What is a sub-editor?

Are you curious about sub-editors?

Alison Harmer sub-editing on a laptop

Discover the fascinating world of sub-editors – the unsung heroes who ensure everything is well-written, accurate and legally sound before publication. They also get to be creative and have fun with puns and other wordplay, which is one of the best parts of the job.

Sub-editors are often known as subs or production editors on many newspapers and magazines and are the vital link between reporters, writers and readers. They use their journalistic expertise to correct grammar and spelling, remove unnecessary words, fact-check, and even design pages. Many subs have previously worked as news reporters or feature writers, and rewriting is vital for sub-editing.

The sub’s role varies from magazine to newspaper, but it can include:

✏ Improving a story or article without drastic rewriting

✏ Ensuring it conforms to a publication’s basic rulebook, known as house style – for example, whether job titles should have an initial capital letter or when numbers should be spelled out

✏ Checking facts for accuracy

✏ Eliminating legal dangers like libel and plagiarism.

As a sub, you may also write certain parts of the publication – for example, captions, magazine cover lines and carry-overs, titles (headlines), captions, side-heads and crossheads. I explain this professional jargon later. Sometimes, you may completely rewrite a story. This page editor role at The Telegraph includes many senior sub-editor skills.

Other responsibilities

Uncommonly, subs can design pages for publications. However, most ensure the layout of pre-designed pages works efficiently. They are called ‘layout sub-editors’ as outlined in this job description. One part of their job deals with ‘overmatter’ where an article is longer than the space allows. Therefore, the sub will cut or rewrite words to make everything fit. The work also includes cropping and scaling pictures and graphics and correcting proofs.

Many production journalists working on digital newspapers also build web pages for each story. This production editor job at Springer Nature shows the quality-checking nature of the role in digital and print.

Check out the differences between subbing and proofreading.

What does the jargon mean?

Magazines and newspapers have their own language, which Press Gazette listed last year. If you’re interested, read its guide to jargon.

So, here’s my explanation of the jargon I used earlier:

Cover lines

A cover line is a statement on the front page of a magazine that conveys the excitement inside. For example, this one on the cover of Voice from the Institute of Internal Communication of Internal Communications. In newspapers, cover lines are known as blurbs or puffs.

A magazine front page with a cover-line explaining the excitement within

Carry-overs or teasers

Magazines have carry-overs, and newspapers have teasers. But both refer to future issues. For example: ‘Next week, you can read our interview with George Clooney’.

Copy tasting

Copy-tasting involves reviewing all the stories for a publication and deciding whether to use them. If so, where and how? The chief sub may entrust copy-tasting to senior subs.

Crossheads

Crossheads make the text more readable. They are one or two words in bold type placed between large amounts of text to break it up. A crosshead usually refers to a point in the paragraph below.

Sideheads

Sideheads are bold words placed at the side of a paragraph in the same point size. Here’s an example: https://www.easymedia.in/do-we-need-sideheads-in-the-editorial/

The personal qualities a sub-editor needs

A command of English, the ability to spell and attention to detail are essential. However, the sub-editor should also be aware of the reader and their interests so they can communicate clearly with them.

You’ll need:

  • Thorough knowledge of the publication’s house style
  • Knowledge of outdated words and phrases
  • Awareness of social trends
  • The ability to weave ‘word magic’
  • Respect for the writer
  • An obsession with accuracy
  • Good general knowledge
  • Excellent news sense
  • Knowledge of the law
  • Knowledge of how journalists/copywriters/designers/printers work
  • The ability to track down facts
  • Command of typography
  • An ability to work fast
  • Unflappability.

Becoming a sub changed my life. I also worked with a terrific chief sub, Steve McCubbin, and the experience tightened my writing, making it less wordy. I learned much about differing styles and tones by forensically examining other journalists’ and reporters’ work.

Finally, it gave me a second string to my bow, so I now edit, proofread and write. So, if someone offers you the chance to join a subs’ desk, don’t shilly-shally – say yes, especially as they’re getting rarer.