Feature Editing: Introduction

Course Overview

Course Outline

all the journalistic aspects of the features editor's job, as well as management functions and people skills.

It covers setting and maintaining subbing standards, ensuring work is done to deadline, motivating a team, dealing with other departments and managing a budget.

Audience

This is a one day course for those who have recently been promoted to the role of features editor or wish to prepare for a future promotion. It will also be useful for anyone who has gaps in their formal training - either as journalists or as managers.

Course Outline

INTRODUCTION

YOUR COVERAGE

How to plan the features coverage for a magazine or a newspaper. Improving balance. Identifying weak areas of coverage and correcting them. Turning a story round for your publication. How to make sure you have a ready flow of story ideas presented to you and that you find plenty for yourself

THE FEATURE EDITOR'S ROLE ON YOUR PUBLICATION

What is expected of you as features editor and how realistic those expectations are. A look at you as leader and manager. How to manage your time effectively

GETTING THE MOST FROM

YOUR TEAM

How to ensure you have a clear understanding of the skills, abilities, problems and concerns of each of your features team. How to ensure that they trust and value you as their manager

THE DIARY AND FORWARD PLANNING

How to make sure you know what story- generating diary events are coming up.

How to plan ahead and have original features ready for diary events. Controlling the diary and choosing the right features writer.

WINNING A REALISTIC BUDGET FOR YOUR IDEAS

COMMISSIONING AND GIVING A DETAILED BRIEF

How to make sure you have outlined the story you are looking for. How to handle the situation when you don't get the story you were hoping for.

THE FEATURE EDITOR'S ROLE IN EDITING COPY

When should you edit a piece of unsatisfactory copy yourself and when should you hand it back to the writer for additional work?

KEEPING AHEAD OF RIVALS

Keeping feature writers keen and creative The importance of contacts

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS