Once the news editor selects the reports to be published, the desk chief gives that to sub editors under him to polish, correct, edit, put a headline, select the type phase and add pictures or graphs if required. These are the main process of editing and duties of a sub editor, described below in detail:-
EDITING A COPY
So the first job of a sub editor is to see that the report is in good language and there are no mistakes. There can be spelling mistakes, mistakes in sentence construction, grammar and factual mistakes. If the sub editor finds a portion of the report ambiguous or incorrect or doubtful he has to cross check it with the reporter.
ADDING VALUE TO REPORT
The next job of the sub editor is to value add the report. If some background material has to be added, he has to collect it from the library and improve the story. For example, if a report is filed on a train accident killing ten people, the sub editor can improve the story by collecting information about other major train accidents that happened recently. Similarly if a report is filed on the spread of dengue fever in the city, the sub editor should take a backgrounder about the earlier outbreaks of such contagious diseases and the measures taken to check these.
GIVE A GOOD HEADING TO A NEWS
The sub editor then has to find a good heading for the story. The heading should be sharp, attractive, crisp and convey the spirit of the story. The heading should compel the reader to stop and read the whole story.
MANAGING COLUMN SPACING
While writing the heading, a sub editor should know the space available for the story, whether it is one column, two columns or three etc. The heading should fit within that column.
FORMATING
You must have noticed from this that the headings are not of uniform type. The type, or font, of the letters in each heading differs according to the length and width of the column. A sub editor should also know about the font sizes available. Each paper has its fonts and types.
SUGGEST A SUITABLE HEADING
While writing the heading, it should fit into the mood of the story. A sarcastic heading for a hard story will look odd. Similarly a hardline heading will spoil the spirit of a humorous piece. The heading should also be suggestive. It should never be a full sentence.
IMPROVE VISUAL QUALITY OF REPORT
The sub editor now has to see if there is a possibility for including photographs along with the news item. Pictures or graphs can improve the visual quality of a report. For example, if there is a report about the names of probable ministers in an impending cabinet reshuffle, readers would be expecting their pictures also along with the report. So the sub editor should get their pictures from the photo library.
GRAPH THE NEWS
Similarly, if the report is about the change in income tax rates, the sub editor should think of a graph to go along with that.
CONDENSATION
Condensation is a task that the sub editor has to do. Reporters generally file lengthy stories. Only the sub editor will be able to know about the availability of space in the newspaper. If the full story written by a correspondent will not squeeze into the space available, it is the job of the sub editor to condense it by rewriting or editing. If one word can substitute for a number of words that definitely should be done.
GIVING A BYLINE OR CREDIT TO STORY
Another important decision an editor has to take is about giving a byline or credit to the story. Stories come from news agencies. Normally bylines are not given for such stories. But if a reporter files an exclusive story then it should appear with his byline or name so that he gets individual credit for the story. The decision of giving a byline to a reporter for a particular story is taken by the news editor. But a sub editor who edits the story can always suggest to the news editor about giving that story a byline.
Extracted from http://download.nos.org/srsec335new/ch7.pdf