As a salaried employee, hours will vary, but a news editor must be able to work a minimum average of 25 hours per week. The news editor coordinates a staff of three to four beat reporters (sometimes including a senior reporter) to cover the news and features pertinent to their assigned beats, and will be specifically expected to:
Write a minimum of 25 inches of copy per weekWork with reporters to generate story ideas during weekly news desk meetingsCoordinate at least one enterprise story per reporter per monthLine edit stories prior to publication to identify problems, such as libel, inaccuracy, wordiness or lack of clarityAssist reporters in writing and improving their workBecome extremely familiar with the rules of Associated Press and Emerald styleEnsure that all sources in the assigned beat areas are regularly coveredCoordinate a minimum of two Podcasts weeklyKeep up with news on reporters’ beats and assign them stories, blog posts or Twitter alerts as necessaryIssue blog posts and/or Twitter alerts as necessaryBe available to edit stories at any time throughout the day as news breaks and stories are posted to the Web site (If news is breaking on a reporter’s beat but he or she is unavailable, the news editor should disseminate the news.)Coordinate with the graphics department to ensure as many stories as possible have a visual element with them by posting photo and graphic tip sheets, talking in person with the photographer or graphic artist and when appropriate, by sending reporters out with a cameraAdvise the editor in chief and managing editor on issues in assigned beat areasCommunicate to managing editor when stories fall through or coverage is changingMeet daily deadlines and ensure reporters meet daily deadlinesFill out news budgets at the beginning of the week and update dailyMonitor reporters for compliance of job dutiesAssist in the hiring of news reportersKeep regular office hoursAttend required staff meetings, and schedule and lead weekly desk meetings with reporters to discuss problems and plan coverageAttend week ahead meetings on Sundays and budget meetings at 3:30 p.m. Monday through ThursdayMonitor the news daily to keep abreast of all issues that need to be covered and see that no pertinent news is missedSet individual goals each term to improve journalistic skills and help others set goals each term to improve their journalistic skillsComplete additional tasks as assigned
Direct supervisor: Managing editor