The first English newspaper in India was printed and published by James Augustus Hicky on January 29, 1780 in Kolkata bearing the title “The Bengal Gazette” (with nick-name “The Calcutta General Advertiser”). He was a reporter, sub-editor, news-editor, printer and publisher – all combined. The size and contents being brief, there was no necessity of maintaining staff.

But as the number of features and volume of work increased, it became necessary to have men who could scrutinize, check correct and shape the writings of others before its final publication in newspapers, magazine or websites. These men came to be known as sub-editors (Subs) or copy-readers. The sub-editor is the unsung hero of the newspaper world. He is the master craftsman, who shapes the newspaper and gives the finishing touches to crude copy. He also refines headlines and captions.
The chief sub is the presiding deity of the editorial room. The sub is the most versatile man in the newspaper. He knows something of everything and everything of something. It may be noted that a sub never allows any important feature of the story to stand in the last para which runs the risk of being cut out by the make-up man to level up the column. Accuracy is the watch word.
The sub-editor knows what is the law of liable, law of contempt of court, law of copyright and the Press Act. There is little difference between the technique of sub-editing in Indian news agencies and that in newspapers. News agencies in India do not headline their news releases. In Akashvani and other radio stations, the news is to be heard and not read. So, short sentences, simple words and few details are necessary, the present tense, wherever possible.
The newspaper which we read and like so much is a child of the unsung hero-the Sub. He is little known, but to him we owe so much.

The author is a technocrat & academician. He studied Journalism & Mass Communication at Patna University, Patna

Email:-----prabhatkishore65@gmail.com