|
Editors
Overview » Industry Pathways » Journalism and Broadcasting 
Editors enjoy reviewing and rewriting the work of writers. These people like to put their special finishing touches on a written piece to make it more easily readable. It’s sort of like putting the icing on a delicious cake: the cake tastes great but the icing just makes it all the better! They may also do original writing but usually prefer to work on the content of writers. An editor’s responsibilities vary and may include planning the content of books, technical journals, trade magazines, and other general-interest publications. Editors also decide what material will appeal to readers, review and edit drafts of books and articles, offer comments to improve the work, and suggest possible titles.
Major newspapers and newsmagazines employ many types of editors. In smaller organizations, such as small daily or weekly newspapers, a single editor may do everything or share responsibility with only a few other people.
Editors held about 122,000 jobs in 2006. These workers find that there are a wide variety of employers where their services are in demand. More than one-half of jobs for editors are in the information sector, which includes newspapers, periodicals, and books; radio and television broadcasting; software publishers; motion picture and sound recording industries; and Internet service providers, web search portals, and data processing.
Many editors worked in advertising, computer systems design, and educational services. Other editors worked in computer and electronic product manufacturing, government agencies, professional organizations, and religious organizations.
Jobs with major book publishers, magazines, broadcasting companies, advertising agencies, and public-relations firms are concentrated in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. Jobs with newspapers, business and professional journals, and trade magazines are available throughout the country.
Employment of writers and editors is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2016. Employment of editors for newspapers, periodicals, book publishers, and nonprofit organizations is expected to increase as demand grows for these publications. Magazines and other periodicals increasingly are developing specialty markets, appealing to readers with unique interests.
Businesses and organizations are developing newsletters and publishing materials directly for the Internet. Online publications and services are growing in number and sophistication, increasing the demand for editors. Advertising and public-relations agencies, which also are growing, should be another source of new jobs.
A college degree generally is required for a position as an editor. Although some employers look for a broad liberal arts background, most prefer to hire people with degrees in communications, journalism, or English. For those who specialize in a particular area, such as fashion, business, or legal issues, additional background in the chosen field is expected. Knowledge of a second language is helpful for some positions.
Familiarity with electronic publishing, graphics, and video production equipment increasingly is needed. Online newspapers and magazines require knowledge of computer software used to combine online text with graphics, audio, video, and animation.
High school and college newspapers, literary magazines, community newspapers, and radio and television stations all provide valuable, but sometimes unpaid, practical writing experience. Many magazines, newspapers, and broadcast stations have internships for students. Interns write short pieces, conduct research and interviews, and learn about the publishing or broadcasting business. This is a good way to get started if you are considering this field!
Typical annual earnings for editors were $48,320 in 2007.
If you are interested in this occupation or are wondering about related occupations, use the links below to continue your exploration. Always remember, the more effort you put into exploring possible careers, the easier it will be for you to discover the best career choices for you!
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: http://www.bls.gov/oco/.
O*NET OnLine, Occupational Information Network: http://online.onetcenter.org/.
For information about planning and paying for college, visit Junior Achievement’s Financial Aid Center.
|