What does an editorial assistant do?
An editorial assistant is primarily responsible for performing support-related tasks for an editor or editing staff. Most of the duties will be clerical such as writing content for print and media, answering calls and correspondence, responding to inquiries, running errands, and following directives from the editor. There are also instances when an editorial assistant must perform fact-checking or proofreading tasks, arrange appointments and travel documents, process paperwork, greet visitors, and even attend meetings and other work-related events.
Editorial assistant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real editorial assistant resumes:
- Manage social media content using Hootsuite.
- Manage Instagram account and promote content on all social media pages.
- Manage resources of more than 30 CNN bureaus around the world.
- Produce content for a locally known lifestyle blog, edit, and manage social media accounts such as Pinterest and Google+.
- Contribute through blogging, copy editing, participating in weekly editorial meetings, and managing social channels
- Lead editorial oversight of web and television viewer-submit text, email and online messages according to company and industry guidelines.
- Direct editorial content of all collateral, including assigning, writing, editing and proofreading materials.
- Contact business officials and marketing representatives to report on and fact-check specific information for feature stories!
- Write articles about fashion, fitness, and culture for NYC events site
- Publish content via WordPress; code HTML, edit photos, and fact-check articles
- Learned about the importance of SEO and using social media platforms to leverage site stories.
- Edit website HTML to integrate new book reviews and summaries into an update site design.
- Help run the GameTimePA twitter account, keep community notes, among other things up to date.
- Communicate verbally to Instagram convey information concerning the acquisition, to respond to inquiries, and to participate in contract negotiations.
- Convert, assess, prepares, and preflight's PDFs for short-term digital printing, also imports and exports book metadata.
Editorial assistant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 7% of Editorial Assistants are proficient in Fact Check, Fiction, and Press Releases. They’re also known for soft skills such as Organizational skills, Interpersonal skills, and Writing skills.
We break down the percentage of Editorial Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Fact Check, 7%
Provided general editorial support, including proofreading, copy editing, fact checking and office administration.
- Fiction, 6%
Participated in the inner workings of a major literary agency specializing in commercial fiction and non-fiction.
- Press Releases, 6%
Distributed press releases/media advisories using various outlets, and by developing and maintaining in-house statewide and national contact lists.
- Web Content, 5%
Produced and edited web content for academic departments and administrative offices.
- Editor-In-Chief, 5%
Provided editorial and administrative support to the editor-in-chief, managing editor and database manager of Travel Agent Magazine.
- Twitter, 4%
Managed electronic newsletter, online commentary, and all company promotional media sites including Twitter and Facebook.
Common skills that an editorial assistant uses to do their job include "fact check," "fiction," and "press releases." You can find details on the most important editorial assistant responsibilities below.
Organizational skills. The most essential soft skill for an editorial assistant to carry out their responsibilities is organizational skills. This skill is important for the role because "secretaries and administrative assistants keep files, folders, and schedules in order so that an office runs efficiently." Additionally, an editorial assistant resume shows how their duties depend on organizational skills: "provided editorial content to several diverse, clinician-focused publications assisted with administrative and organizational tasks throughout the office"
Interpersonal skills. Many editorial assistant duties rely on interpersonal skills. "secretaries and administrative assistants interact with clients, customers, or staff," so an editorial assistant will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways editorial assistant responsibilities rely on interpersonal skills: "coordinated interpersonal relations between editorial staff, artists, writers and judges. "
Writing skills. This is an important skill for editorial assistants to perform their duties. For an example of how editorial assistant responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "secretaries and administrative assistants write memos and emails when communicating with managers, employees, and customers." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of an editorial assistant: "provided administrative and editorial support for the company's principal fact-checked data and copy edited technical writing in newsletters and reports".
The three companies that hire the most editorial assistants are:
- Wolters Kluwer10 editorial assistants jobs
- HarperCollins6 editorial assistants jobs
- Gannett4 editorial assistants jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable editorial assistant resume templates
Build a professional editorial assistant resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your editorial assistant resume.
Compare different editorial assistants
Editorial assistant vs. Associate editor
The primary role of an Associate Editor is to ensure that subordinates submit high-quality content. They review and edit copies, set deadlines, and supervise the production details of magazines, newspapers, books, or websites.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, editorial assistant responsibilities require skills like "fact check," "administrative tasks," "provides administrative support," and "market research." Meanwhile a typical associate editor has skills in areas such as "wordpress," "edit content," "proofreading," and "digital content." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Associate editors earn the highest salaries when working in the media industry, with an average yearly salary of $53,230. On the other hand, editorial assistants are paid more in the government industry with an average salary of $45,038.associate editors tend to reach similar levels of education than editorial assistants. In fact, associate editors are 2.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.3% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Editorial assistant vs. Assistant secretary
An assistant secretary is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties to support the daily operations of various departments and management personnel and ensure the efficiency of business functions. Assistant secretaries usually assist in business communications, responding to customers' inquiries and concerns, reaching out to existing clients to schedule appointments, welcoming guests on the office, and routing calls to the appropriate department. They also handle data entry procedures, updating customer information on the database, as well as creating reports on business and financial transactions.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real editorial assistant resumes. While editorial assistant responsibilities can utilize skills like "fact check," "fiction," "press releases," and "web content," assistant secretaries use skills like "telephone calls," "payroll," "scheduling appointments," and "financial statements."
In general, assistant secretaries achieve similar levels of education than editorial assistants. They're 1.1% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 1.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Editorial assistant vs. Assistant operator
The duties of an assistant operator depend on one's industry of employment or the kind of machine that they are operating. Typically, their tasks may revolve around coordinating with operators and other staff, handling and managing documents, understanding blueprints, and adhering to the directives of operators and supervisors. Furthermore, as an assistant operator, it is essential to perform support tasks, such as preparing tools and conducting regular maintenance checks to ensure the efficiency of machines and maintain a safe work environment.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an editorial assistant is likely to be skilled in "fact check," "fiction," "press releases," and "web content," while a typical assistant operator is skilled in "customer service," "ladders," "safety procedures," and "cash control."
Assistant operators make a very good living in the energy industry with an average annual salary of $43,976. On the other hand, editorial assistants are paid the highest salary in the government industry, with average annual pay of $45,038.assistant operators typically earn lower educational levels compared to editorial assistants. Specifically, they're 5.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Editorial assistant vs. Assistant editor
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.
Updated January 8, 2025
