Editor Job Description

Editing is the process of reviewing and then condensing, correcting or arranging written material, images, sound, video, or film with the objective of preparing it for final presentation. Depending on the field you work in, you could be a newspaper, a magazine, or a film editor. In a given field, such as the print media, your designation could be that of a copy editor, a sub editor, a features editor or an editor in chief. An editor job description will depend on the level and field he/she is working in. While the fundamentals of the job remain the same, the duties and responsibilities of a film editor will differ from those of a news editor.

Print Editor
He/she may work in a newspaper, magazine, publishing house, or a similar organization. In a newspaper, apart from reviewing, correcting and rewriting the work of writers, an editor may also write an editorial. The editor in chief job description may include planning the content of magazines, books, newspapers, technical journals, trade magazines, newsletters and other publications. An editor may be in charge of a team or writers, and in this capacity review story ideas proposed by them, and generate ideas for them. While reviewing written material, they may make suggestions to the writer on how to improve the work, and often offer title options. An editor working in a publishing industry would review proposals/manuscripts for books, assess the quality of it, and decide whether or not their firm should buy the publication rights for it.

Newspaper/Magazine Editor
A big newspaper or magazine, would employ several types of editors. For example, there may be a news, a features, a sports editor, and possibly several sub editors. An executive editor is one at a senior position, and may thus oversee the work of other editors, who may deal with specific areas such as international news, local news, feature stories, or sports. However, he/she has the final word on which stories are published and the perspective taken on them. They also have to ensure that the editorial stance of the material is in keeping with that of the publication. In most organizations, the managing editor sees to the daily functioning of the news department, and news/feature/sports editors assign work and the copy/sub editors edit a reporter/writers material for accuracy, content, grammar, and style. An editor in chief responsibilities include hiring writers/reporters, and is usually the one heading the department.

An editor at a magazine or a features editor also oversees the layout and appearance of articles, which may include duties such as overseeing artwork, design, photography and sometimes attending photo-shoots. They may occasionally have to negotiate payments with freelance writers and network at industry events.

Education and Skills
Most editors hold a college degree in either English language or journalism. However, someone like a film editor needs technical knowledge and thus must be appropriately qualified. Sometimes, other college majors are acceptable, more so in the fields of technical or special-interest writing. To be a good editor, one must be up-to-date about current happenings and be well informed about a broad range of subjects. Also essential is an excellent sense of language and grammar, as well as basic computer skills. School and college experience in your field of editing is always an added advantage.

So far, if an editor job description sounds like the kind of work you would enjoy, know that the pressures of the job are great, and one is constantly working against time to meet deadlines. The job also carries great responsibilities, for the editor is the one who takes the fall for printed inaccuracies.