than 20 years in roles from editor to director of interactive learning and her current position as marketing communications manager. She is the author of Cleaning Your Copy: Grammar, Style and More – a self-directed e-learning... Read More →

Saturday April 28, 2018 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Salon 3

Core Skills

10:30am CDT

Editing Data

Just like words, databases need editing. This session will cover editing data from the source to the product. It will cover how to spot problems in data and how to deal with editing data interactives.

#ACESEditingData

Speakers

Jennifer LaFleur

Data Editor, The Investigative Reporting Workshop

Jennifer LaFleur is data editor for The Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University, where she also teaches data journalism. Previously, she was senior editor for data journalism for Reveal. Before joining Reveal, she was the director of computer-assisted reporting at... Read More →

Saturday April 28, 2018 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Salon 1

Other

10:30am CDT

Webster's Unabridged since 1828: A Guided Tour

Without revision, dictionaries die. Historically, most have not survived their creators, but the uninterrupted series of dictionaries based upon Noah Webster’s 1828 work are among the great exceptions to this rule. With each succeeding edition, decisions based on scholarship, marketplace conditions, and competition have shaped how dictionaries are made—and what we expect from a dictionary. Some changes are evolutionary, some revolutionary: Knowing the editorial policies behind each edition helps us understand and interpret what we read. For a living dictionary of a living language, the only constant is change.

#ACESMWtour

Speakers

Peter Sokolowski

Editor-at-Large, Merriam-Webster

Saturday April 28, 2018 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Salons 4, 5, 6

Other

1:00pm CDT

Conlangs: Languages with Stories to Tell

If you edit speculative fiction, you have probably encountered invented languages in some of the manuscripts you have worked on. Most invented languages are poorly designed from a linguistic perspective. Readers do pick up on the problems and inconsistencies after a while. Learn about the history of conlangs (constructed languages), what makes a conlang believable, where to begin in creating a language and how to help your clients create languages that are effective for their purpose in a story.

#ACESConlangs

Speakers

Sea Chapman

Freelance Editor

Saturday April 28, 2018 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT
Salons 7, 8, 9

Book Editing

1:00pm CDT

Perfectionism in Editing (and How to Let It Go)

As editors, we're prepared to correct every misstep and smooth every line of writing until it's perfect. But what happens when you're up against deadlines and time constraints? Practical tips from one perfectionist to her fellow editors on how to triage your edits, manage your perfectionism and learn to let it go.

#ACESLetItGo

Speakers

Alysha Love

Multi-Platform Editor, CNN Politics

Alysha Love is an ACES board member and the multi-platform editor for CNN Politics, where she oversees and supports day-to-day production of the site's original reporting and video. Love is rooted at the junction of analytics, social media and CNN Politics' website to grow the audience... Read More →

Saturday April 28, 2018 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT
Salons 4, 5, 6

Core Skills

1:00pm CDT

Rookie Mistakes That Even Veterans Make

With stylebooks, dictionaries, the internet and usage manuals galore, all the information editors need is at their fingertips. However, sometimes you don't know what you don't know. Carrying the torch of legendary editor Bill Walsh, David Yontz, senior editor at Creators, highlights some common errors that often slip through the cracks.

#ACESRookieErrors

Speakers

David Yontz

Senior Editor, Creators Syndicate

Saturday April 28, 2018 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT
Salon 2

Core Skills

1:00pm CDT

Are Two Heads Really Better than One?

Facebook and Twitter and print. Search engines and shareability and home pages. There's so much to take into account when writing a headline now. Display type that sings on the front page may not work so well on the home page, and it may make no sense at all on social media. In this session, we'll discuss writing headlines for different platforms and look for ways to make them work on many at the same time.

#ACESDigitalHeadlines

Speakers

Brian Cleveland

Multi-Platform Editor, The Washington Post

Brian Cleveland is a multiplatform editor at The Washington Post. Before that, he was the copy desk chief at The Virginian-Pilot and worked at the Duluth News Tribune. He has won several headline-writing awards and teaches a news editing class at the University of Maryland's Philip... Read More →

Jim Webster

Multiplatform Editor, The Washington Post

Jim Webster is a multiplatform editor at The Washington Post and has previously worked at the St. Petersburg (Tampa Bay) Times and Miami Herald. He has won five national headline-writing awards, including four from ACES. In his spare time, he writes cookbooks with chefs, including... Read More →

Saturday April 28, 2018 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT
Salon 3

Digital/Social Media

1:00pm CDT

Google News Lab Fundamentals

Attend this talk to get an overview of how Google's tools can help you do research, fact-check, find what's trending, and locate and quickly visualize useful datasets on any project. The workshop will highlight: Advanced Google Search techniques and refinements, Google Trends, Immersive Journalism tools and Google Maps.

