Copy desk consolidation chronicles

The massive consolidations of copy desks continues.

The latest, from L.A. Observed, is that deskers at Scripps' Ventura County Star have been told the desk functions are moving to Corpus Christi, Texas.

Earlier we had: Media General rumors confirmed.

It's going to continue as long as copy editors allow their jobs to be defined as more mechanical, get-the-paper-out-the-door skills. Those parts can and probably should be consolidated. But that's manufacturing.

If you want to talk quality, that's a whole different area - and as I've said before, the only ones going to make that case for copy editors in a language the corporate types will understand are the libel insurers. The insurers are the ones that quantify and price risk. Otherwise, it's all just a cost of doing buisness to your local publisher.