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What does a news producer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
Quoted expert
Johnathan Paul
What does a news producer do

A News Producer supervises the editorial content of the news to ensure that news stories are produced and presented to the public in a quality manner. They collaborate with the news director to select and prioritize content to make the broadcast more attractive.

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News producer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real news producer resumes:

  • Manage day-to-day completion activities including project planning and QA testing.
  • Produce daily local traffic reports for distribution to local radio and TV stations.
  • Produce TV documentaries that feature issues relate to sociology, psychology, and advertising.
  • Post news articles and web polls to WRGB s website, and update Facebook page.
  • Produce live and record newscasts on ABC and NBC, cut and edit video for newscasts.
  • Post stories and shows to WBAA website and promote through on-air announcements, Facebook posts, and tweets.
  • Produce broadcast-ready radio stories on tight deadlines for multiple hourly newscasts over a range of ABC radio outlets across Australia.
  • Gain invaluable experience shooting nearly every NCAA competitive sport.
  • Increase viewership by strategically socializing content via networking sites and SEO expertise.
  • Design and produce high-level PowerPoint presentations for large-scale corporate events and key stand-alone projects.
  • Anchor online Spanish newscast: https: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=i1iCAQqwWU0
  • Establish YouTube site on council webpage for airing channel programming.
  • Develop a system for producing topicals in HD
  • Fill daily logs for target promotions, syndicate content and PSAs.
  • Produce and edit news, episodic promos, PSAs and sales videos.

News producer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 10% of News Producers are proficient in Assignment Desk, Control Room, and Story Development. They’re also known for soft skills such as Research skills, Speaking skills, and Writing skills.

We break down the percentage of News Producers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Assignment Desk, 10%

    Collaborated with executive producer, assignment desk and hundreds of CNN affiliates to get breaking news and live events to air

  • Control Room, 9%

    Mentor, motivate and clearly communicate with talent and control room team during live newscast and Breaking News.

  • Story Development, 8%

    Assist in story development and placement Write scripts and select graphics, both content and context Produce daily newscasts

  • Social Media Sites, 8%

    Aided in production of news and engagement content for social media sites, including interaction with users and user content.

  • Local News, 6%

    Assembled daily local newscast utilizing local, national and international stories.

  • ABC, 6%

    Lead produced 5:30pm and 10pm newscasts (including weekends) at this ABC affiliate.

Most news producers use their skills in "assignment desk," "control room," and "story development" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential news producer responsibilities here:

Creativity. A big part of what news producers do relies on "creativity." You can see how essential it is to news producer responsibilities because "because a script may be interpreted in different ways, directors must decide on their approach and on how to represent the script’s ideas for the production." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical news producer tasks: "produced creative news content including reporting, writing, editing and shooting news coverage. "

Leadership skills. A commonly-found skill in news producer job descriptions, "leadership skills" is essential to what news producers do. News producer responsibilities rely on this skill because "directors instruct actors and help them portray their characters in a believable manner." You can also see how news producer duties rely on leadership skills in this resume example: "selected and wrote all content and teases while taking leadership role in editorial process of daily news coverage. "

All news producer skills

The three companies that hire the most news producers are:

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Compare different news producers

News producer vs. Camera operator

A camera operator is responsible for operating various technical equipment to support technical operations, such as media productions and live events. Camera operators must have extensive knowledge of different camera features to select the appropriate device and manage the production's overall visual presentation. They also deliver the perfect footage on different angles for easy editing techniques alongside the technical crews and director's supervision. A camera operator should be communicative, as well as having excellent time-management and multi-tasking skills to adhere to the demands of production and schedules.

