STORES OF 3 EDITORS - A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF EDITING IN THE WORKPLACE

This study describes the roles and responsibilities of three editors e mployed in the publications unit of a large government agency. Along w ith the story of each editor, the article presents generalizations abo ut the editing process in this particular organization. The descriptio n suggests that edit big is a complex, meaning-making process. The thr ee editors seem to make changes in the documents they edit based on th eir expert knowledge of writing, their empathy for readers, and their assumpt ion of authority over a document. Although they all make rule- based changes that rely on external authorities, such as style manuals , they vary greatly in their readiness to use their personal authority in interpreting the needs of an audience. The editors gain the author ity they, need to make reader-based changes by assuming the role of la nguage specialists and by enhancing the teaching role important in the ir organization.