News Editing

Overview

Course duration: 1 day.

This course sets out to help create vibrant, must-read feature sections and concentrates as much on developing ideas that the reader will be interested in as on turning turgid copy into printable material. The main areas covered are: scheduling, idea development, briefing, structure and editing, and dealing with journalists.

Is it right for me?

This course is designed for news editors with six months' experience.

What will I learn?

By the end of this practical course, you will be able to:

• Identify and reinforce the skills needed to manage the news cycle, from allocation through to the final page process and produce those vital "must read" stories for readers
• Know how to brief reporters and photographers to get the best stories and photographs and how to manage staff relations and expectations
• Improve news selection and editing skills and ensure that you stay on top of the news and way ahead of your rivals

What will it cover?

Introduction to the News Editor's Role

• The news editor as editor and manager
• Combining the two roles

Strategic News Editing Skills

• Planning the news cycle
• The role of the news meeting
• Briefing writers and photographers: how to get what you want

Get the Most from your Team

• Managing relationships with editors, production staff, freelancers
• Getting the most from your team
• Dealing effectively with problems

Deal with Stories and Journalists

• Editing a news piece effectively
• How to help reporters through rewrites
• Bringing news pieces together
• News judgement: placing news appropriately with balance
• Dealing with late breaking stories