Editing skills prove valuable in all kinds of jobs
Whatever kind of journalist you aspire to be – reporter, photojournalist, designer, multimedia producer, broadcaster or editor – you’ll need to develop editing skills to succeed.
Editors work for a variety of organizations on many different platforms (print, broadcast, Web, mobile). The goal of editing is clarity, regardless of platform. Editors help readers navigate through information by distilling messages. Editors work for small and large newspapers, broadcast outlets, magazines, book publishers and newsletters. They hold communication jobs for corporate, academic and nonprofit organizations. Editing skills also are valued in public relations and advertising. Regardless of where they work, editors increasingly are responsible for work published on the Web.
Beginning editing students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln interviewed all different kinds of editors for their final projects in the fall of 2011 to ask them about their jobs, their advice for journalism students and their insight into how journalism is changing. Although the editors the students chose represented many different kinds of jobs, many editors offered similar suggestions.
Their advice included: Read all different kinds of writing, master the basics of usage and grammar, get internships and college publication experience, learn the Web and new technologies, and be open-minded about the future.
Click on the links below to read their reports:
- Ann Baker, manager of editorial, design and production, University of Nebraska-Press by Kelsey Baker
- Patty Busse, Oakdale, Minn., Patch editor, by Frannie Sprouls
- Bruce Crosby, editor McCook Daily Gazette by Matt Palu
- Bill Connolly, retired New York Times editor by Asha Anchan
- Mary Dearen, managing editor Midland Reporter-Telegram by Emily Deck
- John DiBiase, editor Jesus Freak Hideout by Francesca Torquati
- Darnell Dickson, sports editor, Lincoln Journal-Star by Ross Benes
- Patrick Ethridge, editor Beatrice Daily Sun by Jacob Sorensen
- Cate Folsom, metro editor, Omaha World-Herald by Chris Dorwart
- Felecia Henderson, assistant managing editor features and design, The Detroit News by Brianna Foster
- Todd Henrichs, city editor, Lincoln Journal Star by Liang Xiang
- Johnna Hjersman, copy editor, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette by Kelly O’Malley
- Neil Holdway, news editor, Daily Herald in suburban Chicago by Adam Kroft
- Catharine Huddle, assistant city editor, Lincoln Journal Star by Zach Tegler
- Mike Konz, Kearney Hub editor by Abby Schipporeit
- Ruben Luna, associate sports editor, The Detroit News by Connor Stange
- Tim Lyford, news editor, Argus Leader in South Dakota by Elias Youngquist
- Pat McFadden, Page 1 editor, St. Paul Pioneer Press by Frannie Sprouls
- Scott Monserud, sports editor, Denver Post by Crystal Zamora
- Dawn Needham, deputy news editor, The Detroit News by Paige Cornwell
- Max Ortiz, multimedia producer, The Detroit News by Emily Walkenhorst
- Amy Palser, managing editor, Hastings Tribune by Chloe Gibson
- Zach Pluhacek, online editor, Lincoln Journal Star by Emily Walkenhorst
- Nick Piastowski, assistant sports editor, Omaha World-Herald by Connor Schuessler
- Scott Poese, station manager, KBRX in O’Neill, Neb., by Marc Zakrzewski
- Heather Price, copy editor/page designer, Lincoln Journal-Star by Bethany Schmidt
- Mark Schwaninger, L magazine in Lincoln, Neb., by Kayla Stauffer
- Larry Sparks, a former online editor, Omaha World-Herald by Kyle Cummings
- Christine Steele, senior copy editor, The Capital Group Companies by Gabbi Nicole
- Kathy Steinauer-Smith, features editor, Lincoln Journal Star by Michelle Durham
- Kent Warneke, editor, Norfolk Daily News by Michael Menish
- Metta West, copy editor, Meredith Corp., by Cristina Woodworth
- Joeth Zucco, senior project editor, University of Nebraska Press by Jordan Kranse
