Essentials to Become a Newspaper Editor

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Newspaper editors are the ones who decide the content and the style of the newspaper. They should have knowledge about the printing industry and the readers of their publication. Through their knowledge, they can handle the newspaper agency effectively and take it to new heights of success.

The responsibility of newspaper editors is to decide which story to choose, allocate work to other reporters and give advice on what story to cover, create and write good stories, interview the public to present true stories, work with the reporters to design the layout and edit the pages of the newspaper, choose the photos and images to be published, modify the work of other writers, get in touch with the distribution and advertising personnel, make sure that the work is completed on time, and train or recruit junior editors. Newspaper editors are also responsible for covering a specific type of news pertaining to a specific area like suburban, regional, or municipal, where it is delivered. Once the editor edits the content of the paper, it is then passed on to the copy editor who checks the flaws, corrects it and then stylizes the newspaper. Also, they need to review and approve news stories by reporters, so they need to have good news evaluation skills from content, language and other key aspects.

In order to prepare yourself for the newspaper editing job, you need to pursue higher school courses in political science, history, economics, mass media, and creative writing. To enter the field of newspaper editing, a degree in Mass Communication, Journalism, or English is required.



Newspaper editors work in coordination with the reporters, editing staff members, team of advertising, publishers and printers of their publication. For this they need to have good communication and writing skills. It is essential that they have an excellent command over the English language. It is expected that they are punctual and meet deadlines. The job can be extremely pressuring at times and therefore it is essential that the newspaper editors do not lose their temper under pressure. They need to have fine management and organization skills, should be adaptable and flexible to various situations, and have knowledge and interest in recent affairs.

The continuous demand for good and creative content in the newspaper edition calls for a newspaper editor. A high school and college newspaper can be the best activity for getting newspaper editing training. Besides, you can work for some local publication or take up an internship offered by well-known publications. This can give you the experience of both editing and reporting.

Most newspaper editors start their career as trainee reporters or journalists. After receiving the training, you can opt for an editorial assistance position or sub-editor post. The editor of a newspaper can also work with PR companies or press organizations.

Before becoming an editor, it is good for a newspaper editor to work as a journalist or proofreader. Proofreading task is essential because if you have not learned that, you will not know what things you need to focus on and what to discard. An internship at a local newspaper can help you to gain good experience. You can also start as a freelancer and improve your proficiency by constantly reading, enhancing your writing style, and understanding the target market. With such prior experience you can always aim at getting a better placement in the future.

The newspaper industry is growing with each passing day and hence job opportunities are immense. One should not expect to get the job of a newspaper editor from day one. There are many opportunities in online, print, and electronic media. You can check newspapers and job websites and apply suitably. There is no need for the newspaper editors to worry about getting a good job as there are lots of career prospects available across the world for the right candidate. There are various newspapers in need of people with qualification and relevant skill sets. Even if you publish short but appealing articles, you can easily get noticed by others. Once you stand out from the rest through your powerful writing, you can expect an excellent position and good salary.

Depending upon the experience you have gained and number of hours you have worked, you can get salaries varying from $15,000 to $50,000.

You can approach a career counselor for better job recruitment or search online for various opportunities available in the field. If you want to work with a specific newspaper, you can directly apply there or search in the classified section of the newspaper. However, before applying, you need to ensure that you meet their requirement and have the necessary qualifications to get the post of your choice. A strong knowledge about current events and a creative outlook are the essential qualities of the editor of newspaper.
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