Profession editor-in-chief

Editors-in-chief oversee the production of news stories for newspapers, magazines, journals and other media. They manage the day-to-day operations of a publication and make sure it is ready on time.

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Personality Type

• Artistic / Enterprising

Knowledge

• Editorial standards

  The guidelines on how to deal with and report on privacy, children, and death according to impartiality, and other standards.

• Copyright legislation

  Legislation describing the protection of the rights of original authors over their work, and how others can use it.

• Press law

  The laws concerning the licensing of books and the freedom of expression in all products of the media.

Skills

• Work closely with news teams

  Work closely with news teams, photographers and editors.

• Follow the news

  Follow current events in politics, economics, social communities, cultural sectors, internationally, and in sports.

• Implement strategic planning

  Take action on the goals and procedures defined at a strategic level in order to mobilise resources and pursue the established strategies.

• Manage budgets

  Plan, monitor and report on the budget.

• Ensure consistency of published articles

  Ensure that articles are consistent with the genre and theme of the newspaper, journal or magazine.

• Adapt to changing situations

  Change approach to situations based on unexpected and sudden changes in people's needs and mood or in trends; shift strategies, improvise and naturally adapt to those circumstances.

• Meet deadlines

  Ensure operative processes are finished at a previously agreed-upon time.

• Manage staff

  Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.

• Delegate activities

  Delegate activities and tasks to others according to the ability, level of preparation, competence and legal scope of practice. Make sure that people understand what they should do and when they should do it.

• Adapt to type of media

  Adapt to different types of media such as television, movies, commercials, and others. Adapt work to type of media, scale of production, budget, genres within type of media, and others.

• Consult information sources

  Consult relevant information sources to find inspiration, to educate yourself on certain topics and to acquire background information.

• Check stories

  Seek out and investigate stories via your contacts, press releases and other media.

• Create editorial board

  Create the outline for each publication and news broadcast. Determine the events that will be covered and the length of these articles and stories.

• Build contacts to maintain news flow

  Build contacts to maintain a flow of news, for example, police and emergency services, local council, community groups, health trusts, press officers from a variety of organisations, the general public, etc.

• Follow ethical code of conduct of journalists

  Follow the ethical code of conduct of journalists, such as freedom of speech, right of reply, being objective, and other rules.

• Develop professional network

  Reach out to and meet up with people in a professional context. Find common ground and use your contacts for mutual benefit. Keep track of the people in your personal professional network and stay up to date on their activities.

• Participate in editorial meetings

  Participate in meetings with fellow editors and journalists to discuss possible topics and to divide the tasks and workload.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB