It’s been a few years since I’ve been on this board, but that’s because I’ve primarily been an editor for the past few years and a photographer second. But I work for a lifestyle show, meaning the hardest story I’ve shot and edited would be either someone dealing with Alzheimer’s disease, or a kid who died trying to save a friend in the water (not reel worthy).

It’s time for me to put together another reel, but I really don’t know how to put it together. As I understand it, reels should only be 4-5 max and not be long as to avoid boredom of the chief photog. And the most recent stuff you do should be in the front of the reel.

But here are my dillemmas:

1. I have been an editor for a lifestyle program for almost 4 years now. I do not do anything hard news. I am trying to apply for a news editor position. Do I put news stories I shot and edited from 4 years ago into the reel to show that I have done news before?
2. News stories are typically 1:00 or 1:30. The stories I edit are generally no shorter than 2:30. However, the stories for my reel are usually at least 3:00. Being considerably longer, should I not put as many stories into the reel to keep time short or boredom at bay?
3. Should I mix in news stories from 4 years ago with stories I have recently shot and edited, even though they are light and non-news? Or do I just keep the entire reel current and put only in the stories I most recently shot and edited?

Keep in mind, the place I want to send my reel to is a news station looking for a full time editor in a fairly high market (around 50 I think).