Video editing is ultimately about making decisions. What to leave out as well as what to put in. How to tell an engaging story in the most efficient way. This is certainly one area where computers can't replace experienced professionals.
At Sound-Motive our approach to editing is informed by our current affairs experience. We believe that pictures should be used to support the story. This informs what we look for when we film. It's been said that the best camera operators were editors and we tend to agree. Naturally, we use the latest non-linear editing systems to make fast (but reversible) cuts to the footage before adding any effects (if appropriate). What really matters though is not the tools but the talent.