Post job

News reporter vs editor

The differences between news reporters and 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 an editor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an editor has an average salary of $52,107, 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 an editor are web content, video content, and SEO.

News reporter vs editor overview

News ReporterEditor
Yearly salary$41,481$52,107
Hourly rate$19.94$25.05
Growth rate-10%-5%
Number of jobs11,60915,115
Job satisfaction4-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 83%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
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 an editor do?

An editor is the one responsible for polishing and refining a story, article, and any material for publication in newspapers, magazines, books, or websites. Editors have the power to either accept or reject a material as they need to ensure that every manuscript which will be offered for publishing is at the best version as it can be. There are several types of editors, from copy editors, books to managing editors, but they have few skills in common, like strong writing skills, good judgment, and leadership abilities to help guide the whole editorial team. Most of them work in the office, but it is quite becoming more regular for them to work remotely.

News reporter vs editor salary

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

News ReporterEditor
Average salary$41,481$52,107
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $64,000Between $34,000 And $78,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew York
Best paying companyThe Monitor GroupMicrosoft
Best paying industryMediaTechnology

Differences between news reporter and editor education

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

News ReporterEditor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 83%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Most common majorJournalismEnglish
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyNorthwestern University

News reporter vs editor demographics

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

News ReporterEditor
Average age4044
Gender ratioMale, 45.0% Female, 55.0%Male, 46.4% Female, 53.6%
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, 3.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 7.3% White, 76.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%12%

Differences between news reporter and 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

Editor example responsibilities.

  • Manage content QC and Disney client QC of create content.
  • Manage campaign performance through data analysis and reporting, with actionable takeaways per designate KPI.
  • Manage and create newsletter archives for NASA: http: //www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/home/index.html
  • Manage business documentation for the department's strategic alignment SharePoint database.
  • Develop SEO strategies to increase profitability and manage social media to spread brand awareness and bolster readership.
  • Manage international man-made fiber market research/publishing company and supervise editorial content and sales of industry statistical journal.
  • Show more

News reporter vs editor skills

Common news reporter skills
  • Digital Marketing, 13%
  • Local Community, 10%
  • Facebook, 6%
  • Twitter, 6%
  • Develop Story Ideas, 5%
  • Instagram, 4%
Common editor skills
  • Web Content, 13%
  • Video Content, 9%
  • SEO, 6%
  • Facebook, 4%
  • Editor-In-Chief, 4%
  • Twitter, 3%

Browse arts, entertainment, sports, and media jobs