Press sub-editor
To be a good sub-editor, you'll need an excellent eye for detail, strong communication skills to work with journalists and editors, and the creativity to craft compelling headlines
As a press sub-editor, or sub, you'll check the written content of newspapers, magazines or websites before publication. You'll review grammar, spelling, tone and style to ensure accuracy, and you'll check facts to make sure the content is appropriate for its target audience.
You'll also lay out stories on the page, write headings and captions, and may contribute to overall page design.
To be a good sub, you need to be an all-rounder - familiar with media law, sharp-eyed, and able to put a story together with speed and style.
Like other journalism roles, sub-editing is demanding and requires constant attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.
Responsibilities
As a press sub-editor, you’ll typically need to:
- edit copy written by reporters or features writers to remove spelling mistakes and grammatical errors
- rewrite material so that it flows better and follows the house style of the publication
- ensure that stories fit a particular word count by cutting or expanding material as necessary
- write headlines that capture the essence of the story or are clever or amusing, depending on the style of the publication
- write standfirsts or 'sells' (brief introductions, which sum up the story underneath the headline)
- liaise with reporters, journalists and editors
- check facts and stories to ensure they're accurate, adhere to copyright laws, avoid libel, and follow the publication's editorial policy
- crop photos and decide where to use them for best effect and write picture captions
- work to a page plan to ensure that the right stories appear in the correct place on each page
- lay out pages and, depending on the nature of the role, play a part in page design
- manipulate on-screen copy using appropriate desktop publishing software, such as Adobe InDesign, Photoshop or other industry-standard tools
- stay up to date with industry developments, e.g. by reading media-related publications
- adapt all these skills for a publication's website and social media channels.
Salary
- Starting salaries for sub-editors can range from £22,000 to £29,000.
- Salaries for experienced or more senior sub-editors range from £30,000 to £45,000+.
- A production editor or chief sub-editor for a national newspaper can earn £60,000+.
Large regional or national papers tend to pay more than smaller local papers or magazines and salaries will be higher in London.
Salaries vary according to your level of experience and the type of publication you're working on.
Income figures are intended as a guide only.
Working hours
You'll need to be flexible as working late to meet tight deadlines is a regular part of a sub-editor's job, especially for national dailies.
Shifts may include early mornings, evenings, nights, or weekends, depending on editorial schedules and whether the publication is daily, weekly, or monthly.
What to expect
- Most work is desk-based, but you may occasionally attend meetings, press launches, or events.
- On smaller or niche publications, your role will be varied and hands-on across writing, editing, layout, and design. Larger titles may offer more specialised roles (e.g. news sub, features sub), though many subs still work flexibly across tasks.
- Freelance sub-editing remains a viable route for those with experience, offering greater flexibility and potentially higher earnings.
- Sub-editing often serves as a stepping-stone into other journalism and publishing roles, although many enter after gaining reporting experience.
- Diversity-support funding, such as bursaries for NCTJ training, is available via schemes supported by the NCTJ and related bodies. For example, the .
Qualifications
A degree is not essential, but relevant qualifications or NCTJ accreditation are highly advantageous.
Subjects such as journalism, English or media studies are particularly valued for this career, and subject knowledge or relevant qualifications can help you when applying to specialist publications.
You can check for an before applying to make sure it will be fully recognised within the industry.
Entry with an HND only is possible, but the reality is that the competitive nature of the industry means graduates and postgraduates are in a far stronger position than those with an HND or other equivalent qualification.
You can also enter this career via an apprenticeship, see for more information.
Professional diplomas or certificates in sub-editing and proofreading, completed through the NCTJ, other journalism schools or done as in-house training remain valuable.
Search postgraduate courses in journalism.
Skills
You'll need to have:
- excellent writing, proofreading and editorial skills
- near-perfect spelling, grammar and punctuation
- a keen eye for detail
- strong organisational, communication and time-management skills
- the ability to perform under tight deadlines
- proficiency in industry-standard desktop publishing software, such as Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and/or QuarkXPress, alongside familiarity with content management systems (CMS)
- an adaptable approach and resilience for receiving feedback
- the capacity to problem solve and work under pressure
- creativity and ability to produce engaging layouts and headlines.
Work experience
It's vital to gain some experience prior to applying for jobs. Try to build a portfolio of anything you work on to show examples of what you're capable of. Work experience is often available with local, regional and national newspapers and magazines, ranging from short placements of a week or two to longer internships.
Many of these opportunities are not formally advertised, so it's important to send well-targeted speculative applications to publications you're interested in. Show familiarity with their content and style and suggest how you could contribute.
You could also join your student newspaper or website or look for local organisations or charities that may need help with sub-editing in their publications.
Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.
Employers
Employers range from large regional, national and international publishing groups to news agencies and multimedia content providers such as and other independent titles.
The print sector continues to shrink, with some sub-editing outsourced to central hubs or integrated into reporter roles.
Digital publishing and online advertising revenues are expanding, increasing demand for multi-skilled subs who are comfortable with web formats, SEO, CMS and social media.
The local press recruits directly and proactive applications are usually accepted and may boost your chances, especially when applying for freelance or contract roles.
Specialist recruitment agencies also place experienced sub-editors with publishing and digital media firms.
For details of publications and their owners, see .
Look for job vacancies at:
Two leading recruitment agencies specialising in creative roles are:
Practice editing and rewriting copy to build your portfolio as structured exercises of this nature are often part of the hiring process.
Professional development
Many subs gain NCTJ accreditation before they enter journalism but studying an approved course once you're working is also an option.
You'll further develop your subbing skills on the job, from basic copy editing to headline writing, layout and page planning.
Newspaper and magazine groups sometimes send their sub-editors on a range of in-company or external training courses. These are offered by the NCTJ and other relevant professional bodies.
Employers also often provide in-house or external training, such as NCTJ modules, specific software training, video editing, SEO copywriting and CMS.
Career prospects
With experience, you may progress from focusing solely on copy editing to having responsibility for headline writing, layout, page planning and section leadership.
You may move into features writing, design/production editing or digital roles within the same publication.
Many of the larger newspaper groups own titles all over the country, so applying for more senior posts within your own newspaper group is a good way to gain promotion.
Other paths include press/PR officer roles, communications, digital content management and specialist publishing.
Networking, flexibility and awareness of industry shifts are key to career growth.