Sub-editing and news article

Definition:

Press sub-editors, or subs, check the written text of newspapers, magazines or websites before they're published. They're responsible for ensuring the correct grammar, spelling, house style and tone of published work.

Subs make sure that the copy is factually correct and suits its target market. They also lay out the story on the page, write headings and captions, and may be involved with overall page design.

Like other journalism roles, sub-editing is demanding and requires constant attention to detail in a fast-paced working environment.

Responsibilities:

To be a good sub, you must be an all-rounder - you need to know media law, have a keen eye for detail and be able to put a story together with speed and style.

Depending on the nature of your role, and the extent to which production and layout work falls within your remit, your tasks will typically involve:

• Editing copy, written by reporters or features writers, to remove spelling mistake and grammatical errors
• Rewriting material so that it flows or reads better and adheres to the house style of a particular publication 
• Ensuring that a story fits a particular word count by cutting or expanding material as necessary 
• Writing headlines that capture the essence of the story or are clever or amusing 
• Checking facts and stories to ensure they're accurate, adhere to copyright laws, are not libellous or go against the publication's necessary

things you need to consider as a sub-editor

• Proof reading 
• Sense of style - mode of address and language code is keeping with the paper, context is present (makes it sound as updated as possible) 
• Editing quotes & reader's comments - shortening and formatting when necessary 
• Writing headlines - active voice, awareness of tense, some of 5Ws, snappy 
• Writing stand firsts - first few lines of an article, usually in bold, elaborates on headline