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What does a publications coordinator do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Molly Yanity Ph.D.
What does a publications coordinator do

A publications coordinator is responsible for assisting the publishing processes from the drafting to the distribution of materials. Publications coordinators check the accuracy and quality of the content, ensuring that the materials are free from plagiarism and adhere to publishing guidelines and regulations. They also follow publishing deadlines and confirm the submission of all materials in printing. A publication coordinator assists the marketing team in promoting the organization's products by handling and updating social media accounts, as well as searching for the recent trends as an issue for the next publications.

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Publications coordinator responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real publications coordinator resumes:

  • Develop and manage all aspects of publicity for one of NYC's oldest museums.
  • Manage all copywriting elements for live broadcasts and promotional commercials.
  • Keep staff update on current events and updates PPNC's Facebook page.
  • Produce event PowerPoint presentations and loops.
  • Developed/Produce PowerPoint presentation for weekly worship service.
  • Proofread and critiqu magazines for other publication managers who are struggling to meet quality assurance criteria.
  • Write copy for select marketing collateral and publications, edit and proofread promotional and advertising copy.
  • Coordinate development and implementation of intranet and Internet sites with web design staff and internal customers to coordinate with marketing campaigns.
  • Maintain technical manual conditions and on-hand quantities to ensure full access to DOD personnel for reference need to ensure safety compliance.
  • Serve as editorial and proofreading clearinghouse.
  • Execute launch of NYC publicity department for company
  • Coordinate the ABC efforts to ensure a consistent enterprise framework that provides central consolidation with local flexibility.
  • Provide editorial support to neighborhood liaisons working with residents and businesses impact by construction.

Publications coordinator skills and personality traits

We calculated that 12% of Publications Coordinators are proficient in Press Releases, PowerPoint, and Web Content. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Organizational skills, and Problem-solving skills.

We break down the percentage of Publications Coordinators that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Press Releases, 12%

    Disseminated information and press releases to various media concerning upcoming events; directed and coordinated bulk mailings.

  • PowerPoint, 11%

    Created and presented PowerPoint presentations to management of changes needed to improve policy, procedures and cost.

  • Web Content, 10%

    Provided assistance and guidance to local health department personnel on the development, creation and editing of Web content and design.

  • Public Affairs, 6%

    Served on citywide committees regarding governmental relations and public affairs.

  • Graphic Design, 5%

    Provided instructional design and graphic design consultation, training and technical documentation to support department.

  • Facebook, 5%

    Maintained online marketing presence through Facebook and Twitter by providing outreach through contests, news blasts, and grassroots campaigns.

Common skills that a publications coordinator uses to do their job include "press releases," "powerpoint," and "web content." You can find details on the most important publications coordinator responsibilities below.

Interpersonal skills. The most essential soft skill for a publications coordinator to carry out their responsibilities is interpersonal skills. This skill is important for the role because "public relations specialists deal with the public and the media regularly." Additionally, a publications coordinator resume shows how their duties depend on interpersonal skills: "distinguished interpersonal wrote and edited reports, press releases, and other important documents with and customer service skills. "

Organizational skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling publications coordinator duties is organizational skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "public relations specialists are often in charge of managing several events or communications at the same time, which requires excellent skills in coordinating arrangements." According to a publications coordinator resume, here's how publications coordinators can utilize organizational skills in their job responsibilities: "enhanced organizational visibility by designing and implementing community outreach, networking and partnership projects with like-minded organization and media. "

Problem-solving skills. publications coordinators are also known for problem-solving skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to publications coordinator responsibilities, because "public relations specialists sometimes must explain how a company or client is handling sensitive issues." A publications coordinator resume example shows how problem-solving skills is used in the workplace: "gained several leadership competencies through weekly trainings and workshops including strategic planning, conflict resolution and asset based community development. "

Speaking skills. For certain publications coordinator responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "speaking skills." The day-to-day duties of a publications coordinator rely on this skill, as "public relations specialists regularly speak on behalf of clients or their organization." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what publications coordinators do: "created and distributed graphic fact sheets for the various public meetings and speaking engagements. "

Writing skills. A commonly-found skill in publications coordinator job descriptions, "writing skills" is essential to what publications coordinators do. Publications coordinator responsibilities rely on this skill because "public relations specialists must be able to write well-organized and clear press releases, speeches, and social media posts." You can also see how publications coordinator duties rely on writing skills in this resume example: "performed all copywriting and editing, coordinated materials for press deadlines and reviewed final proofs for the nicole crafts catalog. "

Most common publications coordinator skills

The three companies that hire the most publications coordinators are:

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Publications Coordinator Resume
Publications Coordinator Resume
Publications Coordinator Resume
Publications Coordinator Resume
Publications Coordinator Resume
Publications Coordinator Resume
Publications Coordinator Resume
Publications Coordinator Resume
Publications Coordinator Resume
Publications Coordinator Resume

Compare different publications coordinators

Publications coordinator vs. Social media specialist

A social media specialist is an individual who is responsible for creating and administering content on all social media platforms to build an audience and ensure customer engagement. By using platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, social media specialists must create content that resonates with the interests of the intended audience. They are required to understand social media metrics so that they can use the information to ensure success in their social media strategy. Social media specialists must also work with industry professionals and influencers via social media to create a strong network.

