Old dogs, new tricks ...

THE world of journalism is deep in debate at the moment about whether it still needs sub-editors in this age of instant publication.

Maybe I'm biased, since I was a sub for 20 years, but I've just supported the case in this very column.

I blogged on Friday about my half term week and pressed the button to publish it on the Post's website.

I logged on at home on Saturday to find my piece topped with the words Undefined Headline.

I had forgotten to write one; ironic really, after the thousands of headlines I've written on other people's work.

But it shows the peril of publishing your writing without letting another pair of human eyes view it.

Of course, subs don't spot every error, but the Evening Post and every other newspaper would be a lot more mistake-ridden without their efforts.

And if you think I'm straying from my education brief here, I' d point out that Ucas applications last week showed a 40 per cent rise in the numbers wanting to study journalism courses.

Not sure how many of those are for sub-editing though.