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The differences between journalists and production editors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a journalist, becoming a production editor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a journalist has an average salary of $60,828, which is higher than the $53,275 average annual salary of a production editor.
The top three skills for a journalist include news stories, multimedia and story development. The most important skills for a production editor are proofreading, editorial production, and production process.
| Journalist | Production Editor | |
| Yearly salary | $60,828 | $53,275 |
| Hourly rate | $29.24 | $25.61 |
| Growth rate | -10% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 11,488 | 62,877 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
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.
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.
Journalists and production editors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Journalist | Production Editor | |
| Average salary | $60,828 | $53,275 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $95,000 | Between $41,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Hartford, CT |
| Highest paying state | New York | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Bloomberg | Robert A.M. Stern Architects |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Media |
There are a few differences between a journalist and a production editor in terms of educational background:
| Journalist | Production Editor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Most common major | Journalism | English |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between journalists' and production editors' demographics:
| Journalist | Production Editor | |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.6% Female, 53.4% | Male, 41.6% Female, 58.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 9.6% White, 66.8% 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 Percentage | 10% | 12% |