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Story editor vs assistant editor

The differences between story editors and assistant editors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a story editor and an assistant editor. Additionally, a story editor has an average salary of $52,975, which is higher than the $52,284 average annual salary of an assistant editor.

The top three skills for a story editor include fiction, story development and ABC. The most important skills for an assistant editor are editorial content, video footage, and web content.

Story editor vs assistant editor overview

Story EditorAssistant Editor
Yearly salary$52,975$52,284
Hourly rate$25.47$25.14
Growth rate-5%-5%
Number of jobs11,4588,716
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 82%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does a story editor do?

An editor selects and edits the best news and stories to prepare them for publishing. Similarly, a story editor confers with their production chief to select writers and materials. Hiring, assigning, and supervising writers is also the responsibility of a story writer. They review the writers' work, read material, and assesses its potential development into scripts.

What does an assistant editor do?

An assistant editor is an individual responsible for assisting an editor-in-chief or editor-at-large of a newspaper, magazine, radio program, or website. Assistant editors hold meetings with staff and freelance writers to discuss new, fresh and original content for projects on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. They review assignments handed in by writers or reporters for sense, accuracy, readability, and content. Assistant editors must also utilize new media applications such as Twitter and Facebook to draw attention to an article or cause.

Story editor vs assistant editor salary

Story editors and assistant editors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Story EditorAssistant Editor
Average salary$52,975$52,284
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $86,000Between $34,000 And $78,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYHuntington, NY
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew York
Best paying companyThe New York Times CompanyApple
Best paying industryMediaMedia

Differences between story editor and assistant editor education

There are a few differences between a story editor and an assistant editor in terms of educational background:

Story EditorAssistant Editor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 82%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Most common majorPhotographyEnglish
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Story editor vs assistant editor demographics

Here are the differences between story editors' and assistant editors' demographics:

Story EditorAssistant Editor
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 53.7% Female, 46.3%Male, 45.9% Female, 54.1%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 7.0% White, 76.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between story editor and assistant editor duties and responsibilities

Story editor example responsibilities.

  • Communicate with transportation managers, administrators, equipment operators and others for fulfillment of copy to achieve editorial goals.
  • Maintain website content and Facebook page content for viewers.
  • Collaborate with editor-in-chief to shape editorial direction of this monthly lifestyle magazine for the Chicago/Lake Michigan region.
  • Read and copyedit manuscripts for publication

Assistant editor example responsibilities.

  • Lead bureau newsgathering in high-pressure, breaking news situations.
  • Manage the budget for all of VOA s primary newsgathering.
  • Produce e-newsletters, manage website content, write headlines and captions, utilize SEO and analyze digital traffic.
  • Communicate with transportation managers, administrators, equipment operators and others for fulfillment of copy to achieve editorial goals.
  • Ensure compliance with PRC and FDA guidelines.
  • Increase social media presence and traffic through Facebook and Instagram.
  • Show more

Story editor vs assistant editor skills

Common story editor skills
  • Fiction, 32%
  • Story Development, 20%
  • ABC, 15%
  • News Stories, 6%
  • String Outs, 6%
  • Documentaries, 5%
Common assistant editor skills
  • Editorial Content, 9%
  • Video Footage, 8%
  • Web Content, 5%
  • Media Management, 4%
  • Production Process, 4%
  • Twitter, 3%

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