No copy desk at the Los Angeles Daily Journal

On April 9, 2008, the Los Angeles Daily Journal had no choice but to lay-off its entire copy desk. Amazing I know, but the Daily Journal no longer has any copy editors working there. While all would have liked to keep the copy desk, financially it was impossible.

So, now reports are asked to suggest headlines for their stories and line editors will be responsible for all editing.

According to one of the women still working there, all are concerned how they are going to keep doing their jobs with the copy desk. As she said in an email, "Honestly, how do you put out a paper without a copy desk? We're all very shell-shocked."

However, the editor, Martin Berg, is more optimistic. Admitting that the day the copy desk was disbanded was the toughest he's seen during his time in the newspaper industry, he also added, "We're still committed to producing high-quality, ambitious journalism."

As we expected, the newspaper industry will continue to change. However, I hope, as I'm sure you are, that newspapers will still do their best to produce quality work and keep essential players, like the copy desk.