We looked at the average publications coordinator salary and compared it with the wages of a social media specialist. Generally speaking, social media specialists are paid $2,991 higher than publications coordinators per year.Even though publications coordinators and social media specialists are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require press releases, powerpoint, and web content in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a publications coordinator are more likely to require skills like "public affairs," "public health," "sharepoint," and "technical publications." On the other hand, a job as a social media specialist requires skills like "social media marketing," "digital marketing," "social media management," and "media management." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Social media specialists really shine in the professional industry with an average salary of $52,527. Comparatively, publications coordinators tend to make the most money in the finance industry with an average salary of $51,570.social media specialists tend to reach similar levels of education than publications coordinators. In fact, social media specialists are 2.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.6% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Publications coordinator vs. Publicist

Public Relations Supervisors are responsible for implementing the media and public relations strategy of an organization. Their duties include developing public relations campaigns, organize public relations events, assist in emergency response planning, updating documentation, monitoring media, improve management of press office, and manage media databases. They are responsible for assisting with journalistic content writing, refine internal processes, and track public relations activity performance. They help prepare reports as well as undertake competitor and market research.

On average, publicists earn a $2,086 higher salary than publications coordinators a year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both publications coordinators and publicists have skills such as "press releases," "powerpoint," and "graphic design. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that publications coordinator responsibilities requires skills like "web content," "public affairs," "facebook," and "public health." But a publicist might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "public relations campaigns," "pr campaigns," "fiction," and "nyc."

On average, publicists earn a higher salary than publications coordinators. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, publicists earn the most pay in the media industry with an average salary of $52,774. Whereas publications coordinators have higher pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $51,570.publicists earn similar levels of education than publications coordinators in general. They're 2.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for publications coordinators in the next 3-5 years?

Molly Yanity Ph.D.Molly Yanity Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor of Journalism Chair of Journalism, Quinnipiac University

I'm an educator who doesn't believe that technology dictates what we do. There are apparent exceptions to that as TV, the web, mobile, social dictates a lot. But regardless of the platform, good journalism is good journalism. Rather than focus on specific technologies, focus on your ability to be agile and flexible. Data reporting, or what we used to call computer-assisted reporting, is massive right now. But look at what the New York Times is doing with all that Covid-19 data? Could you take an enormous data set and turn it into something readable for a 25-year-old on mobile? Could you package it for quick hits on social? Could you do a deep dive on the policy? That, to me, is the best way to think of technology. If you focus too much on pivoting from one platform to the next, you'll miss the forest for the trees.

Publications coordinator vs. Media relations specialist

A media relations specialist's role is to help a company maintain good public relations through various forms of media, ensuring to convey their brand's purpose and message. Their responsibilities typically revolve around developing strategies and opportunities, producing newsletters and press releases, remaining updated with the latest trends, and even managing the company's social media platforms. A media relations specialist may also delegate tasks to writers and graphic designers, arrange schedules, and ensure that all goals are met within the expected deadline and budget.

An average media relations specialist eans a higher salary compared to the average salary of publications coordinators. The difference in salaries amounts to media relations specialists earning a $2,263 higher average salary than publications coordinators.By looking over several publications coordinators and media relations specialists resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "press releases," "powerpoint," and "facebook." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from publications coordinator resumes include skills like "web content," "public affairs," "graphic design," and "public health," whereas a media relations specialist is more likely to list skills in "patients," "compassion," "excellent interpersonal," and "data entry. "

Media relations specialists make a very good living in the finance industry with an average annual salary of $65,925. On the other hand, publications coordinators are paid the highest salary in the finance industry, with average annual pay of $51,570.media relations specialists typically earn similar educational levels compared to publications coordinators. Specifically, they're 0.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Publications coordinator vs. Media relations assistant

A media relations assistant is an entry-level media and public relation professional. They offer administrative support to a public relations department within an organization. They perform a number of tasks such as researching relevant trends and data that help with the company's PR campaign, helping create marketing materials, maintaining relationships with existing clients, and working to find new clients. They also have to keep accurate correspondence records and monitor social media accounts.

Media relations assistants average a lower salary than the annual salary of publications coordinators. The difference is about $3,143 per year.According to resumes from publications coordinators and media relations assistants, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "press releases," "powerpoint," and "web content. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "public affairs," "graphic design," "public health," and "sharepoint" are skills that commonly show up on publications coordinator resumes. On the other hand, media relations assistants use skills like athletics website, alumni events, ncaa, and donor database on their resumes.In general, media relations assistants hold similar degree levels compared to publications coordinators. Media relations assistants are 1.5% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of publications coordinator

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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