This work focusses on patterns in the selection of entire stories. There is little research on the significance of editing changes within stories accepted for publication. McNelly ( 1959) stresses the importance of the copy editing role of wire editors, and points out that the term "gatekeeping" is in- adequate to describe this function. Gatekeepers who are not solely "'copy tasters,, operate a filter as well as a gate. Once a story is through the selection gate, it must then pass the cutting and altering filter, and will probably emerge in a different form. Garrison's research (1979) on the effect of video technology is the only major study of copy editing. He concentrated on interviews and observation of copy editors, and compared input and output copy of 15 stories. The kinds of copy changes were categorized, but too broadly to bear comparison with my study.