• News Editor Job Description

    A news editor is someone who supervises over the content of a newspaper or news broadcast. Their job involves following local or global issues of relevance to their station or program output, supervising and overseeing journalists, and reviewing news stories to proof-read, rewrite and fact-check them and to decide which stories to publish or broadcast.

    A news editor should be enquiring, judicious, imaginative, detail –oriented, and decisive, and have the ability to work calmly under pressure, react quickly and meet tight deadlines. They should have strong interest in current events, and strong news reporting, editing and social media skills.

  • What does a News Editor do?

    News editors may do some or all of the following:

    • follow local or global issues of relevance to their station or program output
    • generate ideas for news articles and features
    • brief and dispatch reporters for assignments
    • supervise and oversee news reporters
    • review news stories and edit them for factual accuracy
    • check scripts for typographical, spelling, semantic and synthetic errors
    • ensure that all feature articles comply with media laws and regulations
    • work under tight deadlines
  • Where does a News Editor work?
  • Working Conditions

    News editors may work irregular hours including evenings, weekends and holidays. They may also work as freelance news editors for various news stations.

    News editors work in offices and news rooms, but may travel to attend relevant events, fairs or conferences. They may work in conditions that are stressful due to deadlines.

  • What is Required to Become a News Editor ?

    Many news editors have worked as news reporters and gained enough experience to know what’s newsworthy, which is required to advance into the position.

  • Modules
  • Specializations
  • Knowledge, Skills and Attributes

    News editors need to have:

    • patience
    • perceptiveness
    • charisma
    • confidence and courage
    • credibility and responsibility
    • adaptability and versatility
    • courteousness and tactfulness
    • determination and resilience
    • good memory
    • good attention to detail
    • good listening, writing, copyediting and storytelling skills
    • good judgment and decision making skills
    • analytical and problem solving skills
    • time management and organizational skills
    • networking and interviewing skills
    • presentation and public-speaking skills
    • multitasking skills
    • news researching skills and the ability to recognize information that will interest their audience
    • the ability to quote people accurately and record information faithfully
    • the ability to visualize a story
    • the ability to style and adapt subject for different audiences and platform
    • the ability to enjoy reading fictions, plays and poetry
    • the ability to work independently as well as with others
    • the ability to follow directions and stick to guidelines
    • the ability to work well under pressure and manage stress
    • the ability to accept and respond well to criticism
    • the ability to relate to people from a range of backgrounds and cultures
    • the ability to suppress their own views and biases when broadcasting a story
    • knowledge of video editing software such as Final Cut Pro and Avid NewsCutter XP
    • knowledge of media ethics and law
    • knowledge of a wide range of local and global issues

References

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Alternative Careers
  • News Anchor
  • News Reporter
  • Announcer
  • News Producer
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