| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Media and Advertising |
| Level | Manager |
| Reports to | Editor |
| Direct reports | Sub Editor, Reporter |
| Experience | 8 to 12 years in journalism, with 3 or more years on the news desk or in editing |
News Editor job description template
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Job title: News Editor
Department: Media and Advertising
Reports to: Editor
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A News Editor runs the newsroom desk at a newspaper, news channel or digital news outlet. They decide which stories to cover, assign reporters, edit copy for accuracy, balance and law, and sign off what gets published or aired. The role manages sub-editors and reporters and owns the credibility of the coverage. A good one keeps the outlet fast on breaking news, clean on facts and free of legal trouble, while holding the house style and deadlines every single day.
Key responsibilities
- Plan daily and weekly coverage, decide which stories to pursue, and assign reporters and photographers to each.
- Edit reporters' copy for accuracy, balance, clarity and legal risk, and check facts before anything is published or aired.
- Take calls on breaking news, reorder the bulletin or front page, and get verified updates out quickly.
- Write and approve headlines, standfirsts and captions in the outlet's style, and hold the house style across the desk.
- Check that every story is sourced, defamation is avoided, and sensitive coverage follows editorial and legal guidelines.
- Manage the desk roster so the newsroom is staffed across morning, evening and night shifts.
- Guide sub-editors and reporters, give feedback on their copy, and train them on sourcing and ethics.
- Coordinate with the output, digital and social teams so stories reach print, broadcast and online on time.
- Handle corrections, complaints and right-of-reply requests, and decide when a story needs a clarification.
- Track competitors and news wires, and make sure the outlet does not miss a major story.
Requirements
- Bachelor's or master's degree in journalism or mass communication
- Strong command of English or the outlet's language
- A proven newsroom reporting or sub-editing record
- 8 to 12 years in journalism, with 3 or more years on the news desk or in editing
KRAs and KPIs for a News Editor
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Accuracy | Factual corrections kept below a set number a month, with zero legal notices from published errors |
| Breaking news speed | Verified breaking stories published within the desk's target time of the event |
| Deadline discipline | Edition or bulletin closed on time on at least 98 percent of days |
| Coverage quality | Planned stories delivered and no major story in the beat missed against competitors |
| Editorial standards | Every published story sourced and legally checked, with no upheld complaint of bias or defamation |
| Team development | Sub-editors and reporters meet copy quality standards, measured on edits needed per story |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Content management system, InDesign or broadcast rundown software, News wire feeds, Social monitoring tools, MS Office.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Editor, Resident Editor
Interview questions for a News Editor
- A big story breaks 20 minutes before deadline and it is not fully confirmed. What do you do?
- How do you check a story for defamation risk before you clear it for publication?
- Walk me through how you would plan a day's coverage on a major election result.
- A reporter files a strong story with one shaky source. How do you handle it?
- How do you keep the desk staffed and calm across morning, evening and night shifts?
- Tell me about a correction you had to run. How did you handle it?
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What does a news editor do?
A news editor runs the news desk. They decide which stories to cover, assign reporters, edit copy for accuracy, balance and legal risk, write and approve headlines, and sign off what gets published or aired. They manage the desk roster and sub-editors and own the credibility and timeliness of the coverage.
What is the difference between a news editor and a sub-editor?
A sub-editor checks and polishes copy, writes headlines and lays out pages under guidance. A news editor decides the coverage, assigns stories, makes the final call on what runs, manages the desk and carries responsibility for accuracy and law. The news editor is senior and leads the sub-editors.
What qualifications do you need to become a news editor?
Most news editors in India hold a degree in journalism or mass communication and have eight or more years of reporting and sub-editing behind them. What matters most is sharp news judgement, a clean record on facts and law, and proven ability to lead a desk under deadline pressure.