About the editorial positions
Pugwash is split into three areas - the magazine, newspaper, and the core contributor teams. Find out how the teams work together here, or read on for the job descriptions.
On this page
General editorial responsibilities
Editors' responsibilities
- To liaise with publication editors (magazine, newspaper and web) to determine what content is required, and to set deadlines accordingly,
- To liaise with and manage sub-editors to ensure content is delivered on time and to an appropriate standard,
- To liaise with publication designers - where appropriate - and/or to make sure publication designers and contributors have opportunities to get together to ensure visually-led content is designed and presented in an appropriate fashion,
- To maintain good communications between their contributors and the editorial team wherever possible,
- To ensure constructive feedback is provided to contributors on their articles and content,
- To ensure the maintenance of any content tracking systems to maintain the quality of media output,
- And finally, editors should remember to have fun, be chilled, and look after their teams ;o)
Sub-editors' responsibilities
There are two types of sub-editor in UPSU media:
- Publication sub-editors, who assist the editors, chase up content, are involved in the creation and proof-reading process to make sure standards are maintained, and pretty much anything else the editor might need to do,
- Content sub-editors, who are responsible for a certain category of content within an editor's remit. For example, a music editor might take responsibility for handling the organisation of music reviews, gig reviews, band interviews, and so on. For areas - such as music - which make up a large part of our content, the editorial team may at their discretion expand a sub-editor's position to more than one person.
Pugwash magazine editorial positions
Magazine editor
Responsible for overseeing the creation of the magazine, from ideas to sending it off to print, the editor is organised and willing to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines.
The best editors have good interpersonal skills and are able to delegate their workload to the various teams appropriately.
Despite all the hard work, the position is one of the most senior in Pugwash and one of the most beneficial experiences UPSU Media can offer anyone with an interest in a career in media or even the wider world of management.
Design team
Design editor: responsible for pulling together each issue of the magazine with the help of the magazine editor and the design sub editors.
The design editor will need to liaise with the features, reviews, and news editors to ensure content is proof-read and complete with images and/or artwork where necessary.
Using a range of software programs, including Quark, inDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator, the design team holds ultimate responsibility for ensuring the magazine gets to print on time!
The hours will probably be long, but the end product will reflect the design editor's ability and show off their skills as well as those of each and every contributor.
Design sub-editor: working closely with the design editor to produce each issue of the magazine, you'll be using Quark, inDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator and a host of other software packages to create the finished product.
Successful candidates don't need to know these packages to begin with in order to get start the role, but the position will require some development of skills in this area.
As with the designer, the hours will probably be long, but the end product will always be worth the effort.
Pugwash Online (UPSU.net News) editorial positions
Web editor
The web editor is tasked with organising and overseeing the distribution of articles online. Generally, this includes (but isn't limited to) articles published in Pugwash and Pugwash News.
Web Sub Editor
The web sub editor assists the web editor with overseeing the distribution of content.
Pugwash News newspaper editorial positions
Newspaper editor
The editor is tasked with ensuring the consistency and quality of the newspaper's content. Backed up by a strong team of student volunteers and the Media Sabb, they must bring together the newspaper's news, features, comment, reviews and sports content every fortnight.
As with any editorial position, this role may be stressful, but editors work as part of a dedicated team, and the management and media skills learnt here will be a great boost for any career.
Design team
Design editor: The design editor is responsible for pulling together each issue of the newspaper with the help of the newspaper editor, and the design sub-editors.
Using a range of software programs, including Quark and the Adobe Creative Suite, your team holds ultimate responsibility for ensuring the newspaper gets to print each Monday fortnight on time.
The design editor liaises with the news, features, reviews and sports editors to ensure content arrives in time for print, and works closely with the newspaper editor to decide what makes it into print, and in what form.
Design sub-editor: The design sub-editors work closely with the design editor to produce each issue of the newspaper, gaining experience in software packages such as Quark and the Adobe Creative Suite (although sub-editors don't necessarily need to be experienced in any package to begin with, but computer literacy is a great help).
Sub-editors who really get into their role end their year on the editorial team with a great deal of experience of the processes and skills required to bring a publication to life.
Content editors and sub-editors
The structure of the content teams changed in 2008 to allow contributors to focus on their particular areas of interest. As a result, we now have the following positions (although it's not a requirement that all sub-editor positions be filled):
- Head of News (news editor)
- Local sub-editor
- UK sub-editor
- World sub-editor
- Politics sub-editor
- Education sub-editor
- Tech & web sub-editor
- Science sub-editor
- Business sub-editor
- Life & style editor
- Life sub-editor
- Fashion sub-editor
- Career, jobs & study sub-editor
- Transport sub-editor
- Food & drink sub-editor
- Money sub-editor
- Health sub-editor
- Relationships sub-editor
- Home sub-editor
- Travel sub-editor
- Environment sub-editor
- Faith sub-editor
- Arts & entertainment editor
- Media sub-editor
- Film sub-editor
- Music sub-editor
- Stage sub-editor
- Visual arts sub-editor
- TV & radio sub-editor
- What's on sub-editor
- Books sub-editor
- Games & puzzles sub-editor
- Comment & opinion editor
- Purple Wednesdays editor
- Sport news sub-editor
- Noticeboard sub-editor
- Sporto test sub-editor
- On the spot & gotchas sub-editor
