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Writer and editor vs reporter

The differences between writer and editors and reporters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a writer and editor, becoming a reporter takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a writer and editor has an average salary of $61,482, which is higher than the $46,667 average annual salary of a reporter.

The top three skills for a writer and editor include web content, blog posts and press releases. The most important skills for a reporter are news stories, digital marketing, and facebook.

Writer and editor vs reporter overview

Writer And EditorReporter
Yearly salary$61,482$46,667
Hourly rate$29.56$22.44
Growth rate-5%-10%
Number of jobs14,86511,179
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Average age4440
Years of experience42

What does a writer and editor do?

Writing is not an easy task, so a Writer and an Editor must work together to deliver quality content. A writer's role is to gather information to create a structured written material that would serve its purpose, whether for recreational or informational. Moreover, it is the Editor's responsibility to oversee and examine what the Writer has produced. From this, the Editor will provide feedback, corrections or suggestions, and guidelines that the Writer can follow to improve the material.

What does a reporter do?

In journalism, a reporter is responsible for relaying truthful and reliable information to the public audience through various mediums such as print and media. A reporter must ensure to gather necessary and factual data that are supported by interviews and comments of those involved, remain unbiased in all aspects, produce a concise and comprehensive informational material within an allotted time, and efficiently coordinate with every staff. Furthermore, a reporter must remain professional at all times and adhere to the policies and regulations set by the company or network.

Writer and editor vs reporter salary

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

Writer And EditorReporter
Average salary$61,482$46,667
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $103,000Between $29,000 And $73,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCWashington, DC
Highest paying stateConnecticutNew Jersey
Best paying companyAppleCiti
Best paying industryInternetMedia

Differences between writer and editor and reporter education

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

Writer And EditorReporter
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Most common majorEnglishJournalism
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Writer and editor vs reporter demographics

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

Writer And EditorReporter
Average age4440
Gender ratioMale, 40.0% Female, 60.0%Male, 44.8% Female, 55.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 7.3% White, 76.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 9.7% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage12%10%

Differences between writer and editor and reporter duties and responsibilities

Writer and editor example responsibilities.

  • Update website daily, manage Facebook/Twitter/ Instagram accounts.
  • Create articles featuring campus faculty and students, as well as lifestyle tips, and opinion editorials.
  • Work closely with magazine's editor-in-chief to hash out design ideas and content.
  • Gain 9k twitter followers in four months, and create a consistent fan base.
  • Assign stories to writers, edit them with SEO in mind, then post to proprietary CMS.
  • Pitch, write, and publish full length book/news relate articles-Edit and format images, SEO, HTML formatting
  • Show more

Reporter example responsibilities.

  • Report to managing editor as member of editorial staff, contribute to newspaper editorials.
  • Edit and revise press releases and submissions; proofread large amount of copy.
  • Use social media (i.e Twitter, Facebook) to relay 'trouble-spots' to local drivers.
  • Cover NFL, MLB, NBA, NASCAR and general sports news events for as Dallas-based free-lance reporter.
  • Report and write for metro, arts, lifestyle, real estate, and regional sections of major daily newspaper.
  • Cover local government, environmental issues and write features in addition to photography and pagination for twice-weekly newspaper.
  • Show more

Writer and editor vs reporter skills

Common writer and editor skills
  • Web Content, 23%
  • Blog Posts, 8%
  • Press Releases, 8%
  • Writing Articles, 3%
  • Feature Stories, 3%
  • Photography, 3%
Common reporter skills
  • News Stories, 12%
  • Digital Marketing, 10%
  • Facebook, 6%
  • Twitter, 6%
  • Photography, 5%
  • Feature Stories, 4%

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