Sub-editor

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role
• specialist courses offered by professional bodies

University

You’ll usually need a degree in a relevant subject like:

• English
• journalism
• media studies

You can find relevant courses accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists .

You can do a postgraduate journalism course if your first degree is not in a related subject.

Entry requirements:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
• a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course

College

The National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) has advice on bursaries and funding to encourage greater diversity in journalism.

Entry requirements:

Apprenticeship

You can apply to do an apprenticeship, like:

• Publishing Professional Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
• Journalist Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship
• Senior Journalist Level 7 Apprenticeship, leading to an industry-recognised qualification

Entry requirements:

Work

You may be able to work your way into this job by starting as a reporter with a regional newspaper or magazine. This can help you to build up your experience of proofreading and text editing.

It will also allow you to develop a portfolio of work that you can use to showcase your skills to potential employers.

Volunteering

You'll need to get some experience before applying for your first job in newspaper or magazine journalism and moving on to sub editing.

You could:

• volunteer for student or local community newspapers
• start a blog
• build your social media and professional networking presence
• submit articles and reviews to regional newsgroups or smaller magazine companies
• volunteer to help a charity write their print, or online publications

OtherRoutes

You'll find it helpful to take a sub-editing course if you've already got some experience in journalism, PR or media communications.

Courses are offered by organisations like:

• National Council for the Training of Journalists
• Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading
• The Publishing Training Centre

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Skills:

• knowledge of English language
• knowledge of media production and communication
• the ability to read English
• excellent verbal communication skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• excellent written communication skills
• the ability to work well with others
• to be flexible and open to change
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• the ability to use your initiative
• thinking and reasoning skills
• active listening skills
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• the ability to organise your time and workload
• knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
• administration skills
• business management skills
• concentration skills
• a good memory
• the ability to work well with your hands

What you'll do:

Sub-editors check written content before it's published in newspapers, magazines and on websites.

You will:

• make sure articles are accurate, read well and do not break libel or copyright laws
• edit articles to make them clearer or shorter
• make sure articles follow house style
• write headlines, captions and short paragraphs which lead into articles, and 'panels'
• which break up the text
• make sure articles are in the right place on each page
• use page layout and image editing software
• send completed pages to the printers
• work closely with reporters, editors, designers, production staff and printers

Location : You could work in an office.

Salary:

Starter : £22,000
Experienced : £45,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

37 - 39 hours variable

Working Pattern is evenings / weekends flexibly

Career Path:

With experience, you may be able to progress to production editor or chief sub-editor.

You could also use your journalism experience to move into PR or work as a press or communications officer.