What Do Editors Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Editors plan, coordinate, or edit content of material for publication. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication. Includes technical editors. They also read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax.

Other tasks include:

• Verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources.
• Read, evaluate and edit manuscripts or other materials submitted for publication and confer with authors regarding changes in content, style or organization, or publication.
• Develop story or content ideas, considering reader or audience appeal.
• Prepare, rewrite and edit copy to improve readability, or supervise others who do this work.
• Oversee publication production, including artwork, layout, computer typesetting, and printing, ensuring adherence to deadlines and budget requirements.
• Write text, such as stories, articles, editorials, or newsletters.

We asked Editors how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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65% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 42% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Editors read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax. They allocate print space for story text, photos, and illustrations according to space parameters and copy significance, using knowledge of layout principles.

A typical day for an Editor will also include:

• Select local, state, national, and international news items received from wire services, based on assessment of items’ significance and interest value.
• Plan the contents of publications according to the publication’s style, editorial policy, and publishing requirements.
• Read, evaluate and edit manuscripts or other materials submitted for publication and confer with authors regarding changes in content, style or organization, or publication.
• Prepare, rewrite and edit copy to improve readability, or supervise others who do this work.
• Oversee publication production, including artwork, layout, computer typesetting, and printing, ensuring adherence to deadlines and budget requirements.

We asked some Editors a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	89% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	60% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	67% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	35% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	1% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	58% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Editors also direct the policies and departments of newspapers, magazines and other publishing establishments. They may also make manuscript acceptance or revision recommendations to the publisher.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Editors Arrange for copyright permissions. They might also Meet frequently with artists, typesetters, layout personnel, marketing directors, and production managers to discuss projects and resolve problems.

In addition, they Confer with management and editorial staff members regarding placement and emphasis of developing news stories.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources.

To some Editors, it is also their responsibility to Interview and hire writers and reporters or negotiate contracts, royalties, and payments for authors or freelancers.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Editor, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/media-and-communication/editors.htm

http://www.copydesk.org/?homepage=1

http://www.magazine.org/asme

http://www.altweeklies.com/