“I think [Paul Dacre] fears subs rather as people in the Middle Ages feared monks, because they were the only ones who could do the magic reading and writing”

Quite a broadside against the Daily Mail editor, and one that should please subbing advocates in an interview with retired sub Margaret Ashworth. Speaking to the Press Gazette, the former DM staffer laments the demise of experienced subs at the paper, and is pessimistic about her younger successors’ sense of curiosity:

“For example, if I had a story about a ‘veteran’ driver, shall we say, I would want to know his exact age… Or if it said that someone had three children and named only two, I would find out about the third.

“This sort of question does not seem to trouble the youngsters. There was a conversation a while ago between an old-timer and a trainee who had not heard of Rudolph Valentino. ‘Before my time, I’m afraid,’ said the trainee breezily. ‘Hitler was before mine but I’ve still heard of him,’ was the reply. The trainee in question is now chief sub on a quality national.”

Ashworth spent 39 years working on the Daily Mail and worked her way up to become splash sub. She left her full-time position in 2012.

Despite the apparent demise of her craft, Ashworth has authored a style guide aimed at reporters who must endure editing their own copy. Some gems from the ‘Newspaperspeak’ section:

– bid to: Useful for headings, but ghastly. In copy do try to find an alternative, such as ‘attempt to’ or ‘effort to’.

– scooped, as in lottery jackpot: Should be used only for ice cream and poop. Prizes and awards are ‘won’.

– swoop: As in ‘police swooped at dawn’. There may not be an alternative but try to find one.