assignment desk editor jobs

What Does an Assignment Editor Do?

Learn About the Salary, Required Skills, & More

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• Assignment Editor Duties & Responsibilities

Assignment Editor Salary

• Education, Training, & Certification
• Assignment Editor Skills & Competencies

Job Outlook

Work environment, work schedule, comparing similar jobs.

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An assignment editor works at the assignment desk, which is the nerve center of any newsroom. This is where newsroom staff members monitor multiple sources for breaking news, including police and fire scanners. When possible news arises, the assignment editor works with reporters, photographers, producers, and other staff members to assign and develop story ideas.

Small companies sometimes have one assignment editor who is responsible for organizing the assignment desk to operate around the clock. In larger newsrooms, there may be a team of assignment editors that take turns staffing the desk.

Assignment Editor Duties & Responsibilities

The job generally requires the ability to perform the following duties:

• Monitor multiple sources for possible news stories
• Develop and propose a daily news coverage plan
• Lead newsroom staff meetings to review possible stories and assignments
• Help choose which journalists, photographers, and other staff members are assigned to cover stories
• Stay on top of all stories to ensure they're developing as planned and determine which ones are not coming together
• Be the main point of communication between reporters, production teams, and executive staff on developing stories

It's up to the assignment editor to assign people to investigate and report on news stories. The assignment editor's day is sometimes spent shifting people and equipment around so that as many stories get covered as possible, with an eye out on how to handle breaking news coverage at any moment.

When working in television, an assignment editor may also work with the tv producer to decide which crews will take live trucks or a helicopter to broadcast live during a newscast. Also, a TV news anchor who is reviewing scripts just before airtime will often turn to the assignment editor to confirm facts.

An assignment editor's salary can vary depending on location, experience, and employer. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics offers salary data for the broader editor category, but it doesn't offer separate data on the assignment editor subcategory:

• Median Annual Salary: $59,480 
• Top 10% Annual Salary: $114,460 
• Bottom 10% Annual Salary: $30,830  

Education, Training, & Certification

Most assignment editors have the same types of degrees as other editors and journalists in a newsroom.

• Education: Most employers prefer candidates that have at least a bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, or English. 
• Experience: This is often key to getting this type of job, because experience is key to building a list of contacts and learning how to operate smoothly. Employers usually prefer candidates with a background in the type of media in which they specialize, whether it's television, digital, or print news.
• Training: Most training happens on the job. Aspiring assignment editors may want to find an internship position at a newsroom assignment desk.

Assignment Editor Skills & Competencies

To be successful in this role, you’ll generally need the following skills and qualities: 

• Editorial judgment: Assignment editors need to be able to quickly decide whether a story is newsworthy. And although they aren't usually writing the stories themselves, they need to know all of the components of a good news story to guide reporters on coverage.
• Interpersonal skills: Successful assignment editors form relationships with many contacts that can help bring a story together. For example, someone in this role at a local TV news station may have all the county sheriffs' home telephone numbers on speed-dial and be on a first-name basis with the current and previous mayors.
• Organizational skills: An assignment editor must be able to organize the logistics and track the details of several stories at a time and keep everything on schedule.
• Communication skills: An assignment editor must skillfully communicate with all of the staff involved in making news stories come together, including reporters, photographers, production teams, and executive staff.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment in this field will grow 6 percent through 2026, which is slightly slower than the overall employment growth of 7 percent for all occupations in the country. The BLS it doesn't offer separate data on the assignment editor subcategory.

Most of this job is done in an office working under several tight deadlines at once. Those who thrive on pressure and get an adrenaline rush when something unexpected happens may be best suited for this occupation.

An assignment editor usually arrives in the newsroom earlier than the other managers to get a handle on what's happening that day to brief the newsroom. Most assignment editors work full time, and many work long hours, which include evenings and weekends.

People who are interested in becoming assignment editors may also consider other careers with these median salaries: 

• Writers and authors: $61,820
• Reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts: $40,910
• Desktop publishers: $42,350

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , 2017

How to Get the Job

Build a Contact List

Making a list of contacts is the best place to start for a budding assignment editor. That involves making personal connections with people so that you can turn to them when you need information.

Join a Professional Association

The American Media Institute offers  a list of professional associations you can join. Which one you choose may depend on your specialty or medium (websites or television, for instance). This will help you build your contact list and stay up to date on the latest tools and techniques in the industry.

