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Delightfully nerdy protest signs show why the ’New York Times’ shouldn’t lay off copy editors

"Copy editors save our buts."

Suzanne Ciechalski

on June 29, 2017

Delightfully nerdy protest signs show why the ’New York Times’ shouldn’t lay off copy editors

We're into this message. Credit: AP/REX/Shutterstock

The New York Times' editorial staff gave us all a solid reminder Thursday afternoon that copy editors are the backbone of the media outlets we all depend on.

Prompted by a looming threat of newsroom layoffs — specifically at the copy desk — staffers at The Times staged a walk out Thursday afternoon.

Though the subject is a tough one, the walkout gave us some pretty great signs, that just make us appreciate copy editors that much more.

Here's a look at some of the best.

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The walkout comes after reporters sent a letter to their bosses, Executive Editor Dean Baquet and Managing Editor Joe Kahn, expressing disappointment in upcoming cuts to the copy desk.

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"We write to you as the saved — those whose copy, facts and sometimes the intelligibility of a sentence or two have been hammered into shape by our friends and colleagues on the editing desks," the letter said, according to Poynter. "Our editors ask smart questions, engage passionately with our copy, and serve as our safety nets. Editors – and yes, that especially means copy editors — save reporters and The Times every day from countless errors, large and small."

The upcoming layoffs threaten to cut the copy desk's staff nearly in half.

Copy editors wrote their own letter Wednesday, alleging that the company's top editors turned their backs on the edit desk.

Sarah Maslin Nir, a Times reporter, posted video of the walk out, which showed a significantly empty newsroom.

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The messages presented were powerful, especially during a time when journalists are coming under increasing scrutiny regarding the accuracy of stories.