ROLE OF NEWS EDITOR AND EDITOR

Just as the military has a chain of command, newspapers have a hierarchy of editors responsible for various aspects of the operation. A number of people are working on different news stories under the same roof. While the exact structure of a newspaper newsroom may vary from one paper to the next, a general structure applies to most of them. Among the various tasks performed in a newsroom, editing is of great importance. For that every newspaper has their own news editor and editors. Here we are going to discuss about the various roles and functions of news editor and editor.

NEWS EDITOR

News editor a person who is in charge of the news desk at a newspaper or broadcasting organization and whose job is to oversee the selection and preparation of news items for publication or broadcast. Newspaper editors have the daily responsibility of deciding which news stories are printed in the paper. Long before the paper is published, the editor assigns reporters to cover the news, checks for accuracy and fairness in the newspaper’s articles and writes headlines. It is not unusual for a newspaper editor to have worked as a journalist or proofreader before becoming an editor.They will also check for legal and ethical issues in a journalist’s copy.

SKILLS

A newspaper editor should have excellent oral and written communications skills. It is expected that editors also have a strong interest in current events, the ability to work well under daily deadlines and experience with desktop publishing programs. The ability to stay calm under the pressure of deadlines or, of constant updates. Also, the ability to write a good headline, which is a lot harder than it looks.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

● Analyze and capitalize various attributes and requirements of print and digital media to strengthen editor’s position.
● Manage and produce news to present information with accuracy, flow, and within time frame.
● Design innovative and unique solutions to optimize routine news coverage.
● Monitor and use multimedia, nonlinear and alternative storytelling strategies to widen readership base.
● Manage and edit contents to cater to readers’ requirement and provide detailed information for same.
● Work within creative environment to respond to various competing priorities.
● Prepare work schedule and deadlines and encourage team members to meet targets to facilitate timely publication.
● Design and implement coverage strategies to facilitate wide coverage of all sorts of issues and news.
● Provide training to news reporters on how to select news for existing readership and gain new readers.
● Coordinate with colleagues in the newsroom and other departments to define priorities for same.
● Coordinate with internal and external customer service to obtain optimum workflow.
● Evaluate all new for authenticity and check with sources to ensure correctness of published article to avoid conflicts.
● Collaborate with reporters, editors and photojournalists and anchors to facilitate efficient news coverage to strengthen company’s position in media market.
● Administer technology backup such as computer graphics, stingers, maps, editor’s software to make news presentation attractive for readers.
● Manage and edit daily news, special news stories and periodical items with help of video editing tools to facilitate video telecast.
● Monitor all feeds from news bureaus and other agencies for editing and further publication.
● Provide assignments to freelance photographers and prepare reports for current news trends new readers and sustain existing readers.

EDITOR

An editor is a journalist who is responsible for a particular section of a newspaper or magazine.Editors plan, coordinate, and revise material for publication in books, newspapers, magazines, or websites. Editors review story ideas and decide what material will appeal most to readers. They also review and edit digital media and drafts of books and articles, offer comments to improve the product, and suggest titles and headlines. In smaller organizations, a single editor may perform all of the editorial duties or share them with only a few other people. While collecting news is the reporter’s duty, the editor adds value by structuring the piece or segment and presenting it in an easily digestible and informative manner to the readers and viewers. They work alongside the reporter to make the piece shine.

SKILLS
● Good command over the language
● Knowledge of media production and communication
● Reading Comprehension
● Excellent verbal communication skills
● To be thorough and pay attention to detail
● Excellent written communication skills
● Active Listening
● Critical Thinking
● Time Management
TYPES OF EDITORS

1. Beta Reader
2. Proofreader
3. Online Editor
4. Critique Partner
5. Commissioning Editor
6. Developmental Editor
7. Content Editor
8. Copy Editor
9. Associate Editor
10. Contributing Editor
11. Chief Editor
12. Editor-in-Chief

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
Editors typically do the following:
● Read content and correct for errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar
● Rewrite copy to make it easier for readers to understand
● Verify facts using standard reference sources
● Evaluate submissions from writers to decide what to publish
● Work with writers to help their ideas and stories succeed
● Plan the content of digital media and publications according to the publication’s style and editorial policy
● Develop story and content ideas while being mindful of the audience
● Allocate space for the text, photos, and illustrations that make up a story
● Approve final versions submitted by staff
● Ensuring that content is journalistically objective
● Fact checking, writing style, page design and photos
● Rejecting writing that appears to be plagiarized, ghostwritten, published elsewhere, or of little interest to readers
● Evaluating and editing content
● Contributing editorial pieces
● Motivating and developing editorial staff
● Ensuring the final draft is complete
● Handling reader complaints and taking responsibility for issues after publication
● For books and journals, cross-checking citations and examining references

CONCLUSION

To find a space in a newspaper, a story has to appeal and go through the keen eyes of a news editor or an editor. The leaders of any newsroom, news editors and editors majorly do the work of editing which is an exercise of selection and judgement. Which pictures, campaigns, and above all stories to run? What’s the best headline on that front page splash? Shall we give this or that person a kicking in the sports pages?  Everything is decided by these people. It goes without saying that their role is one of the most crucial ones. Their duties ranges from selecting a news story to ensuring that the final draft is ready and it abides by the ethics of journalism. It is important for a news editor and an editor to remain unbiased and uphold the principles and morals of journalism. It is expected from an editor to have great leadership skills apart have excellent oral and written communications skills. After all, a large chunk of society is going to read what is presented by them and hence shaping their minds and forming their opinions.

REFERENCES

https://www.truity.com/career-profile/editor
https://www.bkacontent.com/12-types-of-editors-and-what-they-do/
https://www.greatsampleresume.com/job-responsibilities/news-editor-responsibilities
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/
https://www.elsevier.com/editors/role-of-an-editor
https://work.chron.com/duties-responsibilities-editors-13679.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Editor-in-chief

– UTKARSHA AHIRWAR
DEPARTMENT OF JOURNALISM
LSR, BATCH OF 2022

(Disclaimer: The views expressed are personal)