What does an assistant editor do?
An assistant editor is an individual responsible for assisting an editor-in-chief or editor-at-large of a newspaper, magazine, radio program, or website. Assistant editors hold meetings with staff and freelance writers to discuss new, fresh and original content for projects on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. They review assignments handed in by writers or reporters for sense, accuracy, readability, and content. Assistant editors must also utilize new media applications such as Twitter and Facebook to draw attention to an article or cause.
Assistant editor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real assistant editor resumes:
- Lead bureau newsgathering in high-pressure, breaking news situations.
- Manage the budget for all of VOA s primary newsgathering.
- Produce e-newsletters, manage website content, write headlines and captions, utilize SEO and analyze digital traffic.
- Communicate with transportation managers, administrators, equipment operators and others for fulfillment of copy to achieve editorial goals.
- Ensure compliance with PRC and FDA guidelines.
- Increase social media presence and traffic through Facebook and Instagram.
- Create, update, and edit labor and employment blog and twitter account.
- Proof and edit staff writers' articles for grammar, style, SEO, and content quality.
- Proofread quarterly earnings, dividends, mergers, new product lines, personnel announcements, and FDA approvals.
- Edit manuscripts and interpret and convert data to appropriate formats, including HTML and pager coding for database processing.
- Repair links and accessibility issues using HTML and FrontPage; document defects and create trouble tickets to escalate issues.
- Coordinate layout and design in collaboration with editor-in-chief & art director.
- Review fiction submissions to the oldest continuously-publishing literary magazine in the country.
- Work with producers to ensure management and execution of all photography assignments.
- Coordinate and produce photography, typesetting, layout/design, illustrations and clientele.
Assistant editor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Assistant Editors are proficient in Editorial Content, Video Footage, and Web Content. They’re also known for soft skills such as Creativity, Detail oriented, and Good judgment.
We break down the percentage of Assistant Editors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Editorial Content, 9%
Developed electronic layout of editorial content and advertising display for publication.
- Video Footage, 8%
Digitize video footage and edit in Final Cut Pro for a documentary film about a shaman from Shasta Lake, California.
- Web Content, 5%
Prepared B2B and branded web content projects by copying footage, syncing audio, labeling takes, and organizing files.
- Media Management, 4%
Assured successful implementation of editing projects through knowledge of software configuration, media management and general system maintenance and troubleshooting.
- Production Process, 4%
Guided production process and set production priorities for editorial team producing more than 450 standards for electrical manufacturing industry.
- Twitter, 3%
Utilized social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Food Patriots website to build hype for documentary.
"editorial content," "video footage," and "web content" are among the most common skills that assistant editors use at work. You can find even more assistant editor responsibilities below, including:
Creativity. The most essential soft skill for an assistant editor to carry out their responsibilities is creativity. This skill is important for the role because "editors must be imaginative, curious, and knowledgeable in a broad range of topics." Additionally, an assistant editor resume shows how their duties depend on creativity: "assist in direct creative operations of the publication of poetry and short fiction books from manuscript through final production. "
Detail oriented. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling assistant editor duties is detail oriented. The role rewards competence in this skill because "editors must be meticulous to ensure that material is error free and matches the style of a publication." According to an assistant editor resume, here's how assistant editors can utilize detail oriented in their job responsibilities: "request and collect product submissions in order to write detailed, thoroughly researched and engaging product descriptions for editorial stories. "
Good judgment. assistant editors are also known for good judgment, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to assistant editor responsibilities, because "editors decide whether certain stories are ethical and whether there is enough evidence to publish them." An assistant editor resume example shows how good judgment is used in the workplace: "directed strategy and editorial for national monthly magazine, analyzing trends and covering news affecting sporting goods retailers and manufacturers. "
Interpersonal skills. assistant editor responsibilities often require "interpersonal skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "in working with writers, editors must have tact and the ability to guide and encourage them in their work." This resume example shows what assistant editors do with interpersonal skills on a typical day: "coordinated interpersonal relations between editorial staff, artists, writers and judges. "
Writing skills. A commonly-found skill in assistant editor job descriptions, "writing skills" is essential to what assistant editors do. Assistant editor responsibilities rely on this skill because "editors ensure that all written content has correct grammar, punctuation, and syntax." You can also see how assistant editor duties rely on writing skills in this resume example: "assisted with page layout, writing articles on international politics, and editing contributors' articles for factual accuracy. "
The three companies that hire the most assistant editors are:
- The Walt Disney Company4 assistant editors jobs
- Paramount4 assistant editors jobs
- Tripadvisor3 assistant editors jobs
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Compare different assistant editors
Assistant editor vs. Reporter
In journalism, a reporter is responsible for relaying truthful and reliable information to the public audience through various mediums such as print and media. A reporter must ensure to gather necessary and factual data that are supported by interviews and comments of those involved, remain unbiased in all aspects, produce a concise and comprehensive informational material within an allotted time, and efficiently coordinate with every staff. Furthermore, a reporter must remain professional at all times and adhere to the policies and regulations set by the company or network.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, assistant editor responsibilities require skills like "editorial content," "video footage," "web content," and "media management." Meanwhile a typical reporter has skills in areas such as "digital marketing," "facebook," "photography," and "news coverage." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Reporters really shine in the media industry with an average salary of $48,200. Comparatively, assistant editors tend to make the most money in the media industry with an average salary of $55,636.On average, reporters reach similar levels of education than assistant editors. Reporters are 1.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Assistant editor vs. Journalist
A journalist is responsible for creating written correspondence, covering various subjects as the management requires. This task involves a lot of research investigations, conducting interviews, and gathering reliable sources to verify the authenticity of data before releasing the articles on news portals and other social platforms. Journalists should have excellent communication skills, both written and oral, conveying information to the target audience with high accuracy and efficiency. They analyze opinions and testimonies, create eye-catching headlines, and ensure adherence to deadlines.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real assistant editor resumes. While assistant editor responsibilities can utilize skills like "editorial content," "video footage," "media management," and "production process," journalists use skills like "excellent interpersonal," "multimedia," "story development," and "local community."
Journalists may earn a higher salary than assistant editors, but journalists earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $64,488. On the other hand, assistant editors receive higher pay in the media industry, where they earn an average salary of $55,636.In general, journalists achieve similar levels of education than assistant editors. They're 1.9% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Assistant editor vs. Writer
A writer can have different responsibilities depending on which industry or line of work they are involved. There are writers assigned in a corporate setting, some in journalism, while there are also writers in the entertainment Industry. Although they focus on varying types of writing, they all function to inform. Among the typical duties of writers involve producing content within allotted time or deadline, gather information and verify to ensure accuracy, proofread, and undergo review and revisions.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, assistant editors are more likely to have skills like "editorial content," "video footage," "media management," and "production process." But a writer is more likely to have skills like "work ethic," "strong work ethic," "basic math," and "customer service."
When it comes to education, writers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to assistant editors. In fact, they're 1.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.7% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Assistant editor vs. News reporter
News Reporters collect and analyze facts about newsworthy events through interview, investigation, or observation. They carry cameras and take photos and video footage of objects or places of potential significance.
Types of assistant editor
Updated January 8, 2025
