Broadcast news editor

Broadcast news editors decide which news stories will be covered during the news. They assign journalists to each item. Broadcast news editors also determine the length of coverage for each news item and where it will be featured during the broadcast.

The following job titles also refer to broadcast news editor:

TV news editor
news director
night news editor
radio editor
tv news director
radio reporter
television news editor
international news director
television news director
radio journalist
news editor
radio news editor
digital news editor

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as broadcast news editor. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Broadcast news editor is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to broadcast news editor.

magazine editor
editor-in-chief
news anchor
picture editor
sports journalist

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of broadcast news editor. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of broadcast news editor with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of broadcast news editor.

Editorial standards: The guidelines on how to deal with and report on privacy, children, and death according to impartiality, and other standards.
Multimedia systems: The methods, procedures and techniques pertaining to the operation of multimedia systems, usually a combination of software and hardware, presenting various types of media such as video and audio.
Spelling: The rules concerning the way words are spelled.
Grammar: The set of structural rules governing the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language.
Press law: The laws concerning the licensing of books and the freedom of expression in all products of the media.
Copyright legislation: Legislation describing the protection of the rights of original authors over their work, and how others can use it.

These skills are necessary for the role of broadcast news editor.

Participate in editorial meetings: Participate in meetings with fellow editors and journalists to discuss possible topics and to divide the tasks and workload.
Manage staff: Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.
Work closely with news teams: Work closely with news teams, photographers and editors.
Consult information sources: Consult relevant information sources to find inspiration, to educate yourself on certain topics and to acquire background information.
Meet deadlines: Ensure operative processes are finished at a previously agreed-upon time.
Delegate activities: Delegate activities and tasks to others according to the ability, level of preparation, competence and legal scope of practice. Make sure that people understand what they should do and when they should do it.
Develop professional network: Reach out to and meet up with people in a professional context. Find common ground and use your contacts for mutual benefit. Keep track of the people in your personal professional network and stay up to date on their activities.
Follow ethical code of conduct of journalists: Follow the ethical code of conduct of journalists, such as freedom of speech, right of reply, being objective, and other rules.
Apply organisational techniques: Employ a set of organisational techniques and procedures which facilitate the achievement of the goals set. Use these resources efficiently and sustainably, and show flexibility when required.
Create editorial board: Create the outline for each publication and news broadcast. Determine the events that will be covered and the length of these articles and stories.
Build contacts to maintain news flow: Build contacts to maintain a flow of news, for example, police and emergency services, local council, community groups, health trusts, press officers from a variety of organisations, the general public, etc.
Check stories: Seek out and investigate stories via your contacts, press releases and other media.
Follow the news: Follow current events in politics, economics, social communities, cultural sectors, internationally, and in sports.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of broadcast news editor. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Photography: Art and practice of creating aesthetically appealing images by recording light or electromagnetic radiation.
Digital compositing: The process and software for digitally assembling multiple images to make one, final image.
Graphic design: The techniques to create a visual representation of ideas and messages.
Motion graphics: The techniques and software for creating the illusion of motion such as keyframing, Adobe After Effects, and Nuke.
File-based workflow: The recording of moving images without using tape, but by storing these digital videos on optical disks, hard drives, and other digital storage devices.
Audio editing software: The various software for editing and generating audio, such as Adobe Audition, Soundforge, and Power Sound Editor.
Audiovisual equipment: The characteristics and usage of different tools that stimulate the sight and audio senses.
Newsletter analysis: The study of newsletters in order to determine coverage and usefulness of newsletter.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of broadcast news editor. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Manage budgets: Plan, monitor and report on the budget.
Create online news content: Create and upload news content for e.g. websites, blogs and social media.
Put uncut recordings into computer: Put uncut footage and sound into files on the computer.
Check correctness of information: Check if the information contains factual errors, is reliable, and has news value.
Adapt to changing situations: Change approach to situations based on unexpected and sudden changes in people’s needs and mood or in trends; shift strategies, improvise and naturally adapt to those circumstances.
Perform video editing: Rearrange and edit video footage in the course of the post-production process. Edit the footage using a variety of sofware, tools, and techniques such as colour correction and effects, speed effects, and audio enhancing.
Proofread text: Read a text thoroughly, search for, review and correct errors to ensure content is valid for publishing.
Synchronise sound with images: Synchronise recorded sound with footage.
Apply grammar and spelling rules: Apply the rules of spelling and grammar and ensure consistency throughout texts.
Edit digital moving images: Use specialised software to edit video images for use in an artistic production.
Write headlines: Write” titles to accompany news articles. Make sure they are to the point and inviting.
Edit recorded sound: Edit audio footage using a variety of sofware, tools, and techniques such as crossfading, speed effects, and removing unwanted noises.
Cut raw footage digitally: Digitally cut video footage to put together the sequence of the film and decide what is usable.
Write to a deadline: Schedule and respect tight deadlines, especially for theatre, screen and radio projects.

2642 – Journalists

 

 

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References

1. Broadcast news editor – ESCO