If your publication has multiple editors, it can be hard to know who is working on which submission. The editor assignment tool lets publication owners and editors assign themselves stories from the submissions queue so the whole team can see who is handling what.
What publication owners can do
The publication owner has final authority over all assignments. If an editor has assigned a story to themself but becomes unavailable to work on it, the owner can reassign or remove the assignment at any time.
The publication owner is the person who created the publication. Owners can add and remove editors, who in turn can edit, accept, reject, and publish stories. To see who owns a publication, go to the publication's URL and add /about. The first name listed is the owner.
How to assign a story to yourself if you're an editor
- Go to your publication's submissions queue.
- Find a story that hasn't been assigned to anyone yet.
- Click Assign yourself next to the story.
Once you've assigned a story, it will appear as assigned to you. Other editors and the publication owner will be able to see which stories are assigned and to whom.
How to unassign a story if you're an editor
If you're no longer able to work on a story you've assigned to yourself, you can unassign it so another editor can pick it up. Click the assignment on the story and select Unassign. The story will return to the unassigned pool.
Who can see assignment information?
Only publication owners and editors can see which editor has been assigned to a story. Writers cannot see who is working on their submission.
Is this tool required?
No. The assignment tool is entirely optional. If your team already has a system for coordinating editorial work, you can continue using it. Assigning stories in the queue is there for teams that want it, not a requirement for all publications.