One of the most important, least visible, and hardest to learn or teach skills in journalism is editing.
sometimes it arises if people are in a hurry a reporter may sit behind the editor to field questions as the edit unspools, and in those moments you get a direct glimpse at the witchcraft.
it basically is wool of bat, toe of frog, and fillet of fenny snake. the great editor can have a big collection of tricks, to make the charm firm and good.
The editor appears to access obscure codes and to perform sleights. Even though you see the result, you can't say exactly how it was done, or what it was.
where is it written how to edit? nowhere.
