Publication director vs director of special events

The differences between publication directors and directors of special events can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a publication director and a director of special events. Additionally, a publication director has an average salary of $87,824, which is higher than the $63,671 average annual salary of a director of special events.

The top three skills for a publication director include website content, press releases and government agencies. The most important skills for a director of special events are event planning, alumni, and event management.

Publication director vs director of special events overview

	Publication Director	Director Of Special Events
Yearly salary	$87,824	$63,671
Hourly rate	$42.22	$30.61
Growth rate	8%	8%
Number of jobs	14,660	23,252
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 75%	Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	4	4

What does a publication director do?

A publication director spearheads and oversees the operations of publishing establishments, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They have the authority to make publication decisions, set goals, establish guidelines and timelines, delegate tasks and resources among teams, and develop strategies to optimize operations. They also monitor the workflow and the performance of the workforce, addressing issues and concerns if any arise. Moreover, a publication director leads and encourages staff to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations, developing new ones as needed.

What does a director of special events do?

A director of special events spearheads and oversees the planning and execution of various events, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. They typically set goals and guidelines, manage schedules and timelines, outline plans and strategies, coordinate managers and different departments, and liaise with vendors and suppliers, building positive business relationships in the process. Moreover, as a director, it is essential to lead and encourage staff to reach goals while implementing and promoting the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.

Publication director vs director of special events salary

Publication directors and directors of special events have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Publication Director	Director Of Special Events
Average salary	$87,824	$63,671
Salary range	Between $49,000 And $154,000	Between $35,000 And $113,000
Highest paying City	Carson City, NV	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Delaware	California
Best paying company	Biogen	NRDC
Best paying industry	Media	Professional

Differences between publication director and director of special events education

There are a few differences between a publication director and a director of special events in terms of educational background:

	Publication Director	Director Of Special Events
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 75%	Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Most common major	Communication	Business
Most common college	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Stanford University

Publication director vs director of special events demographics

Here are the differences between publication directors' and directors of special events' demographics:

	Publication Director	Director Of Special Events
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 44.8% Female, 55.2%	Male, 25.1% Female, 74.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 5.0% White, 75.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 75.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	16%	16%

Differences between publication director and director of special events duties and responsibilities

Publication director example responsibilities.

Manage media relations, announcements, editorial placement, and speaking opportunities the organizations.
Promote expansion of Medicaid coverage at the federal and state level.
Create & maintain SEAPOWER Facebook page, where all online articles are place, driving page views back to the website.
Serve as representative to senior management team during community events and company spokesperson for division, including to nonprofit sector clients.
Draft pleadings and serve subpoenas.
Complete all investigative reports including incident reports, subpoenas, arrest warrants, and witness statements.

Director of special events example responsibilities.

Manage the communications/special events budget to ensure ROI in accordance with the communication plan.
Restructure the budget plan for the department, achieving significant cost reductions while increasing ROI.
Organize, execute and manage all VIP hospitality and auxiliary celebrity events.
Manage all aspects of these events and act as onsite manager to ensure meeting are delivered effectively and professionally.
Develop a BEO form to promote effective communication between front of house and back of house.
Collaborate with catering to create BEO s and assist clients with menu selection for meetings and events.

Publication director vs director of special events skills

Common publication director skills

Website Content, 12%
Press Releases, 11%
Government Agencies, 9%
Public Policy Issues, 6%
Government Relations, 5%
Pr Campaigns, 4%

Common director of special events skills

Event Planning, 13%
Alumni, 11%
Event Management, 7%
Event Logistics, 6%
Audio Visual, 4%
Press Releases, 3%

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Publication Director
Publication Director vs Director Of Special Events

Updated January 8, 2025

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