How I Edited This (With Samples)
- biancaferrari93
- Jan 20
- 2 min read
For over four years, I led the transcreation desk at VICE, adapting high-performing stories from across the network (Arabic, Italian, French, Dutch, and more) into compelling English-language reads.
That involved far more than fixing typos: I regularly restructured articles, rewrote headlines and intros, adapted jokes and references, clarified context, and ensured each piece met both editorial standards and cultural nuance. I also liaised with authors and translators, ran extra fact-checks, and advocated for fairer, more inclusive language in international reporting.
Below are a few case studies.
Original: "Fan del Signore degli Anelli commentano la fissazione di Giorgia Meloni per la saga"
This piece began as a roundup of short interviews capturing the public conversation around Italy's far right fixation with the Lord of the Rings saga. I saw its potential as a way to introduce Giorgia Meloni — Italy’s far-right prime minister — to international readers. I rewrote the structure, wove the interviews into a cohesive narrative, added historical and political context, and crafted a tone that was informative without losing its humor. It went on to perform strongly on VICE's main page.
Original: "عن كل الطرق التي تؤدي إلى مطار رامون"
This testimony, shared in October 2022, painted a vivid picture of the surreal logistical hoops Palestinians from Gaza must jump through just to board a plane. My role was to preserve the emotion and clarity of the writer’s voice while adding enough background for an international audience to grasp the stakes. I trimmed the original for readability and added framing that contextualized the story in a broader geopolitical landscape.
Original: "En Bretagne, se jeter dans les buissons est une activité comme une autre"
The original piece captured a very specific, very niche French subculture in an equally as specific French tone — wry, absurd, deadpan. My challenge was to preserve that humor while sharpening the pacing and avoiding overly “explain-y” language. I restructured a few sections, simplified references, and tightened the rhythm to match VICE EN’s offbeat tone.
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