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Desk editor skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted experts
Jeff Rice Ph.D.,
Thomas Reynolds
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical desk editor skills. We ranked the top skills for desk editors based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 12.5% of desk editor resumes contained assignment desk as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a desk editor needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 desk editor skills for your resume and career

1. Assignment Desk

The assignment desk is the powerhouse of every newsroom or news agency where reporters and camera crews are assigned certain locations where news can be gotten. They are also assigned newsworthy information and the desk serves as the melting pot of activities in the newsroom. The assignment desk monitors activities across the country keeps an eye for breaking news and direct reporters to where it's happening.

Here's how desk editors use assignment desk:
  • Web producer and assignment desk editor responsible for identifying on-the-spot breaking news.
  • Assist in finding stories, doing research and tracking story ideas in assignment desk computer with emphasis on key brand points.

2. News Stories

News Story is a term that is quite self-explanatory as it refers to all the information that is recorded either in writing or as an interview and aims to inform the public about any particular matter, event, idea or mishap. A news story can be very short as well lengthy depending on the type and quantity of content and consist of relevant facts and figures.

Here's how desk editors use news stories:
  • Covered featured pieces over art, news stories, government and student government and daily events happening on the campus.
  • Conducted daily meetings with managers and producers to effectively ensure that top news stories were being covered daily.

3. Facebook

Here's how desk editors use facebook:
  • Maintained and moderated Airman magazine's Facebook page, which is the official magazine of the U.S. Air Force.
  • Managed Double Duty's Facebook fan page by posting updates and providing feedback to fans.

4. Twitter

Here's how desk editors use twitter:
  • Manage Twitter presence including writing and scheduling sponsored Tweets and interacting with the community by answering questions and offering encouragement.
  • Create and maintain breaking news feed linked to Facebook/Twitter and Campus television channel to increase information travel speed and visibility

5. News Coverage

Here's how desk editors use news coverage:
  • Managed and coordinated weekend news coverage with reporters, photographers and producers.
  • Coordinated news coverage with language service broadcasters at editorial meetings.

6. Phone Calls

Phone calls are a wireless or wired connection made over a telephone or a mobile phone between two people. Two parties are involved in a phone call, the caller and the receiver. A caller dials the number of the one he wants to call, and the recipient hears a bell or a tune to which he picks up the call. The call establishes a connection between them through which they can communicate. The voice is converted into signals and is transmitted through wired or wireless technology.

Here's how desk editors use phone calls:
  • Monitor wire services, mail, email, phone calls, radios, scanners and contacts in search for story ideas.
  • Find news leads through various mediums such as social media, internet, phone calls, police scanners, etc.

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7. Local News

Here's how desk editors use local news:
  • Accepted interns from Indiana State University to help with local news and to help the paper keep within its budget.
  • Researched and assigned stories to producers and reporters and covered local news for the morning shift of the news team

8. Proofreading

Here's how desk editors use proofreading:
  • Copy Desk Editor handling section page layout and final proofreading duties.
  • Leverage meticulous attention to detail in technical editing and proofreading all content from project inception to completion.

9. FTP

Here's how desk editors use ftp:
  • Experience includes inbound and outbound news gathering via phone, monitoring scanners, sending and receiving video through feeds and FTP.
  • Distributed content via ftp sites and web-based file sharing servers.

10. Newsgathering

Newsgathering refers to the hectic searching for information on a hot topic or a noteworthy event that recently took place. News reporters, writers, or editors typically do newsgathering for a public broadcast or a news site. The time frame for researching the topic is usually very slim; therefore, the task requires a quick-minded and influential person. The reporter must investigate the job instantly and be in the right place at the right time.

Here's how desk editors use newsgathering:
  • Provided research and fact checking services to assist platform producers with newsgathering.
  • Trained teams on the International desk in news systems and newsgathering.

11. News Content

Here's how desk editors use news content:
  • Correct application of AP and in-house styles to news content.
  • Gathered news content and made editorial decisions.

12. News Reports

Here's how desk editors use news reports:
  • Provided editorial oversight for brokering news reports, video procurement and associated support.
  • Promoted to General Assignment Reporter; delivered live news reports and packages for all newscasts.

13. Press Releases

Here's how desk editors use press releases:
  • Served as the public relations point of contact for the station regarding press releases.
  • Maintained the daily news log, gathered key facts and reviewed incoming press releases.

14. Develop Story Ideas

Here's how desk editors use develop story ideas:
  • Receive and give assignments, evaluate news leads and news tips in order to develop story ideas.
  • Liaised heavily with producers and reporters to develop story ideas from concept to completion.

15. News Crews

Here's how desk editors use news crews:
  • Managed the logistics of news crews throughout the CA Central Valley including crew story assignment and scheduling of newsroom personnel.
  • Monitored police and fire scanners in order to dispatch news crews to various locations.
top-skills

What skills help Desk Editors find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on desk editor resumes?

Jeff Rice Ph.D.

Professor, Chair, The University of Kentucky

Research skills. Written and digital communication skills. Knowledge of digital tools - whether Adobe products, podcasting software, and such - but also how to use the tools to reach audiences, create sticky content, develop brands, send information, persuade, and inform. It's one thing to know how to create a movie or poster or infographic or report or Instagram post; it's another thing to have the rhetorical and writing skills to properly use that tool to create information for a specific audience.

What desk editor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Thomas ReynoldsThomas Reynolds LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, University of Minnesota

Technical writing and communication can span many fields. However, there are specific fields that are especially open to technical communication, such as information technology and computer software (technical documentation, for example), as well as medical and health fields. Many of our graduates work for companies that involve computer technology, such as software companies and content management for web consulting firms. In addition, many of our graduates work in biomedical companies that require technical and global documentation of medical devices.

I can't say that I know of a sure bet, but places that deal with medical technology, healthcare, and related fields are probably going to need people well-trained to communicate specialized knowledge to a variety of audiences and in a variety of ways. Telemedicine seems to have gained a more permanent stronghold in the healthcare system, and I imagine that the various communication channels involved in this new way of practicing medicine will open opportunities for well-trained graduates, such as ours who are willing to be pioneers in this area.

What type of skills will young desk editors need?

Dr. Christina FisanickDr. Christina Fisanick LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor of English, California University of Pennsylvania

College graduates in 2021 and beyond, need all of the skills that English programs have to offer: critical thinking, effective communication, creativity, and flexibility. New hires need to be able to adapt to workplace changes quickly and with aplomb, which requires critical thinking and problem solving and the ability to communicate those solutions to a diverse audience clearly and effectively. Those skills are refined and practiced regularly in English programs.
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about desk editor

List of desk editor skills to add to your resume

Desk editor skills

The most important skills for a desk editor resume and required skills for a desk editor to have include:

  • Assignment Desk
  • News Stories
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • News Coverage
  • Phone Calls
  • Local News
  • Proofreading
  • FTP
  • Newsgathering
  • News Content
  • News Reports
  • Press Releases
  • Develop Story Ideas
  • News Crews
  • Feature Stories
  • News Management
  • News Gathering
  • News Desk
  • ABC
  • Proofread
  • Fire Scanners
  • News Events
  • Emmy
  • Live Shots
  • News Articles
  • Assignment Editors
  • Adobe Indesign
  • Station Website
  • Wire Services
  • ENPS
  • Editorial Content
  • Social Media Sites
  • News Tips
  • Copy Desk
  • Copy Editors
  • Editorials
  • Wire Copy
  • SEO
  • News Material
  • Local Events
  • International News
  • Clips
  • Staff Writers
  • Government Agencies

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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