News Editing and Production - Newsroom Structure

Vocabulary flashcards covering newsroom organization, departments, editor roles, reporter types, and publication workflow from JOUR 100.

Newsroom

The part of a newspaper, radio station, or TV station where news is written, edited, and organized.

Editorial Department

The backbone of any newsroom department, responsible for gathering news, selecting news and features, and editing materials selected for publication.

Correspondent

A journalist who collects, verifies, and analyses information about newsworthy events to produce fair and accurate news stories.

Resident Editor

An editor who serves as an extended arm of the Chief Editor, implementing newspaper policies and taking responsibility for the selection and publication of news.

Managing Editor

The "floor leader" or newsroom supervisor responsible for the daily operation of the news department, including supervising staff, hiring/firing employees, and overseeing sub-editors.

Deputy Editor

The second-in-command to the editor who works across publications such as newspapers, magazines, online journals, blogs, or book publishers.

Assistant Editor

An editor who helps other editors at a publication to prepare new pieces of writing for release.

Sub Editor

A person responsible for checking and correcting articles in newspapers or magazines before they are printed.

Classified Ads

Advertisements generally dealing with offers of or requests for jobs, houses, apartments, and used cars.

Real Estate Ads

Advertisements used to promote realtors and real estate companies, generate buyer or seller leads, or sell a house.

Law Ads

Promotional advertisements for legal services offered by a lawyer or law firm to attract potential clients.

Production Department

The department responsible for producing the newspaper by ensuring editors, artists, photographers, and sales staff submit articles, pictures, and ads by designated deadlines.

Composing Room

The area in the production department where pages are assembled and made up as specified by the editorial and advertising departments.

Press Room

The area in the production facility where the newspaper is physically printed.

Printing Press Department

The department specifically responsible for the actual printing of a newspaper.

Circulation Department

The department that oversees the distribution of newspaper copies, responsible for selling, delivering to retailers, and collecting subscriber data.

Administrative Department

Department in charge of general establishment management, including planning, organizing, staff work allotment, training, promotions, leave records, and government liaison.

Accounting Department

Department responsible for financial operations such as maintaining books of accounts, preparing balance sheets, processing receipts/payments, budgeting, and cost control.

Legal Department

Department that handles all legal matters for the newspaper, such as defending against defamation and libel suits.

PR Department

Public Relations department responsible for building, creating, and sustaining a positive public image for the newspaper organization.

Stores Department

Department responsible for proper storage of raw materials, such as newsprint, and other materials used in the newspaper office.

Internet Department

Department created to manage online affairs and social media presence for the newspaper.

Copy Desk

The final link between the newspaper and the public, where copy editors eliminate errors, fix grammar/spelling, check facts, format paragraphs, and write headlines.

Library (Morgue)

The editorial division popularly called the "morgue" that stores "dead copy," past news clippings, and socioeconomic statistics used as background for current stories.

Publisher

The ultimate leader in charge of all newspaper operations, presiding over both business and editorial departments to ensure profitability.

Editor-in-Chief

The individual responsible for the editorial content and overall quality of the newspaper publication.

Editorial Page Editor

The editor responsible for managing the editorial and op-ed pages.

City Editor

An editor working under the managing editor who is responsible for local news coverage and assigning tasks to local reporters.

Desk Editor

Editors supervising specific section desks (such as sports, business, or features) who edit and design pages under the direction of the news editor.

News Editor

The editor who supervises copy editors, oversees page design, and decides story placement on pages.

Wire Editor

The editor who edits and coordinates national and international news obtained from wire services such as the Associated Press (AP) and Reuters.

General Assignment Reporters

Reporters who cover non-specialized general topics, conferences, and breaking news, and may also rewrite existing stories.

Beat Reporters

Reporters dedicated to covering specific assigned areas such as courts, police, or the legislature.

Specialist Reporters

Reporters who cover complex specialized fields such as energy, business, environment, and urban issues.

Freelancers or Stringers

Self-employed writers who contribute news stories or articles to newspapers for an agreed fee.