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Anchor vs production editor

The differences between anchors and production editors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an anchor, becoming a production editor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an anchor has an average salary of $70,715, which is higher than the $53,275 average annual salary of a production editor.

The top three skills for an anchor include news stories, story development and facebook. The most important skills for a production editor are proofreading, editorial production, and production process.

Anchor vs production editor overview

AnchorProduction Editor
Yearly salary$70,715$53,275
Hourly rate$34.00$25.61
Growth rate-10%-5%
Number of jobs2,98662,877
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 82%
Average age4044
Years of experience24

What does an anchor do?

A news anchor is a journalist who informs the public through reports of events and news stories. News anchors educate the public about the world, local, and national events. They interact with the reporters while they are in the air. Their job includes gathering, verifying, and analyzing data from different sources. They produce news and coordinate reports. Skills necessary for this job include verbal communication, the ability to improvise, collaboration, and reading comprehension.

What does a production editor do?

A production editor is responsible for checking publication materials before printing and distribution to ensure error-free and accurate content. Production editors must have excellent writing communication skills to perform editing and proofreading of materials efficiently, following strict requirements of publication deadlines. They also verify the resources of content, as well as identifying highly requested feature opportunities by coordinating with writers and other industry personalities. A production editor negotiates contract offers for writers, provides feedback reviews, and facilitates brainstorming sessions.

Anchor vs production editor salary

Anchors and production editors have different pay scales, as shown below.

AnchorProduction Editor
Average salary$70,715$53,275
Salary rangeBetween $41,000 And $119,000Between $41,000 And $68,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYHartford, CT
Highest paying stateNew YorkConnecticut
Best paying companyThe Walt Disney CompanyRobert A.M. Stern Architects
Best paying industry-Media

Differences between anchor and production editor education

There are a few differences between an anchor and a production editor in terms of educational background:

AnchorProduction Editor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 82%
Most common majorJournalismEnglish
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyNorthwestern University

Anchor vs production editor demographics

Here are the differences between anchors' and production editors' demographics:

AnchorProduction Editor
Average age4044
Gender ratioMale, 55.9% Female, 44.1%Male, 41.6% Female, 58.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 9.5% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 7.2% White, 76.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%12%

Differences between anchor and production editor duties and responsibilities

Anchor example responsibilities.

  • Read off teleprompter and interact with co-anchor.
  • Write and update KOTA's website and Facebook page.
  • Serve as primetime anchor and reporter for local ABC affiliate.
  • Co-Anchore the 6 p.m. news at the ABC affiliate in Alaska.
  • Fabricate steel clips and anchoring points, assemble aluminum window frames.
  • Film basketball games and edit clips for analysis on the show.
  • Show more

Production editor example responsibilities.

  • Manage integration and implementation of site search and train staff on strategic SEO and web best practices.
  • Manage research and identification of all clips and pictures used in the documentary for the purpose of credit and compensation.
  • Typeset editorial content and manage paste-up board production.
  • Boost usability by managing content migration to iApps, leading maintenance & data/functionality QA.
  • Assume full editorial responsibility when editor are unavailable, including managing social media accounts and assigning content to freelancers and photographers.
  • Update online versions of books using UNIX, HTML, and XML technologies.
  • Show more

Anchor vs production editor skills

Common anchor skills
  • News Stories, 21%
  • Story Development, 7%
  • Facebook, 6%
  • Twitter, 5%
  • Local News, 5%
  • News Coverage, 5%
Common production editor skills
  • Proofreading, 15%
  • Editorial Production, 9%
  • Production Process, 9%
  • Production Schedules, 5%
  • Fiction, 4%
  • Adobe Indesign, 4%

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