Job Responsibilities
As chief of the news copy desk at a major metro daily newspaper,
I directly oversee the editing and headlines of two dozen copy
editors. (Another senior editor oversees the page design and
layouts, and a third is in charge of photo and graphic selection.)
Ours is a morning paper, which means that I work evenings --
generally Monday through Friday from 4:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m., less
on slow news days, more when major stories are breaking or
developing.
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Job Requirements
Most of our editors have at least a bachelor's degree; most are
in journalism, but others are in history, sociology, English or
governmental affairs. We generally require at least two years of
experience on a midsize or larger daily paper, although five
years would be preferred. Applicants must take a battery of tests
to gauge their grasp of English usage, grammar, spelling,
Associated Press style, history, the U.S. political system,
geography, popular culture and current events. Applications or
resumes submitted with misspellings or grammatical errors
generally are rejected outright. Others may be asked in for an
interview.
As to career paths, many of us started out as reporters and found
that we preferred putting the story together over getting the
story itself. Some of our younger copy editors chose to start out
on the desk. Either way, most of the higher-level editors and
news executives at this and most other papers found the copy desk
an excellent springboard for their journalism careers, as it
really is the nexus of the newsroom and affords us an overview of
the organization, its members and opportunities.
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Uppers
I've been a newspaperman for 33 years now, first as a reporter, then as an
assistant city editor before moving to the copy desk. Unlike other careers, one
thing is constant in this line of work: The news is always with us, and
constantly changing, so while the framework of each day may be the same, the
specifics are always different. That's a challenge, but it also keeps the work
fresh. Additionally, I believe that there can be no other possible situation
where so many truly bright and involved people come together to do a job, and can
see the results of their work every day on their neighbors' lawns, porches and
doorsteps. Dullards generally don't last long in newspapering, at least not at
this level. And even now, after more than three decades, I still find it exciting
to be among the first to REALLY know what's going on in my community, my state,
the nation and around the world. Lastly, there are all the perks associated with
the work -- getting to know really interesting, vital and important people in all
walks of life in your community, and staying on top of trends in entertainment,
literature, fashion and more.
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Downers
This part is easy: the hours. There are few major metro afternoon
papers anymore, which means that most of us work evenings and
nights on morning papers. That can put a strain on your life away
from work. Single people find it hard to meet others outside the
business, and married people can find the hours a burden on their
spouses and children. In addition, daily papers are just that --
they come out daily, every day, which means that, at least until
you've built up some seniority, you can pretty much count on
working most weekends and holidays. This is definitely something
you'll want to give some thought to before choosing journalism as
a career. Finally, but perhaps most importantly, accept that
newspapering is a VERY stressful occupation; deadlines are
merciless, and CAN'T be missed, and you must always be accurate.
The old saying is that there are two rules in journalism:
1) Accuracy, accuracy, accuracy (in other words, NO mistakes), and
2) If your mother says she loves you, check it out (in other
words, you can't take ANYONE'S word without verifying the facts).
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Lifestyle
The hours I've already addressed. To be fair, I should say that sometimes the
hours have been a boon: When our children were in school, I was usually one of
the few dads who could help out in their classrooms, help chaperone on field
trips, or attend their drama and music performances during the day. Shopping
during the day usually meant smaller crowds, as well, and I got to see a LOT of
daytime baseball games. In the South, where I work, newsrooms are business casual
for the most part. Reporters, or editors who have much formal contact with the
public, may be expected to dress a little better, but most copy editors wear
slacks or nice jeans, sports shirts, dressy T-shirts or casual dresses or
skirt/blouse combinations. Newsrooms, at the major metro level, tend to be very
diverse, not just racially or along gender lines, but extending as well to
national origins. We have people from many countries working here, and that's
always been a plus for me.
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Compensation
In the early years, a copy editor or reporter on a good-size
weekly or a small daily can expect to be paid about as well as a
beginning teacher -- that is to say, sadly, not too well. As a
rule, most of us move every two or three years during the first
decade or so of our careers, aiming for a position on one of the
bigger papers, before really settling down. By that point, the
pay scale has caught up a bit. The compensation at my level would
be comparable to that of a tenured professor at a state college
or university. We get three to four weeks of paid vacation a
year, plus seven national holidays (just NOT on the holiday
itself) and a personal day each year. Long weekends are usually
not too hard to arrange. Health insurance, including vision and
dental, is part of the package. And at my paper, we have an
excellent 401(k) PLUS a regular defined-benefit pension.
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Advice to Jobseekers
Don't try to start at the paper you want to end up at. Instead,
find a niche at a smaller publication -- even if it's a community
weekly and you have to live at home with your folks for a while.
Use that to build up your resume and clipbook, then leverage that
experience to take the next step to a small daily, then to a mid-
size, on to a larger paper, and THEN go knocking at the editor's
door at your dream paper. By then you'll have a track record, or
you'll have discovered that the hours and deadline stress aren't
for you and that you'd be happier doing public relations,
advertising or teaching. It happens. Not everyone is cut out for
this. If you are, go for it. And good luck!
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