Search job sites that specialize in media careers, such as MediaBistro and iHire Broadcasting .

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Assignment Desk Editor Job Description

Assignment desk editor duties & responsibilities.

To write an effective assignment desk editor job description, begin by listing detailed duties, responsibilities and expectations. We have included assignment desk editor job description templates that you can modify and use.

Sample responsibilities for this position include:

Assignment Desk Editor Qualifications

Qualifications for a job description may include education, certification, and experience.

Education for Assignment Desk Editor

Typically a job would require a certain level of education.

Employers hiring for the assignment desk editor job most commonly would prefer for their future employee to have a relevant degree such as Bachelor's and Collage Degree in Journalism, Communications, Associates, Computer, Communication, Social Media, Television, Education, Broadcast Journalism, Management

Skills for Assignment Desk Editor

Desired skills for assignment desk editor include:

Desired experience for assignment desk editor includes:

Assignment Desk Editor Examples

• Microsoft Word (.docx) .DOCX
• PDF Document (.pdf) .PDF
• Image File (.png) .PNG
• Order and coordinate satellite time
• Stay abreast of and use creative production techniques such as graphics and new forms of media (viewer pictures, webcam interviews, ) to enhance stories
• Collaborate with the writing of all daily newscasts
• Assist as an assistant producer and/or produce daily newscasts
• The Assignment Desk Editor is responsible for supporting programming on multiple FOX Sports platforms
• The Assignment Editor should have the ability to coordinate multiple tasks at once while maintaining a strict attention to detail
• An essential function for the Assignment Editor is executing live talkbacks for FS1 and Fox Sports programming which includes coordinating remote studios, booking satellite, fiber and IP-based transmission, assigning IFB/PL and quality control
• The Assignment Editor is also responsible for identifying news stories, gathering related content and distributing to the FOX Affiliates
• The position also requires extensive knowledge of current sports news (especially NFL, Soccer, MLB, NBA, NASCAR, college football and basketball, and golf) to identify and independently react to breaking news stories that fit within FOX Sports and FS1 debate-centric programming
• The Assignment Editor must also be alert to any potential legal issues in clearing content, decisions on approving content and watching out for any unapproved materials on air
• Must have a commitment to journalistic standards of ethics and accuracy with an enthusiasm for journalism
• Must possess the ability to communicate effectively with general knowledge and interest in local, national and world news
• Basic computer knowledge/word processing skills are preferred
• Associates or Bachelor’s degree in Journalism or Communications preferred, Master’s degree is a plus
• Must have excellent writing/spelling skills in Spanish
• Must have unrestricted work authorization live in the United States
• Coordinate with NBCNewYork.com editors to break stories online and update news articles as information changes
• Assignment Editor must be able to clearly communicate with co-workers, producers and outside vendors
• The best candidate will have experience with both editorial information gathering knowledge of a variety of techniques to gather video for production
• Work with all NBC entities and News Channel clients to gather the day’s news
• Work closely with feed producer regarding story details and restrictions
• Communicate story developments with network and NBC News Channel clients
• Represent NBC News Channel on network conference calls
• Book transmission facilities and satellite space for live/tape feeds
• Utilize various file sharing platforms to gather video
• Find compelling user generated stories
• 3 years’ experience as an Assignment Editor, preferred
• Must be willing to work in the El Paso, TX area
• Must be willing to work in the Orlando area
• Must have a valid drive
• Work at the Las Vegas NV station
• Must be willing to work in San Antonio area
• The ability to work all shifts on all days (AM, PM, Overnight
• Conceive and executive breaking news coverage, coordinating reporters and field crews to cover news
• Listen to police scanner and having contacts with resources in the community
• Communicate with production staff and management on the status of coverage and stories
• Establish network of contacts and sources across South Florida
• Enterprise story ideas for coverage and interview subjects
• Coordinate with assignment manager and planning manager any carry-over of stories from day to day
• Monitor electronic and printed sources for news
• Listen to multiple police scanners which cover more than a dozen agencies throughout our market, monitor law enforcement digital platforms for breaking news
• Furnish content and post it to all digital platforms—including but not limited to sending push alerts, Twitter and Facebook posts, and executing livestreams
• Bachelor’s degree - preferably in journalism or communications
• Minimum 3 years in a newsroom environment
• Demonstrated knowledge and interest in news and current events
• Strong editorial judgment and customer service skills
• Ability to work calmly in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment
• Bachelor's degree in Journalism or related discipline
• Routing information to the people who need to know, to facilitate good decision making and responsible, timely coverage
• Assigning and dispatching news crews, which often requires logistical sense, bold decisions and willingness to be held accountable
• Researching and vetting stories
• Ramrodding breaking news
• Entering stories and updates into our database, planning coverage for the days and weeks to come
• Monitoring the competition
• Making beat checks to law enforcement and governmental agencies
• Coordinating coverage with affiliates, networks and other stations in our family group
• Gather information and distribute it to the Reporters, Photographers and the News Team
• Candidate will participate in editorial meetings and will contribute with story ideas during the production process of the news
• Able to work weekends and flexible hours (including overnights) depending upon news coverage & able to return to work in emergencies
• Must have experience taking viewers calls, making beat calls, responding to scanners
• Previous experience working in news as an assignment editor is preferred
• Should possess strong news judgement, based on the strategic priorities of WREG
• Must have good communication skills one-on-one, and within a team environment
• Must be organized and able to handle to logistics of multiple news crews in the field
• Facilitate the news gathering process and ensure comprehensive coverage of all news stories across all of Telemundo Utah platforms, including but not limited to broadcast, web and social media
• Edit videos for broadcast & social media
• He/she will also receive and send video feeds to other stations and will coordinate live news set-ups
• Must be a team player with solid news judgment and be a proactive problem solver
• Ability to work all shifts (Morning, evening, weekends and holidays)
• Position is represented by NABET-CWA
• Newsgathering for all FOX Sports Programming and booking transmission, ENG crews for live shots, studio talkbacks, homecams and feature shoots
• Assist in event planning and major projects as assigned by senior staff
• Uploading video for affiliates and downloading of videos via FTP services
• Assignment editors must also be alert to any potential legal issues in clearing content, decisions on approving content and watching out for any unapproved materials on air
• Experience working in a digital content management systems is a plus
• Must exhibit writing and proofreading skills
• Must be flexible -- willing to work a variety of shifts including holidays and weekends
• Must have an understanding, or quickly develop an understanding, of the technology used in this industry
• Minimum 3 years of experience at a larger market local, cable division, or network newsroom
• Minimum 2 years working as an assignment desk editor

