Former editor to sub-editors - you are no longer required on board

Over the years, I have taken a lot of flak for suggesting that the days of newspaper sub-editors are numbered (here in 2008, and here and here in 2009).

Now Neil Fowler, who edited four regional titles, has discovered just how unpopular it is to write off subs. In an article for the magazine InPublishing, he argues that "the luxury" of having staff in order "to rewrite and fact-check every reporter's story has gone."

Instead, he believes that reporters and writers need to be imbued with both a culture and practice of getting their articles "right first time, every time."

To that end, he calls for a system in which student journalists are required to be tested on basic journalistic (and literacy) skills - such as spelling, grammar, writing to length, headline-writing and "getting the best out of dull stories - before they are given newsroom jobs."

Indeed, he doesn't believe they should get on to a journalism course without the ability to "spell or construct sentences to a high level of competence."

Fowler is writing against a background in which local and regional newspaper reporters are increasingly obliged to publish directly to websites while many subbing roles are outsourced to production hubs.

He dismisses the claim that subs need to sit near to reporting staff or live in the paper's circulation area.

Fowler is clearly writing with regional dailies and local weeklies in mind (so national subs do not need to rise up in arms - yet).

A précis of his article has appeared on HoldTheFrontPage and has inevitably attracted some very hostile, occasionally insulting, comments. Here's a selection of some sensible points:

"Young reporters don't always get it right first time – they learn on the job" (Rachel Horner)

"Every newspaper journalist I know (including me) learned the most important parts of the craft via seasoned subs going through their copy and showing them the 'gaps in the article." (Observer50)

"How many times have we asked a colleague just to "run their eyes over something" and they've seen something we've missed? Team working is set to become ever more vital – not less." (Sub up North)

"I'm sad the days of subs have gone, but gone they have. But JP's had none for years and the papers tick along just fine…" (Walt D)

"In 40-plus years in journalism, I was always brought up to believe that 'two pairs of eyes are better than one'". (Johnners1712)

But Fowler didn't say there should no check at all. His point surely is that the newsroom should not need people who start from the basis that stories need to be rewritten and corrected for spelling and grammar.

The second pair of eyes should be more of a cursory inspection rather than a job in itself.

For counter-arguments, see student sub Lisa's take in which she concludes: "Long live the sub-editor", plus the hugely experienced Liz Gerard here and probably elsewhere on her excellent blog, Sub Scribe.