Responses
Trent, 4/26/2005, 9:48:48 PM
The hierarchy is roughly as follows:
editor-in-chief -- has ultimate control over the content of the newspaper and manages the entire staff (this means from managing editor all the way to staff writer and business employees). this person also typically writes the editorial.
managing editor -- this position has a "managerial" role over all staff members. this editor is responsible for making sure all functions of the paper work smoothly and reports directly to the editor.
associate editor -- there is often more than one associate editor. associate editors are higher level editors, but fall below the editor-in-chief and the managing editor. typically, an associate editor will be the high-ranking member in a certain area of the paper (i.e. layout), but he/she still answers to the positions above.
on the next level are section editors and business managers:
features editor
news editor
opinion editor
sports editor
____ editor (any section you want)
business manager and advertising manager (could be the same person)
you then have staff writers which you can put into staggered positions if you so choose. for instance, you can have senior staff writers and "just" staff writers.
you also may want to have someone titled a circulation manager who handles subscriptions, sales, and disbursement in this area. you could, however, put this in the hands of the business/advertising manager(s).
hopes this helps. are you starting up a new publication?
Jackie, 5/1/2005, 11:38:45 PM
Thanks! That helps a lot! Im trying to start a student newspaper at my college.
Laura, 5/2/2005, 12:11:12 PM
We have just revised the hierarchy of our staff. It’s not a whole lot different than what we had before, just a little more organized, and I think it will work well.
At the top is the Management Board, which consists of: the Editor-in-Chief (above everyone), faculty Advisor (for guidance only), Business Manager (handles all business, budgeting, and ads), Photography Editor, Layout Editor, and Copy Editor (copy editing/proofreading). Next year I will become the Previous Editor-in-Chief, an advising position only.
Below the Photography Editor are photographers. Below the Business Manager are Advertisement Representatives. Below the Copy Editor is the copy staff. Below the Layout Editor are the Section Editors (News, Sports, etc.), and below the Section Editors are writers and cartoonists. We also have a Technology Support position which maintains out computers and server, updates our webpage, and handles any computer problems.
Good luck with your newspaper!
Amber, 5/9/2005, 3:35:41 PM
I have found the job positions change with each staff, depending on what talents you have on board. For example, last year I was editor in chief, but didn't have any good candidates for managing editor, so I didn't hire anyone in that position.
Also, I would strongly advise against having the former editor in chief as an advising position. We tried that and it didn't work out. The former editor in chief wasn't used to not being in charge and got upset when the current editor in chief didn't use his advice. What resulted was a blow out and division among the staff. As hard as it may be, it's better for the previous editor in chief to move on to bigger and better things once their reign is over.
Andrew Welfle, 7/11/2005, 9:37:40 PM
I think a former EIC in an advisor role is perfectly acceptable, providing that person is mature enough to realize he or she is no longer "the boss".
I was the EIC last semester, and currently I am acting as a student advisor while writing a stylebook / employee handbook for the newspaper, and I haven't run into any conflict with the new EIC.
The main thing to realize is that every editor's style is different. As long as there is communication, there shouldn't be a major conflict.
-Andrew Welfle
The Communicator
awelfle@ipfwcommunicator.org
www.ipfwcommunicator.org