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Student life and job in Tomsk for foreign national - Tomsk Forum

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Hello dear Sirs/Madams,

I've plan to go to the Tomsk for Master program, so I have some questions:

1- Is there any problem for Muslim and non-Russia citizen students to find student job here?

2- Is it possible that cover all of my expenses(I estimated as maximum 500 dollar monthly for living and tuition costs) with student job?(20 hours work per week)

3- Is Tomsk people have warm behavior with foreign student? or they avoid foreign students?

4- And finally please let me know current student job, types and salary?(outdoor, indoor, service,...?)

Thank you so much

Best regards,

6 replies to this topic

Hi Mohammad, Tomsk is a nice young city, with plenty of students. You will surely find new friends there.

USD 500 for living, renting small apartment and eating should be fine, maybe tough a little-depends on the lifestyle. Have no idea about tuition costs.

If your English is good you might find a teaching job.

Hello. Just as it is said, Tomsk is very friendly for students, and teaching English is really a nice opportunity to maintain yourself. You can post your advertisement on http://tomsk.vashrepetitor.ru/repetitor/english/ with a price at least 500 rub for an hour. Probably 800, I don't know.

1. About 15% or Russian general population, and most of immigrants are Muslim (generally from the former Central Asian republics), so no real problem here. Most of them are Sunni, though, but there's a lot of Shia too.

2. $500 is quite a generous amount, which would be quite enough, but such salaries are usually only found at full-time jobs.

3. Tomsk is a university city, so the locals are more or less used to foreigners.

I'm going to study in Tomsk state university. I'm a Graphic Designer. Can I manage my living cost there??

Hi my name is giovanni.. I just arrive in tomsk few days ago, Where can find a job teaching English in tomsk . I just arrive from Sydney Australia My email is [email protected]

Assuming the previous post is spam - thanks anyway for nudging this post up.

There was a guy (handle - Curious about Russia) on citydata forum who moved to Tomsk from the US back in 2019, he'd probably be a good source of info for anyone considering the move. He also posted several YouTube videos about his experience (username - Ben in Siberia), but I haven't heard from him recently.

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