“Edit the budget story before the vote” is a desk editor job simulation on FinderK.
You work at The Calder Valley Courier, an original fictional company, and complete 3 assignments in about 70 minutes.
It is for anyone who wants to practice desk editor work. No previous work experience is required.
Role
Desk editor
Industry
Journalism
Level
Intermediate
Time
About 70 minutes, 3 assignments
Access
Included in Plus
Created by
FinderK
A tired reporter has filed the council budget story six hours before deadline. Check every figure, decide what to do with a single anonymous allegation against a named councillor, get the right of reply right, and correct the record when a reader finds a flaw.
Read the full brief
You are the desk editor on the night of a council budget story. The draft has a percentage worked out on a bus, a closure count from memory, a record that is not a record, a percentage that should be percentage points and an unnamed officer accusing the finance chief the night before the vote. You fact-check it against the council's own spreadsheets, edit it and decide what can run, put any criticism to the council fairly, and then deal with a reader who points out what the council's papers buried. Automated checks confirm your figures and saved work; your judgement is reviewed against the standard for the role.
What is The Calder Valley Courier?
The Calder Valley Courier is a fictional online local news outlet with a daily newsletter, covering a council area of about 210,000 people. It publishes the council's budget story the night before the vote. This case runs on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 October 2026, in UK local time. The desk editor checks, edits and decides whether a story is ready; allegations about named people need the managing editor's sign-off.
Who do you play?
You are the desk editor in the News desk team.
You check, edit and decide whether stories are ready, and you may correct factual errors that are not legally sensitive. Any allegation of wrongdoing about a named person needs Helen Achterberg's sign-off and, where it could be defamatory, a check with Asha Kapoor. Promises to sources or the council about what will be published are Helen's to make.
What will you do?
1. Fact-check the draft
25 minutes
2. Edit the story and put criticism to the council
These coworkers are fictional. They may make mistakes, so compare their suggestions with the evidence.
Frequently asked questions
How long does “Edit the budget story before the vote” take?
About 70 minutes, across 3 assignments. When the time is up, you get 10 minutes to round up and submit. Pausing stops the clock.
Is “Edit the budget story before the vote” free?
No. It is included in FinderK Plus. With a free account you can also do it without grading.
Do I need desk editor experience?
No. No previous work experience is required. The listed level is intermediate.
What do I get when I finish?
You get feedback on each assignment you submit. Completing all required assignments earns a completion certificate. It records participation and is not professional accreditation.
Is The Calder Valley Courier a real company?
No. The Calder Valley Courier is an original fictional company made for practice. Its coworkers may make mistakes, so check their suggestions against the evidence.
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