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Subject:Re: How is editing organized in your company? From:elba -at- us -dot- ibm -dot- com To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Mon, 6 Jan 2003 11:33:30 -0600
Tom wrote:
"If those of you who work in companies with
a well-defined editing activity could describe the way
it's organized, and perhaps give a few tips and warn
against pitfalls, I would be very grateful."
"I'm interested in how real-life companies organize a
serious editing function in their technical
publications department."
I'm so glad that someone out there thinks that editors are necessary!
I'm an editor in a software marketing environment, in which we develop
marketing information for several Web sites (Internet and intranets). I do
a small amount of technical editing (product specs and systems
requirements) and also do general editing of marketing material and
publishing standards.
In our environment, content creation and editing is organized in two main
categories:
Content entry
Quality control
Content Entry has two subcategories:
The Content Provider enters information for software products in the
database (plain and massive data entry).
The Content Supervisor does a high-level review to verify that all
information has been entered for the correct product version and
certifies that the information is ready for Quality Control editing.
Quality Control has two subcategories:
The Imaging and Formatting editor ensures first that all images are
properly attached (.pdf, .doc, .123, .jpg, .htm, and so forth) and
second that the format (cosmetic) is consistent with established
formatting rules for each specific database (color, heading levels,
and so forth).
The Standards Compliance editor ensures that all grammatical rules
have been followed, to guarantee a universal English that can be
accurately translated by most accredited translation software, and
also that it can be read by native and non-native English speakers.
The Standards Compliance editor also ensures that company's
distinguishing style, Internet standards and NLS and ISO standards
are followed. Small rewrite is necessary in many cases. Depending on
the extend of the rewrite, the document may need to be returned to
first level, but his seldomly happens.
I sincerely hope this helps you and your company.
Elba Jacobs
SMI Quality Control - NLS Guidelines and ISO Standards
IBM Marketing Solutions - Tie Line: 798-9840 - Internet: elba -at- us -dot- ibm -dot- com
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