The Editorial Track in Radio News

The primary function of the editorial staff is to gather and report the news. Each morning, they have a meeting to pitch story ideas and to assign resources to stories to be covered that day. They monitor wires, call on their sources and read a variety of print media to find stories.

Much of the content in radio is interview-driven, and because there are no visual elements, a premium is placed on telling a story through the written word. Anchors conduct interviews in the studio by phone, live on the air, with a newsmaker like a local politician, civic leader or another member of the community. Reporters will conduct interviews as part of their stories and will also collect sound bites from "Man on the Street" (MOS) interviews to be used in taped stories or as part of live interview segments.

Desk Assistant: For those just getting their start in radio, desk assistants are a "jack of all trades," helping to research stories, set up interviews and even write copy for news readers. Generally, most start out at smaller stations, where there is an opportunity to gain more hands-on experience than at a station in a larger market.

Median Salary: $20,000

Writer: Writes copy for announcers and anchors, as well as introductions for packages produced by reporters. Once again, at smaller stations with fewer resources, anchors most likely write much of their own scripts.

Median Salary: $23,000

Producer: More likely found at larger stations, producers develop the rundown for live broadcasts and book interviews for live interview broadcasts or talk shows.

Median Salary: $26,000

Assignment Editor: Cruises the wires, the fire department and police scanners and community sources, looking for stories or breaking news, which are unscheduled stories like fires and shootings. The assignment editor will also help write certain stories, particularly those from the wires, as well as copy to introduce reporter packages.

Median Salary: $25,000

Reporter: Goes out into the community to investigate leads and news tips, gathers information for stories and conducts interviews. Once a reporter has gathered all the elements for his story, he writes a script and produces his package or segment. Reporters also report live from news events.

Median Salary: $26,000

Anchors: Monitors the wires for stories, writes copy, introduces stories by reporters, provides perspective for breaking news, conducts live interviews and delivers the news to the community of listeners.

Median Salary: $25,000

Host: Similar to an anchor, but generally associated with a live broadcast made up of in-studio interviews or call-ins from listeners.

Commentators: Provide opinions or editorials about news events or issues facing a local community.

Assistant News Director: Manages day-to day news gathering and production operations.

Median Salary: $25,000

News Director: Provides editorial direction for the station, develops budgets and oversees the assignment of resources for news coverage.

Median Salary: $31,000

General Manager: Provides overall leadership for editorial, sales and promotion for station.

Median Salary: Varies widely depending on the size of the station and market.