Fairfield Institute of Management and Technology

Topic: Functions and Duties of a Sub-Editor

Subject Name:

Print Journalism

Subject Code: 102

Submitted to: Submitted by:

Ms. Anupriya Anil Ananya Talukdar
00551402421
BJMC 2nd Semester
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my special thanks

and gratitude to my teacher Ms. Anupriya
Anil ma’am whose help, stimulating
suggestions and encouragement helped me
finish this assignment. I would also like to
thank my parents and friends for their
invaluable contribution towards the
completion of this assignment.

Any omission in this brief acknowledgment

does not mean lack of gratitude.
 INDEX

Content Page Number

Introduction 04

Qualities of a 05-07
Sub-editor
Functions of a 08-10
Sub-editor
Conclusion 11

Bibliography 12
Who is a Sub-Editor : Introduction

Sub-Editor is a person who collects reports from

reporters and prepares the report to publish or
broadcast. He also corrects and checks articles in
a newspaper before they are printed. A big
newspaper or magazine would employ several
news/features/sports editors assign work and edit
a reporter/writers material for accuracy, content,
grammar and style.
 Qualities of a Sub-Editor

1. News Sense
News sense is the basic quality of newsmen. He
has to have news sense or nose for news to
distinguish news from non-news. He is the first
reader of a reporter’s copy and if the reporter has
made a mistake he has to correct it. A bad copy
may have the most important element of the story
buried in the fourth paragraph. It will be left to the
sub-editor’s nose for news to bring that to the first
paragraph. He should be able to compare various
news values and decide where to begin his story
and should not miss important details.

2. Clarity
A Sub-Editor should have clarity of mind and Z
expression.Only clarity of mind is not enough
unless it is accompanied by clarity of expression.
Sub-Editor is the judge of clarity of the copy. A
good sub-editor will never allow a copy escape
him unless the meaning is crystal clear.
 3. Alertness
A sub-editor should always be alert while dealing
with his subjects. Lack of alertness can be seen by
readers in the morning for he will be leaving or
introducing mistakes for everybody to see.

4. Speed
A person who cannot work fast cannot be a good
sub-editor. He has to do swiftly whatever is
required of him for a lot more copies are waiting
for him. He should think fast, decide fast and write
or type fast to meet the deadlines.

5. Curiosity
Sub-editors should have an insatiable curiosity.
Reporters and Sub-editors should read as much as
possible to constantly improve their awareness
level.

6. Bi-focal minded
Sub-editor must be bi-focal minded meaning that
he must observe a fact in two ways one from very
close and other far from sight. He must have the
ability to catch any mistake in a story.
 7. Objectivity
Sub-editor should aim at objectivity while dealing
with a story. They shouldn’t allow their personal
bias or ideas to creep into a story. They shouldn’t
take sides but try to cover all the different
viewpoints to achieve balance in the story.

8. Skepticism
A Sub-editor should not take anything for granted.
He should have an unwavering posture of doubt
until faced with undeniable proof.

9. Accuracy
A sub-editor should strive for accuracy. He should
check and re-check his facts till he is satisfied that
he has them accurate. When there’s a doubt he
should leave it out – golden rule of journalism. It’s
better not to say something than to say it wrong.

10.Credibility
A report should be credible. Before writing or
editing, the sub-editor should cross check the facts
and figures. It is always better to revise the copy
before sending it to publish or broadcast.
 Functions of a Sub-Editor

1.Copy edit and development

Sub-editor edits copy, written by reporters to remove
spelling mistakes and grammatical errors then
construct a developed story. So the first job of a sub-
editor is to see that a report is in good language and
there are no mistakes.

2. Write a headline
The sub-editor has to find a good headline for the
story and writing headlines that capture the essence
of the story or are amusing. The headline should be
sharp, attractive, crisp and convey the spirit of the
story so as to compel the reader to stop and read the
whole story.

3. Follow In house policy

Sub editors are responsible for overseeing the
content, accuracy, layout and design of a newspaper
or a magazine and make sure they are keeping with
house style. The media house contains their own
goals, rules and regulations and every media follows
their own news, advertisement and page makeup
policy so sub-editor should fulfill the in house
policy.

4. Write Caption
When you see a photograph in a newspaper you look
for what is written under it. This writing under a
photo is called caption. When photographers file
photos it is the job of the sub-editor to write
appropriate captions.

5. Condensation
Condensation is a task of sub-editors. Reporters
generally file lengthy stories. Only the sub-editor
will be able to know about the availability of space
in the newspaper. If the full story written by a
correspondent will not squeeze into the space
available, it is the job of the sub-editor to condense
it by rewriting or editing.

6. Proof Reading
Proofreading complete pages provided by other sub-
editors using the main basic proofreading symbols.
Checking facts and stories to ensure they are
accurate, adhere to copyright laws, are not libelous
or go against publication’s policy.

7. Page Makeup/Layout of Pages

Page layout or page makeup is an art. Each
newspaper has a different layout though all have
eight columns in each page. Every sub-editor has to
learn the typefaces available in the paper and the
layout pattern adopted. They are also responsible
for page making.

8. Re-write news story

Rewriting material needs that it flows or reads
better and adheres to the house style of particular
publication. Ensuring that a story fits a particular
word count by cutting or expanding materials as
necessary. If the sub-editor thinks that the story
needs to add some information or develop the story
then he should re-write the story.
 Conclusion

Press sub-editors are journalists or designers

responsible for overseeing the content,
accuracy, layout and design of newspaper
and magazine articles and making sure that
they are in keeping with house style.
 Bibliography

Study material/class notes

https://scribd.com/