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Publisher vs assistant editor

The differences between publishers and assistant editors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a publisher and an assistant editor. Additionally, a publisher has an average salary of $71,539, which is higher than the $52,284 average annual salary of an assistant editor.

The top three skills for a publisher include press releases, customer satisfaction and strategic thinking. The most important skills for an assistant editor are editorial content, video footage, and web content.

Publisher vs assistant editor overview

PublisherAssistant Editor
Yearly salary$71,539$52,284
Hourly rate$34.39$25.14
Growth rate-5%-5%
Number of jobs10,3038,716
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does a publisher do?

A publisher manages the design, editing, and production process with the help of proofreaders, printers, and editors. Publishers make schedules for every stage of the process and work backward from the planned date for publication. They distribute promotional catalogs to libraries and booksellers. They set the commercial and editorial direction for businesses publishing newspapers, digital content, magazines, and books. It is their duty to make decisions on the markets that their firms will serve as well as the type of content that they will give to their audience.

What does an assistant editor do?

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.

Publisher vs assistant editor salary

Publishers and assistant editors have different pay scales, as shown below.

PublisherAssistant Editor
Average salary$71,539$52,284
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $120,000Between $34,000 And $78,000
Highest paying CityStamford, CTHuntington, NY
Highest paying stateConnecticutNew York
Best paying companyMicrosoftApple
Best paying industryTelecommunicationMedia

Differences between publisher and assistant editor education

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

PublisherAssistant Editor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Most common majorBusinessEnglish
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Publisher vs assistant editor demographics

Here are the differences between publishers' and assistant editors' demographics:

PublisherAssistant Editor
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 55.7% Female, 44.3%Male, 45.9% Female, 54.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 7.1% White, 76.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 7.0% White, 76.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between publisher and assistant editor duties and responsibilities

Publisher example responsibilities.

  • Manage the migration and reformatting of over 8,000 web pages into a new CMS.
  • Pitch, produce and build all content (manage freelancers, art-direct shoots, write text, CMS).
  • Manage blogs and social networking sites (MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn) to support the brand of the magazine.
  • Manage editorial calendar and run weekly meetings with cross-functional stakeholders.
  • Manage and perform administrative QC of electronic clinical submission modules within the Documentum document management system.
  • Supervise all editorial activities, including developing editorial story boards, managing freelance copywriters and directing contract photo assignments.
  • Show more

Assistant editor example responsibilities.

  • Lead bureau newsgathering in high-pressure, breaking news situations.
  • Manage the budget for all of VOA s primary newsgathering.
  • Produce e-newsletters, manage website content, write headlines and captions, utilize SEO and analyze digital traffic.
  • Communicate with transportation managers, administrators, equipment operators and others for fulfillment of copy to achieve editorial goals.
  • Ensure compliance with PRC and FDA guidelines.
  • Increase social media presence and traffic through Facebook and Instagram.
  • Show more

Publisher vs assistant editor skills

Common publisher skills
  • Press Releases, 13%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 12%
  • Strategic Thinking, 11%
  • Publishing Industry, 5%
  • Facebook, 4%
  • Market Trends, 4%
Common assistant editor skills
  • Editorial Content, 9%
  • Video Footage, 8%
  • Web Content, 5%
  • Media Management, 4%
  • Production Process, 4%
  • Twitter, 3%

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