Many dream of having a prestigious profession. The editor is one of the best options that can satisfy the ambitions of the humanities. But what do you need to know about this position in order to prepare yourself in advance for professional duties? What skills do you need to learn while studying? And how then to build your career?
What is an editor?
To begin with, this is a very responsible profession. An editor is a specialist who is responsible for preparing material for printing. That is, it is he who “flies by the head” if the final version of the article contains errors or false information. Therefore, the editor, like a teacher in a kindergarten, tirelessly ensures that his wards skillfully carry out their work.
It should also be noted that in the same publication there may be several specialists. So, the editor-in-chief is responsible for creating the basic concept, selecting topics for articles and authors. But the art editor deals exclusively with page design, improves the quality of photos and the color scheme of the magazine.
Editors Classification
Given the above, let's look at what types of editors exist. Indeed, thanks to this information, the future specialist will be able to determine the specific direction and focus on its development.
So, at the moment it is known about such varieties of the profession:
- art editor;
- scientific editor;
- technical editor;
- Broadcast Editor
- literary editor.
It should also be warned that each direction has its own characteristics. Because of this, it can be quite difficult to move from one category to another.
Where can I learn?
This specialty requires a higher humanitarian education. Moreover, the closer it is to the specifics of the profession, the more likely it is to get such a coveted position. Therefore, if a newspaper editor does not like a person, he expects something more, then he needs to master one of the following specialties:
- editing;
- publishing;
- literary creation;
- philology;
- journalism;
- linguistics.
Fortunately, most Russian universities have such departments. Therefore, do not worry about the fact that the education of the editor will certainly have to go to the capital.
What qualities should a good specialist have?
Alas, this profession is not suitable for everyone. An editor is a position that requires certain qualities, without which success cannot be achieved here. Let's look at them in more detail.
In the first place is responsibility. Whether the editor-in-chief or a regular editor, he should be able to “keep in check” both his wards and himself. After all, he is the person who is responsible for the quality of the material and the project as a whole.
Therefore, it is logical that the editor should have excellent organizational skills. Only in this way can he create the atmosphere necessary for work and competently distribute responsibilities among his subordinates. In addition, he will have to constantly push his colleagues to self-improvement, otherwise they will not be able to grow professionally.
And, of course, endurance. Without it, the editor is nowhere, especially before the delivery of the project. In this case, you need to be prepared for the fact that you have to get tired both physically and psychologically. Mountains of unverified material, lack of sleep, responsibility for the result of the work of the whole team ... And that's not all.
The main responsibilities of the editor
Naturally, one cannot predict the full range of responsibilities, as this is a very multifaceted profession. The magazine editor, for example, is more loaded than the specialist working in a small newspaper. Therefore, you will have to limit yourself to only the basic functions of the profession, without going deep.
So what does the editor do?
He creates the basic concept of the project, down to the names of articles, issues a task to the authors and indicates the deadlines, monitors. It analyzes the material received from the writers and decides its future fate. If necessary, returns the articles for revision, while indicating errors or inaccuracies. Checks the quality of the printed material and makes corrections.
In addition, the editor can participate in all stages of writing articles. He can also engage in the training of authors, and, if necessary, send them to further training. If we talk about the chief editor, then his responsibilities are even wider. Therefore, often in large publications there is a whole group of specialists who are distributed throughout the organization, and each is responsible for its own area of work.
Where to look for a job?
The newspaper's editorial office is an ideal place to start the career of any editor. Firstly, you can get invaluable work experience here, and secondly, getting here is much easier than in a glossy magazine. Otherwise, when looking for a job, you need to build on the available vacancies and requirements for them.
You should also remember that at first you can work as a freelancer. So, many electronic publications are recruiting editors who are ready to perform their duties remotely. In general, this is a good chance for those who live in a small city with a limited number of opportunities.
Remuneration and competition
An editor is a profession, the salary of which largely depends on the place of work. So, in small newspapers, these specialists receive no more than 20-25 thousand rubles. But glossy magazines and popular publications offer an order of magnitude higher. For example, the average salary in Moscow ranges from 40-50 thousand rubles.
Now about the competition. If it’s quite easy to get into small newspapers and electronic publications, then it’s more difficult to get to more prestigious places. Firstly, all ambitious specialists strive to settle in there, and secondly, companies themselves often tighten the struggle for vacant posts. Nevertheless, having a good store of knowledge and self-confidence, the editor will never be left without a piece of bread.