http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/ Blog for ACES' Denver National Conference en Daniel Hunt Copyright 2008 2008-04-14T00:42:00-07:00 http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/first_glamann_award_to_dow_jones_fund/ http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/first_glamann_award_to_dow_jones_fund/#When:04:47:00Z A new award honoring ACES co-founder Hank Glamann was given to the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund for its 50 years of supporting journalism and editing. Updated with Trayes’ full speech on the jump. The Lead 2008-04-12T04:47:00-07:00 http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/robinsonprize/ http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/robinsonprize/#When:04:35:01Z Adam Smith of the Augusta Chronicle in Georgia was surprised with the third granting of the American Copy Editors Society’s highest honor Friday night—via a video feed while at work. Video on the jump. Ceremonies 2008-04-12T04:35:01-07:00 http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/headlines/ http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/headlines/#When:17:00:00Z The best and brightest headline writers were honored Thursday in the opening session of the American Copy Editors Society’s 12th annual conference in Denver. Their work exemplifies the quality of copy editing amid dwindling resources, tighter deadlines and more work. Ceremonies 2008-04-10T17:00:00-07:00 http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/let_it_snow/ http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/let_it_snow/#When:00:42:00Z Beth Slater, a Florida Today editor and ACES member, gave us a little insight on her visit to the ACES national conference. And while most were disappointed by a winter storm that dumped snow on Colorado, Beth and her colleagues saw it as a magic moment. Reflections 2008-04-14T00:42:00-07:00 http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/closing_on_anbsp_high_note/ http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/closing_on_anbsp_high_note/#When:09:07:01Z The ACES conference in Denver has officially come to an end. And thanks to Katie Schwing, it went out with a bang. After the great wrap party at Falling Rock, many folks headed over to karaoke, which was said to be one of the greatest get-togethers that ACES has ever had. Peter Parisi led the group down to the sushi restaurant and started the “afterhours” session with a booming voice and great stage presence. But Jim Thomsen, new to the ACES board, brought down the house with “Too Sexy.” This is not the last post about the conference, by any stretch of the imagination, but it’ll be a few days before I, myself, and the others who dedicated their free time and laptops to blogging will be updating the site—on a lack of rest. To all who came to ACES this year: thank you. You are the reason we will continue to make this conference for, by and about you. Good night! Afterhours 2008-04-13T09:07:01-07:00 http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/keep_the_enthusiasm/ http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/keep_the_enthusiasm/#When:23:25:00Z I’m always excited when I meet new ACES members who are experiencing the same enthusiasm I had at my first conference. I’ve met several this week. Reflections 2008-04-12T23:25:00-07:00 http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/creating_and_maintaining_an_in_house_stylebook/ http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/creating_and_maintaining_an_in_house_stylebook/#When:17:51:01Z Reporters have asked me (yes, I am friends with many reporters) why it’s such a big deal that they use the stylebook. Their thinking has been two-fold: 1. Won’t the copy desk catch it? and 2. What does it matter? Sessions 2008-04-12T17:51:01-07:00 http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/fresh_faces/ http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/fresh_faces/#When:14:44:01Z As usual in the opening session Thursday, I asked for a show of hands: How many people are attending the ACES conference for the first time? Usually it looks to be between a third and a half; this year, it’s well over half, maybe even 75 percent. That’s surprising, and encouraging. The Lead 2008-04-12T14:44:01-07:00 http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/making_sausage/ http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/making_sausage/#When:07:14:01Z (Note to official-looking people who plan this event: Ignore this post. Nothing to see here.) Want to know how to put on your very own ACES conference panel? Follow these easy steps: Sessions 2008-04-12T07:14:01-07:00 http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/scholarship_drive/ http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/scholarship_drive/#When:04:09:00Z The ACES Education Fund board concocted a scheme to seek donations from those attending Friday night’s banquet: a table-vs.