Editing and Publishing

What is an editor?

An editor writes, proofreads, reviews, and prepares documents for a variety of publications, both in print and on the Web – books, newspapers, magazines, etc. The editor guarantees the quality of the final product, and not only edits created material, but also writes original content.

Jobs in Editing

• Copyeditor – Corrects mechanical and content errors, checks facts, and ensures consistency of punctuation, capitalization, etc. Copyeditors use reference books on writing style and edit with a specialized language of symbols.
• Acquisitions Editor – Finds and acquires manuscripts for a publishing company. The acquisitions editor may also work with the author to develop the manuscript.
• Production Editor - Tracks the entire process of the author's work. The production editor is similar to the acquisitions editor, but is also involved with the actual production of the final work and approves the look of the finished product.
• Developmental Editor – Provides in-depth improvements and suggestions for manuscripts. The developmental editor focuses on content areas like organization, structure, and plot.
• Newsroom Editor – Decides what stories to cover and how to cover them. The newsroom editor matches stories to the proper qualified reporters.

Educational Requirements

Most employers require a BA in professional writing, English, journalism, or a related field, plus 2 to 3 years of editing experience in a professional setting. The State News and the MSU Press are good places for students to start.

Personal Skills and Qualities

Editors are well-read, creative, organized, and have a keen eye for detail, clarity, and the English language. If you love to read and write, are a stickler for proper grammar, and work well under the pressure of deadlines, you might make a great editor.

Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics: "Employment of writers and editors is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2012. . . The outlook for most writing and editing jobs is expected to be competitive, because many people with writing or journalism training are attracted to the occupation."

Fortunately, "online publications and services are growing in number and sophistication, spurring the demand for writers and editors, especially those with Web experience."

Compensation

Editors may earn a salary of $35,000 to $55,000.

Job Listings

Searching for jobs in editing? Check these sites. Most sites require membership, but registration is free.

Media Bistro - Search for media jobs by state, industry, and/or keyword.

Craigslist - Select a city, then click "Writing / Editing" in the Jobs column.

Monster - Select a location, then click "Publishing/Printing" in the Job Category box.