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News reporter vs content editor

The differences between news reporters and content editors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a news reporter, becoming a content editor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a content editor has an average salary of $61,694, which is higher than the $41,481 average annual salary of a news reporter.

The top three skills for a news reporter include digital marketing, local community and facebook. The most important skills for a content editor are digital content, web content, and digital marketing.

News reporter vs content editor overview

News ReporterContent Editor
Yearly salary$41,481$61,694
Hourly rate$19.94$29.66
Growth rate-10%-5%
Number of jobs11,60918,586
Job satisfaction45
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 83%Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Average age4044
Years of experience24

What does a news reporter do?

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.

What does a content editor do?

A content editor is an individual who is responsible for proof-reading articles written by content writers and write blog posts to promote the products and services of an organization. Content editors are responsible for producing monthly newsletters and optimize written pieces to increase user engagement. They need to interact with the consumers with the purpose of sourcing feedback on the content's impact actively. Content editors must also conduct business research on current trends to give the company an edge over the competition.

News reporter vs content editor salary

News reporters and content editors have different pay scales, as shown below.

News ReporterContent Editor
Average salary$41,481$61,694
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $64,000Between $41,000 And $91,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYNew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew York
Best paying companyThe Monitor GroupApple
Best paying industryMediaTechnology

Differences between news reporter and content editor education

There are a few differences between a news reporter and a content editor in terms of educational background:

News ReporterContent Editor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 83%Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Most common majorJournalismEnglish
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyNorthwestern University

News reporter vs content editor demographics

Here are the differences between news reporters' and content editors' demographics:

News ReporterContent Editor
Average age4044
Gender ratioMale, 45.0% Female, 55.0%Male, 43.5% Female, 56.5%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 7.1% White, 76.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%12%

Differences between news reporter and content editor duties and responsibilities

News reporter example responsibilities.

  • Report to managing editor as member of editorial staff, contribute to newspaper editorials.
  • Conduct interviews, edit clips and stories, and announce stories/headlines on air.
  • Work with editors to deliver content in the appropriate style with an eye for SEO.
  • Operate digital recording equipment to film b-roll footage, interviews, and on camera reporting.
  • Drive online traffic through social networking, weaving SEO strategy into story copy, and frequent blogging.
  • Work independently gathering news stories, capturing audio sound clips for air, and writing news stories.
  • Show more

Content editor example responsibilities.

  • Work with W3C standardize CSS to achieve design goals.
  • Coordinate and manage a team of photographers who work on NBA games throughout the league.
  • Identify, create and manage QA projects to improve data consistency and accuracy using SQL to extract data.
  • Manage editorial department by editing and publishing daily content for website and daily e-newsletter.
  • Develop SEO strategies to increase profitability and manage social media to spread brand awareness and bolster readership.
  • Develop social media content for different outlets such as Facebook, Instagram, Youtube channel and the blog's webpage.
  • Show more

News reporter vs content editor skills

Common news reporter skills
  • Digital Marketing, 13%
  • Local Community, 10%
  • Facebook, 6%
  • Twitter, 6%
  • Develop Story Ideas, 5%
  • Instagram, 4%
Common content editor skills
  • Digital Content, 8%
  • Web Content, 7%
  • Digital Marketing, 4%
  • WordPress, 4%
  • Video Content, 4%
  • Content Marketing, 4%

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