The job of an editor is a high-ranking position in any publishing house, and the editor is tasked with a supervising role in the process of publishing – from keeping an eye out for spelling and grammar mistakes, to modifying the layout when they deem it unsuitable for the specific content. Editors may also assign writers with specific tasks related to the current project, as well as provide them with resources. The editor is also responsible for the factual accuracy of the works published by their company, which involves verifying the sources of information and every external work which has been referenced.
A degree in a media-related subject or journalism could be beneficial to candidates for an editor’s position, though it’s not required. Intricate knowledge of the various principles of publishing and readability are a must though, and editors must be especially well-acquainted with the ideas behind layout creation and information organization. Good computer skills are also required, as editors perform their jobs using a computer almost entirely in recent times.
Even though there’s a quite large amount of responsibilities imposed over an editor, the compensation for the job tends to be lower than most people would expect. The median salary for 2009 was just $41,000, and the job pays between $31,000 and $55,000 annually. There’s a high strain on the editor’s mentality involved in practicing the job, due to the large number of factors that need to be observed when verifying the next edition to be published.