| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Media and Advertising |
| Level | Entry level |
| Reports to | Chief Sub Editor |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | Fresher or up to 3 years in sub-editing or content |
Sub Editor job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Sub Editor
Department: Media and Advertising
Reports to: Chief Sub Editor
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Sub Editor checks, corrects and prepares reporters' copy for publication. They fix grammar, facts and structure, cut copy to fit, write headlines, captions and standfirsts, and lay out pages or format stories in the CMS. The role works on the desk under a news or chief sub editor. A good one catches errors and legal risks others miss, writes headlines that pull readers in, holds the house style, and turns raw copy into clean, publishable stories fast, without changing the reporter's meaning.
Key responsibilities
- Edit reporters' copy for grammar, spelling, style, structure and clarity.
- Check facts, names, figures and quotes, and flag anything that looks wrong.
- Cut or expand copy to fit the space or slot without losing the story.
- Write headlines, subheads, captions and standfirsts in the house style.
- Watch for defamation, bias and legal risk, and raise it with the desk.
- Lay out pages or format stories in the content management system.
- Select and crop photos and add captions for each story.
- Keep to the house style guide and update entries as needed.
- Meet edition and bulletin deadlines under time pressure every shift.
- Coordinate with reporters and the desk to clarify or complete a story.
Requirements
- Bachelor's or master's degree in journalism, English or mass communication
- Strong command of the outlet's language
- An editing test is usually part of hiring
- Fresher or up to 3 years in sub-editing or content
KRAs and KPIs for a Sub 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 |
|---|---|
| Copy accuracy | Edited stories free of grammar, fact and style errors, checked on a sample |
| Headline quality | Headlines clear, accurate and in style on most stories |
| Deadline discipline | Assigned pages or stories closed on time on most days |
| Legal safety | Zero legal or defamation issues slipping through from edited copy |
| Style consistency | House style applied consistently across edited stories |
| Throughput | Handle the assigned volume of copy per shift without a quality drop |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Content management system, InDesign or QuarkXPress, Style guide, Dictionary and reference tools, News wire feeds.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Chief Sub Editor, News Editor
Interview questions for a Sub Editor
- Edit this paragraph for me and explain your changes.
- Write two headlines for this story, one straight and one catchy.
- How do you cut a 600-word story to 400 without losing the point?
- How do you spot a possible defamation risk in a story?
- How do you keep house style consistent when copy comes from many reporters?
- How do you work fast on the desk without missing errors?
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What does a sub-editor do?
A sub-editor checks and prepares reporters' copy for publication. They fix grammar, facts and structure, cut copy to fit, write headlines, captions and standfirsts, and lay out pages or format stories in the CMS. They catch errors and legal risks, hold the house style, and work to tight edition or bulletin deadlines.
What is the difference between a sub-editor and a copy editor?
In news, a sub-editor edits copy, writes headlines and lays out pages, often under deadline for a specific edition. A copy editor, a term more common in publishing and content, focuses on correcting and polishing text. The work overlaps, but sub-editing includes headlines, layout and news judgement on the desk.
What skills does a sub-editor need?
A sub-editor needs sharp grammar and language, strong fact-checking, headline writing, and knowledge of house style and basic media law. Speed under deadline is essential, since the desk works to fixed edition times. A good eye for detail and the discipline to catch what a reporter missed set a strong sub-editor apart.