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Assistant managing editor vs production editor

The differences between assistant managing editors and production editors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an assistant managing editor and a production editor. Additionally, an assistant managing editor has an average salary of $66,497, which is higher than the $53,275 average annual salary of a production editor.

The top three skills for an assistant managing editor include news stories, website content and news coverage. The most important skills for a production editor are proofreading, editorial production, and production process.

Assistant managing editor vs production editor overview

Assistant Managing EditorProduction Editor
Yearly salary$66,497$53,275
Hourly rate$31.97$25.61
Growth rate-5%-5%
Number of jobs15,15462,877
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 78%Bachelor's Degree, 82%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does an assistant managing editor do?

An assistant managing editor assists the managing editor in overseeing an organization's daily publication operations and projects. They participate in setting publication goals and guidelines, establishing timelines and budgets, liaising with internal and external parties, and editing articles to ensure it fits the quality and standards assigned by the organization. They may also delegate responsibilities among staff, write articles, gather and analyze data, and coordinate with various writers. Moreover, as an assistant managing editor, it is essential to lead staff and monitor operations, solving issues and concerns should there be any.

What does a production editor do?

A production editor is responsible for checking publication materials before printing and distribution to ensure error-free and accurate content. Production editors must have excellent writing communication skills to perform editing and proofreading of materials efficiently, following strict requirements of publication deadlines. They also verify the resources of content, as well as identifying highly requested feature opportunities by coordinating with writers and other industry personalities. A production editor negotiates contract offers for writers, provides feedback reviews, and facilitates brainstorming sessions.

Assistant managing editor vs production editor salary

Assistant managing editors and production editors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Assistant Managing EditorProduction Editor
Average salary$66,497$53,275
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $119,000Between $41,000 And $68,000
Highest paying City-Hartford, CT
Highest paying state-Connecticut
Best paying company-Robert A.M. Stern Architects
Best paying industry-Media

Differences between assistant managing editor and production editor education

There are a few differences between an assistant managing editor and a production editor in terms of educational background:

Assistant Managing EditorProduction Editor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 78%Bachelor's Degree, 82%
Most common majorJournalismEnglish
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Assistant managing editor vs production editor demographics

Here are the differences between assistant managing editors' and production editors' demographics:

Assistant Managing EditorProduction Editor
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 48.6% Female, 51.4%Male, 41.6% Female, 58.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 7.1% White, 76.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 7.2% White, 76.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between assistant managing editor and production editor duties and responsibilities

Assistant managing editor example responsibilities.

  • Coordinate with editor-in-chief and managing editor to organize overall content of daily college newspaper.
  • Boost usability by managing content migration to iApps, leading maintenance & data/functionality QA.
  • Edit refresh online content to maximize SEO and write metadata for Lamaze.com.
  • Well verse in SEO, getting reporters out of the office and in the field.
  • Review, copy edit, re-wrote, and format to HTML other writers' work.
  • Use CMS platforms WordPress and MODX to post and revise content daily, often using HTML code.
  • Show more

Production editor example responsibilities.

  • Manage integration and implementation of site search and train staff on strategic SEO and web best practices.
  • Manage research and identification of all clips and pictures used in the documentary for the purpose of credit and compensation.
  • Typeset editorial content and manage paste-up board production.
  • Boost usability by managing content migration to iApps, leading maintenance & data/functionality QA.
  • Assume full editorial responsibility when editor are unavailable, including managing social media accounts and assigning content to freelancers and photographers.
  • Update online versions of books using UNIX, HTML, and XML technologies.
  • Show more

Assistant managing editor vs production editor skills

Common assistant managing editor skills
  • News Stories, 11%
  • Website Content, 10%
  • News Coverage, 8%
  • SEO, 6%
  • Editor-In-Chief, 5%
  • Editorial Board, 4%
Common production editor skills
  • Proofreading, 15%
  • Editorial Production, 9%
  • Production Process, 9%
  • Production Schedules, 5%
  • Fiction, 4%
  • Adobe Indesign, 4%

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