Editors play a critical role in determining what the public sees, reads and believes, acting as the gatekeepers of news across print, broadcast and digital media.

Their decisions shape headlines, influence narratives, and, in many cases, determine how society understands events unfolding around it.

Associate Professor Sule Yau Sule, a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano (BUK), disclosed this while presenting a paper titled “Who is an Editor?” at a workshop in Kano.

He described an editor as “any person with authority to decide the content and flow of information from the original source to the ultimate consumer,” stressing that editing goes far beyond correcting grammar or style.

According to him, editors serve as the internal surveillance mechanism of the media, deciding not only which stories are published but also how they are framed, the emphasis they receive, their length and placement.

“Editors are not merely recording reality; they are selecting, shaping and organising it for the public,” he said.

Professor Sule explained that editors function primarily as quality control managers, ensuring that news content is readable, accurate and free from ambiguity or slander.

He added that editors also bear the responsibility of protecting media organisations from costly litigation, particularly in cases involving libel and defamation.

He noted that the editorial process involves several layers, beginning with reporters and correspondents who propose story ideas and write first drafts.

Sub-editors refine stories for clarity, accuracy, style and space, while news editors decide which stories run and how to balance political, commercial and audience interests. In broadcast media, programme producers structure content, allocate airtime and select guests, while editors-in-chief set editorial policies and intervene in sensitive or high-impact stories.

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The rise of digital media, he said, has expanded the editor’s role even further. Web and social media editors now contend with platform algorithms on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, which determine which stories users see first.

Influencers and content creators also act as informal gatekeepers, as a single share or comment can make a story go viral.

Professor Sule pointed out that many stories are rejected due to weak news value, irrelevance to the audience, poor timing or lack of credibility.

Poorly written press releases buried facts and unclear headlines, he added, often fail to pass through the editorial gate.

“Sometimes, we need to look beyond the story itself before allowing it to go on air,” he said, referring to what he described as the “Law of Common Sense.”

He concluded that editors carry a social responsibility that extends beyond the newsroom.

Their judgment, he said, can prevent misinformation, reduce unnecessary tension and promote social stability.

“An editor is a quality control manager first and foremost,” he said, adding that society depends on editors to ensure that information serves the public good while maintaining peace and trust.