A historic editorial role in hot-metal newspaper production. This editor stood at the imposing stone alongside the compositors, making final decisions on cutting text, adjusting headlines, and arranging articles as the heavy metal type was being locked into the chase for the press. They had the authority to authorize last-minute changes to fit the physical constraints of the page.
The stone editor ordered us to cut the last two paragraphs of the mayor's speech because the front page was running long.
Related terms
Imposing stone
A flat, heavy surface used for assembling and locking up metal type.
Stone subeditor
A junior editor assisting with layout decisions at the imposing stone.
Overmatter
Typeset text that exceeds the available space on a page or layout.
Upmaker
A compositor who arranges loose columns of type into finished pages.