Page 31 - Convergent Journalism an Introduction Writing and Producing Across Media

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The Multimedia Assignment Editor

and Producer

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Tell someone you work in the news business, and they’re likely to think
you’re a reporter, anchor, or photographer. These may be the most
visible positions in a newsroom, but many behind-the-scenes jobs are
just as critical. Some of the more important jobs include the assign-
ment editor and producer. While each position is independent, the
two people who hold these jobs must carefully coordinate their roles
to cover the news in a cohesive, effective way. When you add conver-
gence to the mixture, the positions become even more challenging and
more rewarding.
Assignment editors are basically the traffic cops in a newsroom. They
have to make sure all stories are covered with the proper resources.
Here are some of the duties of the assignment editor in a traditional
TV/radio newsroom:

• Maintain futures files. These describe stories that reporters and
producers will use in upcoming programs. They may be
newspaper clippings, news releases, or old scripts that need
updating. The aim is to ensure newsrooms cover stories that are
scheduled in advance, along with follow-up stories.
• Monitor police and fire scanners.