Who is Behind the News? Getting to Know the Editorial Structure of Newspapers

Illustration of the body that makes up the writing in the newspaper (freepik)

YOGYAKARTA - The body that writes the newspaper is often unknown to many people. In fact, they have a crucial role in presenting news and information every day to readers.

Behind every published article, there is a complex editorial organization structure. From journalists, editors, to the editorial board working together to produce quality content. Curious who? Check out the following article!

The body that prepares the writing in the newspaper is the editorial board.

Dilansir dari laman The Trade, Association, Business Publications International (TABPI) , redaksi adalah tim editorial yang bertanggung jawab atas seluruh proses produksi berita dan konten.

Each member of the editorial team has an important role, although the definition of each position may vary between one publication and another, and roles may overlap (especially in small teams). The following is a general overview of each position in the editorial structure:

Editorial Director

The role of an editorial director typically includes oversight of multiple publications or editorial products which can include newsletters, websites, and sometimes events.

Depending on the publication, the editorial director is often less involved with the day-to-day work and focuses more on providing editorial direction and advice.

Editorial directors work with other executives and senior management to develop a vision that encompasses all of a publisher's magazines or publications.

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Editor-in-Chief

The editor-in-chief (also known as the executive editor) is essentially responsible for the editorial direction of the newspaper and the procurement of content. He works on the basis of a vision set by the editorial director to create the tone and editorial direction of the publication.

The editor-in-chief is responsible for ensuring that each edition is consistent with the vision and publication policy. He may travel more often or make public appearances as a representative of the newspaper. For smaller newspapers, he must also handle daily production.

Managing Editor

The managing editor supports the editor-in-chief by being in the office every day to manage the team and ensure deadlines are met. He also works with the design team to manage the production of each issue.

Senior Editor, Associate, and Assistant Editor

Most editors at the beginning of their careers will join a publication as an assistant editor before rising to the positions of associate and then senior.

These editors do most of the writing. As more experienced professionals, senior editors often help the team develop story ideas.

Editors can also work more intensively one-on-one with lower-level editors to help them develop skills, while managing editors focus on keeping everyone on track to meet deadlines.

Meanwhile, associate and assistant editors may do more basic work such as sorting and posting press releases.

Copyeditor (Manuscript Editor)

Copyeditors are very proficient in grammar and spelling and have a high attention to detail.

In addition, copyeditors will also read and check all stories before publication. They can also serve as fact checkers and refine headlines or news leads.

Journalist/Reporter

Journalists or reporters are the backbone of information collection. They do field coverage, interview sources, and write news based on facts obtained.

Reporters work according to assignments from editors and are responsible for the accuracy of the information reported.

With this structured organizational structure, the editorial board as the body that compiles articles in newspapers can produce quality content that is informative and reliable for readers.

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