-table challenge for the most money raised. Boy, did it work! News 2008-04-12T04:09:00-07:00 http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/what_else_can_i_do_with_these_skills/ http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/what_else_can_i_do_with_these_skills/#When:23:20:01Z Judging by the packed room at Friday’s session, it looks like a lot of us want to find out what else is out there. The panel got the discussion started, but some other interesting ideas came from members of the audience. Sessions 2008-04-11T23:20:01-07:00 http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/moderating_online_communities/ http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/moderating_online_communities/#When:22:52:00Z If you’re interested in life beyond the rim and slot, talk to the people who attended Moderating Online Communities: A Potential New Job for the Desk, presented by Doug Fisher and Travis Henry. Sessions 2008-04-11T22:52:00-07:00 http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/washington_post_optimism/ http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/washington_post_optimism/#When:22:47:00Z Talking with a Washington Post copy editor (actually he’s the A section night editor), I was surprised last night to find he was not shocked and appalled—like so many outsiders and probably insiders are—by the Post’s shift in editing and its two-touch policy on most stories. News 2008-04-11T22:47:00-07:00 http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/going_once_going_twice/ http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/going_once_going_twice/#When:17:43:00Z Hank Glamann-autographed sneakers, Southwest Airlines tickets, a vintage Denver Post newspaper carrier bag, beer, the usual collection of books and clothing and other items are available to bid on now at the annual silent auction in the Colorado E ballroom. The cash bar opens at 6 p.m. The auction closes at 6:30 p.m. Check back late tonight for the final prices on key items....The Auctionmeister The Lead 2008-04-11T17:43:00-07:00 http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/from_traditional_to_modern/ http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/from_traditional_to_modern/#When:00:23:00Z Day 1 of the ACES conference offered a little something for every copy-editing sensibility. Looking for the traditional grammar, usage, style options? There was Merrill Perlman and Bill Walsh. Looking for solutions to new age copy-editing concerns? Doug Fisher led a session on Web 2.0, while Chris Wienandt talked about search engine optimization. How about some nitty, gritty content discussion? Charles Delafuente talked about libel, Bill Cloud (despite technical problems) covered math questions, and Kathy Schenck discussed what editors need to know about polls. News 2008-04-11T00:23:00-07:00 http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/rules_that_arent/ http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/rules_that_arent/#When:23:24:00Z OK with split infinitives? Fine with the passive voice? Good with starting sentences from Conjunction Junction? So is Bill Walsh. And in his perennially popular “Rules That Aren’t” session, the Washington Post chief of national copy desks cheerfully knocks down longheld beliefs about grammar, style and usage. Sessions 2008-04-10T23:24:00-07:00 http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/a_front_line_against_libel/ http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/a_front_line_against_libel/#When:21:45:01Z Charles Delafuente’s session served as a good nuts-and-bolts review of one of the pricklier topics we encounter. Sessions 2008-04-10T21:45:01-07:00 http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/the_direction_of_aces/ http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/the_direction_of_aces/#When:20:29:01Z The Q&A with the President in Thursday’s morning session was full of queries about whether ACES will broaden its membership to include copy editors not in journalism, and some asked if ACES will respond more to the assault on editing. Turns out, the ACES board is talking about those very things. Ceremonies 2008-04-10T20:29:01-07:00 http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/if_i_knew_only/ http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/if_i_knew_only/#When:19:37:00Z Merrill Perlman’s “If I Knew Only” is an annual ACES conference favorite, and it’s easy to see why. It’s fun, light, breezy and interactive. Oh, and highly informative about the sorts of things that come across our copy desk almost every day. As the longtime chief of copy desks at The New York Times, managing some 150 copy editors, she’s earned her standing as an authority on everyday news language. Oh, and she’s pretty funny. And she has the rare gift of not only knowing her subject cold — but knowing how to communicate that knowledge in a way that doesn’t leave her audience cold. She’s not one to bombard you with complicated grammar terms. At the beginning of the session, Merrill said: ‘Gerund’ will probably the worst word I’ll use.” Sessions 2008-04-10T19:37:00-07:00 http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/change_of_venue1/ http://www.copyblock.com/acesdenver/index.php/entry/change_of_venue1/#When:19:29:00Z Outdoor party? Great idea! Oh, wait ... Don’t worry if you did not bring your snowshoes. Tonight’s opening reception has been moved to an indoor location. We will be mingling in Colorado F on the conference level.  Afterhours 2008-04-10T19:29:00-07:00