What does an assignment editor do?
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.
Assignment editor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real assignment editor resumes:
- Manage all audio/video material logging, digitizing, and archiving.
- Manage incoming and outgoing video footage from CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, and affiliate stations.
- Manage the Facebook/Twitter social media pages for the station and interact with viewers for the purposes of research and community morale.
- Manage and create newsletter archives for NASA: http: //www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/home/index.html
- Experience includes inbound and outbound news gathering via phone, monitoring scanners, sending and receiving video through feeds and FTP.
- Assign the ENG and search for new histories and planning.
- Shoot and edit on XDCAM format to complete PKGs, VOSOTS, VOs and Nat PKGs on a daily basis.
- Operate studio/field HD cameras for GAC productions.
- Distribute content via ftp sites and web-base file sharing servers.
- Edit newscasts in studio and stories remotely using Edius editing system
- Supervise a staff of six reporters on the metro desk.
- Receive an Emmy nomination in 2011 for a 3-part news series.
- Collect various video clips from national ABC, CNN and regional news feeds.
- Edit stories, write headlines and proofread copy for website and print editions.
- Complete any and all photography work orders in preparation for deployments or promotions.
Assignment editor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Assignment Editors are proficient in Twitter, Assignment Desk, and Phone Calls. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Good judgment, and Writing skills.
We break down the percentage of Assignment Editors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Twitter, 12%
Monitored/updated social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
- Assignment Desk, 9%
Managed busy evening assignment desk.
- Phone Calls, 6%
Fielded phone calls and made a variety of contacts in law enforcement, emergency management, various organizations and businesses.
- News Management, 5%
Contacted news management in the event of significant breaking news that requires additional resources or would require interrupting regular programming.
- Local News, 5%
Created complete rundown of local newsworthy events and story ideas on a daily basis, as well as research enterprise stories.
- Government Agencies, 4%
Communicated and corresponded with many outside entities, including government agencies and representatives, community organizations, private businesses and citizens.
"twitter," "assignment desk," and "phone calls" are among the most common skills that assignment editors use at work. You can find even more assignment editor responsibilities below, including:
Detail oriented. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for an assignment editor to have is detail oriented. Their role and responsibilities require that "editors must be meticulous to ensure that material is error free and matches the style of a publication." Assignment editors often use detail oriented in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "compiled story ideas and arranged details for daily news coverage in addition to long-term projects. "
Good judgment. Another essential skill to perform assignment editor duties is good judgment. Assignment editors responsibilities require that "editors decide whether certain stories are ethical and whether there is enough evidence to publish them." Assignment editors also use good judgment in their role according to a real resume snippet: "applied editorial judgment for breaking news coverage, including mobilization of international crews. "
Writing skills. This is an important skill for assignment editors to perform their duties. For an example of how assignment editor responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "editors ensure that all written content has correct grammar, punctuation, and syntax." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of an assignment editor: "assisted tv reporters with writing of their news stories. ".
Interpersonal skills. A big part of what assignment editors do relies on "interpersonal skills." You can see how essential it is to assignment editor responsibilities because "in working with writers, editors must have tact and the ability to guide and encourage them in their work." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical assignment editor tasks: "coordinated interpersonal relations between editorial staff, artists, writers and judges. "
Creativity. A commonly-found skill in assignment editor job descriptions, "creativity" is essential to what assignment editors do. Assignment editor responsibilities rely on this skill because "editors must be imaginative, curious, and knowledgeable in a broad range of topics." You can also see how assignment editor duties rely on creativity in this resume example: "provide creative editing and input into news stories. "
The three companies that hire the most assignment editors are:
- Sinclair Broadcast Group21 assignment editors jobs
- Nexstar Media Group16 assignment editors jobs
- Paramount10 assignment editors jobs
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Compare different assignment editors
Assignment editor vs. Journalist
A journalist is responsible for creating written correspondence, covering various subjects as the management requires. This task involves a lot of research investigations, conducting interviews, and gathering reliable sources to verify the authenticity of data before releasing the articles on news portals and other social platforms. Journalists should have excellent communication skills, both written and oral, conveying information to the target audience with high accuracy and efficiency. They analyze opinions and testimonies, create eye-catching headlines, and ensure adherence to deadlines.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an assignment editor are more likely to require skills like "assignment desk," "phone calls," "news management," and "government agencies." On the other hand, a job as a journalist requires skills like "excellent interpersonal," "multimedia," "local community," and "mobile phones." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Journalists tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $64,488. In contrast, assignment editors make the biggest average salary, $52,493, in the media industry.The education levels that journalists earn slightly differ from assignment editors. In particular, journalists are 4.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an assignment editor. Additionally, they're 0.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Assignment editor vs. Reporter
In journalism, a reporter is responsible for relaying truthful and reliable information to the public audience through various mediums such as print and media. A reporter must ensure to gather necessary and factual data that are supported by interviews and comments of those involved, remain unbiased in all aspects, produce a concise and comprehensive informational material within an allotted time, and efficiently coordinate with every staff. Furthermore, a reporter must remain professional at all times and adhere to the policies and regulations set by the company or network.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that assignment editor responsibilities requires skills like "assignment desk," "phone calls," "news management," and "government agencies." But a reporter might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "digital marketing," "facebook," "photography," and "instagram."
Reporters earn a lower average salary than assignment editors. But reporters earn the highest pay in the media industry, with an average salary of $48,200. Additionally, assignment editors earn the highest salaries in the media with average pay of $52,493 annually.In general, reporters achieve similar levels of education than assignment editors. They're 0.6% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Assignment editor vs. Writer
A writer can have different responsibilities depending on which industry or line of work they are involved. There are writers assigned in a corporate setting, some in journalism, while there are also writers in the entertainment Industry. Although they focus on varying types of writing, they all function to inform. Among the typical duties of writers involve producing content within allotted time or deadline, gather information and verify to ensure accuracy, proofread, and undergo review and revisions.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an assignment editor is likely to be skilled in "assignment desk," "phone calls," "news management," and "local news," while a typical writer is skilled in "work ethic," "strong work ethic," "basic math," and "customer service."
Writers typically earn similar educational levels compared to assignment editors. Specifically, they're 3.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Assignment editor vs. News reporter
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.
Types of assignment editor
Updated January 8, 2025
