Editor – Description of the profession

Very well-written article, essay, book or report that you lay eyes on, has to endure a series of checks, corrections, improvisations and polishing before it is finalised to be issued. All of this is ministered to by an editor. An Editor plays with the words to vend off his writing and bridges the void between the wordsmith and the masses.

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Editors work in a multitude of avenues ranging from print media- Journals, newspapers, magazines and Novels to working for Television broadcasts, and Movies. Knowledgeable, eager and imaginative editors who come up with absorbing ideas and catchy headlines are always in demand by publishers, but this profession calls for a little more than this. The Key Obligations of an Editor:

Coming up with plots, storylines or new content that is engaging to the crowd. Constructing a piece of writing, rewriting and rephrasing the same to make better the comprehensibility of the writing; making it fathomable.

Assigning work to independent writers to write stories and report events. Additionally, interviewing and hiring new writers for the publication house is also looked after by the Editor. Refining the content by making corrections by analysing errors in grammar, spelling and punctuations; striking out unnecessary words/phrases, rephrasing for better readability and revising before a final draft is shaped.

Administering and executing operations and looking after publication budget and targets, including deadlines. Making certain that the printed themes adhere to the guidelines of the publication, and editorial policies. An Editor also makes arrangements for copyright permissions.

Skills Required

Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communication, or English are preferred. One must put forth a display of strong writing and editorial skills. Good Interpersonal skills, with an eye for judgement regarding the publication of stories, with excellence in writing skills make for a good Editor. The requisite knowledge of content is field specific, i.e. an editor involved in some magazine that exclusively prints anent Automobiles, must have an abundant familiarity about the content, and this expertise may be acquired through work experience within the sphere. Editors usually commence as assistants, or reporters, and develop the dexterity to recognise worthy stories and identifying talented writers. Another skill required by an editor is mastery in using computers and other communication apparatus to work on the online publication. Web designing and graphics layout for content are important for electronic publishing, owing to the fact that online content is becoming more and more popular.

It has been forecast that employment in the publishing industry will be facing a slump, as a consequence, the condition for striving to win jobs with acclaimed publishers will be hefty. Online publications continue to coerce the print media in the context of audience and popularity. Even with job growth for editors in online media, conventional and long-established jobs in print media are sinking. Editors who have resigned themselves to online media, and are confident with writing on a digital platform should have superiority over others in winning work.

Growing a culture requires a good storyteller. Changing a culture requires a persuasive editor.
― Ryan Lilly