Sometimes, it can be difficult to understand who does what in the world of news media. Journalists are often referred to by functional roles, with catch-all phrases. News agencies throw around titles like Bureau Chief and Senior Foreign Correspondent, and it can get complicated. Here, we give readers, viewers, listeners, and subscribers an inside look at what these positions mean, and what they really do. When reading, keep the overall news process in mind: Report > Newsroom > Journalist > Editor > Production > Selection > Publishing.
Roles
| News Agency
The company, firm, or organization that organizes the news process. Signal High News Corporation is a news agency.
News Director Company manager in charge of the newsroom (assignment desk), and for assigning news stories to journalists, teams, and bureaus. Superintends the first three stages in the news process.
Bureau Chief Company manager in an office or geographic area, or in charge of a particular subject matter. Charged to organize, guide, and generally supervise journalists, often carrying administrative or management functions.
News Executive Senior company managers empowered to select and decision news stories, production, placement, publication, etc. Superintends all parts of the news process. Can be charged with specific business lines or news streams — e.g. print media, radio, etc.
Publisher Publisher can have many meanings. In some organizations, the publisher is the owner or chief manager responsible for the entire news process; however, we use publisher as a catch-all for the technical staff (layout technicians, webmasters, etc) that integrate monetization, format articles and insert them into the appropriate platforms, publications, broadcasts, etc. The final stage in the news process.
Producer Producers support the news process and include writers, camera and microphone operators, audio and video engineers, etc. They are members of the production team, and considered journalists.
Executive Producer Normally a position found in radio and studio business lines, this is the person ultimately in charge of a show, production, or series of productions — a combination of news director and editor-in-chief as it pertains to their particular production.
Payment Agent A person or organization that will accept payments and transact accounts on behalf of another, often in their native currency and geopolitical region. |
Journalist
Journalist is a catch-all phrase, referring to anyone involved with any stage of the news process.
Investigative Reporter Front-line journalists that dig deep into stories, sometimes using intensive, intrusive, and aggressive techniques — often in the field. They pursue and press subjects, hit sources, gather facts, etc. They take reports from assignment desk and hand off to editors.
Correspondent Journalists not regularly engaged with the agency that contribute on specific topics, from specific regions, or areas of specialization.
Researcher Member of the production team that researches stories, subjects, and other items of interest. Not normally involved in the presentation.
Writer Member of the production team involved in the writing end of the cycle. Not normally engaged in the presentation side.
Editor Editors are the quality control mechanism of the news process. They receive draft articles from journalists, evaluate sources, verify and validate for accuracy, correct for presentation, etc. Editors are the fourth stage in the news process.
Editor-in-Chief Senior-most editor in charge of a publication, news division, etc. Responsible to oversee editorial processes, selection of articles, etc.
Host Normally a position found in the radio and studio business lines, this is the front-line reporter that coordinates the presentation of news, often directing dialog with other journalists.
Freelance Writer Someone who has sent in their own news story for consideration, and it was selected for publish.
News Wire Central repository of news articles submitted by members, and made available to members. |