#ACESGoogle

Speakers

Andy Boyle

Andy Boyle is a Chicago-based writer whose work has appeared in Esquire, NBC News, the Boston Globe, the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times and more. Raised and educated in Nebraska, his journalism was cited in the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News. He's also the author of... Read More →

Saturday April 28, 2018 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT
Salon 12

Digital/Social Media

2:30pm CDT

The Tycoon’s Secret Werewolf Bride: Copy Editing for Romance Novels

Romance novels make up 34 percent of the US fiction market and accounted for $1 billion in sales in 2013. Like any genre, romance has idiosyncrasies and quirks: When you’re talking about werewolves, is “alpha” capitalized? What part do restrictive commas play in ménage? Did that author really mean to use “lathe” as a verb? This session will focus on what to expect when editing romance, from creating style sheets to maintaining consistency across every single vampire’s story to managing pronouns in an orgy. It will also cover working with self-publishing clients, including finding them, managing expectations and getting paid.

#ACESRomanceCE

Speakers

Sara Brady

Copy editor, Inside Higher Ed

Sara Brady is a semi-freelance editor with experience in magazines, books, and web-based publications. By day she focuses on higher education news as the copy editor for Inside Higher Ed; by night she works with individual book clients and publishers such as Harlequin, RosettaBooks... Read More →

Romance presentation 2 pdf

Saturday April 28, 2018 2:30pm - 3:45pm CDT
Salons 7, 8, 9

Book Editing

2:30pm CDT

Edit Sober: 79 Tips for On-Your-Feet Editing

Compiled over 30 years of copy editing, these 79 tips will help you be a better editor. Even if you are already great, many of these tips will help you think on your feet and spend less time looking things up. (Note that Tip No. 1 is "Look it up.") There are some big concepts and some quick tips, with time left over for you to share your own best tips. Also included: some favorite mnemonics.

#ACES79Tips

Speakers

Mark Allen

Mark Allen is an editor, consultant, and teacher with nearly 30 years of professional experience working with words. After a career on newspaper copy desks, he expanded his scope as a freelance copy editor, editing for individuals, universities, foundations, government agencies and... Read More →

Saturday April 28, 2018 2:30pm - 3:45pm CDT
Salons 4, 5, 6

Core Skills

2:30pm CDT

Editing for Engagement

Today’s audiences have plenty of choices, which makes engagement essential. Find out how to build trust and connect with your audience. Provide content the way your readers want it on the platforms they’re using.

#ACESEngageCE

Speakers

Sue Burzynski Bullard

Associate Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Saturday April 28, 2018 2:30pm - 3:45pm CDT
Salon 3

Core Skills

2:30pm CDT

But I’m an English Major!

Two copy editors from the data journalism site FiveThirtyEight talk math and fact-checking in the age of fake news.

#ACESEngageCE

Speakers

Colleen Barry

General Editor, FiveThirtyEight

Colleen Barry has been a copy editor for over 15 years, working in community newspapers and tech magazines before moving to ESPN.com and FiveThirtyEight. She once antedated “asshat” for Merriam-Webster.

Sara Ziegler

General Editor, FiveThirtyEight

Saturday April 28, 2018 2:30pm - 3:45pm CDT
Salon 12

Fact-checking

2:30pm CDT

The Ins and Outs of Freelancing for Publishing Houses

This fast-paced workshop discusses the unique aspects of freelancing for publishing houses versus private clients, what experience publishers look for in freelancers, and the power of third-party vendors. We will also brainstorm how to find work, what to do (and not do!) on editing tests, and how choices can maximize the rate of repeat clients. Finally, we will focus on proofreading, often the doorway to other work with a publisher. Using an extensive checklist, we'll walk through the types of proofreading publishers may request, including first pass, second pass, formatting check and final proof.

#ACESPublishers

Speakers