If we compare the average news producer annual salary with that of a camera operator, we find that camera operators typically earn a $10,999 lower salary than news producers make annually.Even though news producers and camera operators are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require control room, abc, and live broadcasts in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a news producer are more likely to require skills like "assignment desk," "story development," "social media sites," and "local news." On the other hand, a job as a camera operator requires skills like "video production," "camera equipment," "camera operation," and "audio equipment." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Camera operators earn the highest salaries when working in the education industry, with an average yearly salary of $44,733. On the other hand, news producers are paid more in the professional industry with an average salary of $65,677.camera operators tend to reach similar levels of education than news producers. In fact, camera operators are 1.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

News producer vs. Photo editor

Photo Editors are employees in the creatives or marketing department of the company. They handle photos used by the company for its marketing collaterals, social media posts, or publishing. They also ensure that the photos are in line with the company's brand and image. Photo Editors may add items or elements to make the photo more eye-catching.

Photo editor positions earn higher pay than news producer roles. They earn a $8,560 higher salary than news producers per year.A few skills overlap for news producers and photo editors. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "facebook," "twitter," and "feature stories. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real news producer resumes. While news producer responsibilities can utilize skills like "assignment desk," "control room," "story development," and "social media sites," photo editors use skills like "adobe photoshop," "stock photography," "photo shoots," and "instagram."

Photo editors earn a higher average salary than news producers. But photo editors earn the highest pay in the professional industry, with an average salary of $68,080. Additionally, news producers earn the highest salaries in the professional with average pay of $65,677 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Photo editors tend to reach similar levels of education than news producers. In fact, they're 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for news producers in the next 3-5 years?

Johnathan PaulJohnathan Paul LinkedIn profile

Adjunct Professor, University of North Texas

We've slowly seen more and more companies in film, television, and video game development move a portion of their business to online and remote for the past ten years. However, with the global pandemic, we've seen those new models get pushed to the forefront in a concise amount of time. With that said, my classes have been integrating communication and project management apps into the classroom workflow and the core creative tools I use. So apps such as Zoom, Slack, Notion, Frame.io, Evercast, etc. are heavily used in my class, as students will now need to have a working knowledge of some or all of these applications once they move into the industry.

News producer vs. Freelance videographer/editor

A freelance videographer/editor is responsible for processing and editing video contents, usually on a project basis. Freelance videographer/editors create their footage using their shooting equipment, utilize various design and editing software, and finish the project based on the clients' specifications and deliverables. They should also have a good grasp of digital marketing to produce impactful videos to the target audience. A freelance videographer/editor must be detail-oriented and have excellent communication skills to coordinate with the production team for content plans and perform adjustments as needed.

An average freelance videographer/editor eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of news producers. The difference in salaries amounts to freelance videographer/editors earning a $6,127 lower average salary than news producers.By looking over several news producers and freelance videographer/editors resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "abc," "facebook," and "twitter." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from news producer resumes include skills like "assignment desk," "control room," "story development," and "social media sites," whereas a freelance videographer/editor is more likely to list skills in "training videos," "video content," "video production," and "camera operation. "

When it comes to education, freelance videographer/editors tend to earn similar degree levels compared to news producers. In fact, they're 1.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

News producer vs. Freelance video editor

A freelance video editor offers video editing services to individuals and businesses. Most freelance video editors manage their own time and work at their preferred places, some even working from home. Among their responsibilities include meeting with clients to identify their needs and preferences, negotiating contracts, gathering and editing clips, and completing projects within deadlines. There are also instances when they must shoot videos in adherence to the contract's terms. Moreover, a freelance video editor must establish positive relationships with clients to develop a strong client base.

Freelance video editors typically earn higher pay than news producers. On average, freelance video editors earn a $187 higher salary per year.While both news producers and freelance video editors complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like abc, facebook, and web content, the two careers vary in some skills.While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "assignment desk," "control room," "story development," and "social media sites" are skills that commonly show up on news producer resumes. On the other hand, freelance video editors use skills like training videos, video content, motion graphics, and adobe premiere pro on their resumes.The average resume of freelance video editors showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to news producers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 0.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.1%.

Types of news producer

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.

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