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The differences between assignment editors and news reporters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an assignment editor, becoming a news reporter takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an assignment editor has an average salary of $48,582, which is higher than the $41,481 average annual salary of a news reporter.
The top three skills for an assignment editor include twitter, assignment desk and phone calls. The most important skills for a news reporter are digital marketing, local community, and facebook.
| Assignment Editor | News Reporter | |
| Yearly salary | $48,582 | $41,481 |
| Hourly rate | $23.36 | $19.94 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -10% |
| Number of jobs | 11,919 | 11,609 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 85% | Bachelor's Degree, 83% |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
An assignment editor is responsible for handling and delegating tasks to news staff, identifying news sources, and developing accurate and efficient news articles for media and publishing companies. Assignment editors monitor situations for the public's awareness, requiring them to work at the office and conduct field investigations alternately. They also manage the scope and limitation of news coverage, finalizing scripts for television airings, and ensuring that all details are factual-based. An assignment editor should be highly communicative and organizational, as well as attentive, having the ability to finish newsworthy stories within strict deadlines.
News Reporters collect and analyze facts about newsworthy events through interview, investigation, or observation. They carry cameras and take photos and video footage of objects or places of potential significance.
Assignment editors and news reporters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assignment Editor | News Reporter | |
| Average salary | $48,582 | $41,481 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $74,000 | Between $26,000 And $64,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New York | New York |
| Best paying company | The Washington Post | The Monitor Group |
| Best paying industry | Media | Media |
There are a few differences between an assignment editor and a news reporter in terms of educational background:
| Assignment Editor | News Reporter | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 85% | Bachelor's Degree, 83% |
| Most common major | Communication | Journalism |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between assignment editors' and news reporters' demographics:
| Assignment Editor | News Reporter | |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.9% Female, 51.1% | Male, 45.0% Female, 55.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.6% Asian, 6.3% White, 76.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 9.6% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 10% |