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Become a Sports Video Editor

A Video Editor uses the most compelling combination of video, sound bites, music and effects to tell a story. There are two types of Video Editors in live television production – daily editors and feature editors.

Daily editors turn raw footage from the day’s events into smaller segments. This footage is suitable for broadcast and fits within the timeframe the Sports Producer has allotted. Footage may include game highlights, press conferences or raw video. For example, Lakers Coach Phil Jackson has a press conference that lasts 45 minutes, but the Producer only wants 45 seconds for his show. The Video Editor’s task will be to find and edit the best 45 seconds.

If the Video Editor has time, they will also insert ‘cover video’. Cover video is used to spice up a mundane sound bite by adding additional video to it. Using the previous example, if Coach Jackson is talking about Kobe Bryant’s fall-away jumper vs. the San Antonio Spurs, a strong Video Editor will find that play and insert it where Jackson discusses the shot.

Feature Editors have a similar task. They still make compelling television, but with a much different format. Feature Editors work on longer forms of storytelling in conjuction with Field Producers and Reporters.

For example, a Reporter has been working for weeks on an investigative report about a college coach who is accused of getting physical with his players. These types of stories are allocated more time in the Sportscast, and more time to edit.

The job of the Feature Editor is to take the Reporter’s script, voice tracks and soundbites and then insert video, music and special effects to make the story come to life.

A Daily Editor might work on 10-20 quick hitting assignments a day, whereas a Feature Editor would have one or two max. Feature Editors win Emmy’s, Daily Editors work the grind.

Job Skills of Top Video Editors:

• Strong point of view – A Video Editor has to know what looks good, and how to make their content flow seamlessly
• Technical experience – Video Editing takes place on expensive, complex machinery called non-linear editors (i.e. Avid Media Composer), it takes a lot of training and experience
• Speed – A Video Editor is always working on tight deadlines
• Creativity – A Video Editor must continually find new ways to present a story

A Daily Video Editor Job may be for you if:

If there was an ESPN Ocho you’d watch it. Often. And not only would you watch it, you’d critique the Badminton highlights and think you could do a better job.

A Feature Editor Job may be for you if:

You watch a feature story about an athlete who has overcome obstacles and the combination of video, music and building drama sends chills up your spine. You’d probably watch the Ocho too.

Video Editor Employment Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, there are approximately 25,500 film and video editor jobs in the US, as of 2008. That number is expected to increase 12% to 28,600 by 2018.

Many Video Editors are employed by independent television stations, local affiliate stations of television networks or broadcast groups, large cable and television networks, or smaller, independent production companies.

Minimum Requirements: Video Editor

• Associate degree in Broadcasting, Journalism or Television Production
• Relevant work experience including internships, college TV stations or previous employment as a Production Assistant
• Technological experience on Linear and Non-Linear Editing Eduipment
• A demo tape with your editing work

Learn more about a career as a Video Editor:

Watch our ‘One Minute Drill’ videos for more Sports Broadcasting career advice

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