Daily Tasks

1. Prepare, rewrite and edit copy to improve readability, or supervise others who do this work.

2. Verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources.

3. Read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax.

4. Develop story or content ideas, considering reader or audience appeal.

5. Review and approve proofs submitted by composing room prior to publication production.

6. Supervise and coordinate work of reporters and other editors.

7. Plan the contents of publications according to the publication's style, editorial policy, and publishing requirements.

8. Read, evaluate and edit manuscripts or other materials submitted for publication and confer with authors regarding changes in content, style or organization, or publication.

9. Oversee publication production, including artwork, layout, computer typesetting, and printing, ensuring adherence to deadlines and budget requirements.

10. Make manuscript acceptance or revision recommendations to the publisher.

11. Assign topics, events and stories to individual writers or reporters for coverage.

12. Confer with management and editorial staff members regarding placement and emphasis of developing news stories. Meet frequently with artists, typesetters, layout personnel, marketing directors, and production managers to discuss projects and resolve problems.

13. Monitor news-gathering operations to ensure utilization of all news sources, such as press releases, telephone contacts, radio, television, wire services, and other reporters.

14. Select local, state, national, and international news items received from wire services, based on assessment of items' significance and interest value.

15. Interview and hire writers and reporters or negotiate contracts, royalties, and payments for authors or freelancers.

Key Knowledge Areas

English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Communications and Media — Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Computers and Electronics — Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Key skills

Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Writing — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Quality Control Analysis — Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Instructing — Teaching others how to do something.

Management of Personnel Resources — Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

Negotiation — Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences. Persuasion — Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.