Occupation

Editors

Human Advantage 74%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Low Risk
2.8 / 10

This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.

Plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication.

Also Known As: Acquisitions Editor, Acute Editor, Advertising Editor, Art Editor, Assignment Editor, Book Editor, Business Editor, Censor +49 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. Read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax.
  2. Verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources.
  3. Read, evaluate and edit manuscripts or other materials submitted for publication, and confer with authors regarding changes in content, style or organization, or publication.
  4. Develop story or content ideas, considering reader or audience appeal.
  5. Prepare, rewrite and edit copy to improve readability, or supervise others who do this work.
  6. Oversee publication production, including artwork, layout, computer typesetting, and printing, ensuring adherence to deadlines and budget requirements.
  7. Write text, such as stories, articles, editorials, or newsletters.
  8. Supervise and coordinate work of reporters and other editors.
  9. Confer with management and editorial staff members regarding placement and emphasis of developing news stories.
  10. Plan the contents of publications according to the publication's style, editorial policy, and publishing requirements.
  11. Review and approve proofs submitted by composing room prior to publication production.
  12. Assign topics, events and stories to individual writers or reporters for coverage.
  13. Meet frequently with artists, typesetters, layout personnel, marketing directors, and production managers to discuss projects and resolve problems.

Supplemental Tasks (8)

  1. Monitor news-gathering operations to ensure utilization of all news sources, such as press releases, telephone contacts, radio, television, wire services, and other reporters.
  2. Select local, state, national, and international news items received from wire services, based on assessment of items' significance and interest value.
  3. Allocate print space for story text, photos, and illustrations according to space parameters and copy significance, using knowledge of layout principles.
  4. Make manuscript acceptance or revision recommendations to the publisher.
  5. Direct the policies and departments of newspapers, magazines and other publishing establishments.
  6. Arrange for copyright permissions.
  7. Interview and hire writers and reporters or negotiate contracts, royalties, and payments for authors or freelancers.
  8. Read material to determine index items and arrange them alphabetically or topically, indicating page or chapter location.

Emerging Tasks

New and evolving responsibilities for this role:

  • Respond to questions from the public.
  • Write text, such as headlines, stories, articles, editorials, or newsletters.

Education & Training

Job Zone 4 Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Education: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

Bachelor's Degree
80%
Master's Degree
17%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.
1%
Post-Master's Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master's degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.
1%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Adobe Acrobat
  • Adobe After Effects
  • Adobe Creative Cloud software
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Apple macOS
  • Cascading style sheets CSS
  • Drupal
  • Extensible markup language XML
  • Facebook
  • Google Analytics
  • Google Docs
  • Hypertext markup language HTML
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Project
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Microsoft Word
  • WordPress

Software (56)

  • Adobe Captivate
  • Adobe Dreamweaver
  • Adobe FrameMaker
  • Adobe InCopy
  • After the Deadline
  • Apple Final Cut Pro
  • Apple iWork Keynote
  • AutoCrit Editing Wizard
  • Avid Technology Media Composer
  • CCI NewsGate
  • Editor Software Stylewriter
  • Elite Minds RightWriter
  • Extensible hypertext markup language XHTML
  • File transfer protocol FTP software
  • FileMaker Pro
  • Google Drive
  • Grammarly Editor
  • HP Autonomy TeamSite
  • InScribe
  • LexisNexis
  • LinkedIn
  • Microsoft Publisher
  • Orpheus Technology Pro Writing Aid
  • Polycom RealPresence
  • QuarkXPress
  • Social media sites
  • Style guide databases
  • Twitter
  • Web browser software
  • Web content management system CMS software
  • WhiteSmoke
  • YouTube
  • myWriterTools

Tools & Equipment (11)

  • Desktop computers
  • Digital still cameras
  • Digital video cameras
  • Laptop computers
  • Multi-line telephone systems
  • Personal computers
  • Precision rulers
  • Teleconferencing equipment
  • Universal serial bus USB flash drives
  • Video editing equipment
  • Videoconferencing equipment

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Media Production & Broadcasting Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 2
Zone 4
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