Magazine editor

Magazine editors decide which stories are interesting enough and will be covered in the magazine. They assign journalists to each item. Magazine editors determine the length of each article and where it will be featured in the magazine. They also ensure that publications are finished on time for publishing.

The following job titles also refer to magazine editor:

magazine supplements editor
magazine features editor
features editor

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as magazine editor. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Magazine editor is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to magazine editor.

editor-in-chief
broadcast news editor
columnist
sports journalist
foreign correspondent

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of magazine editor. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of magazine editor with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of magazine editor.

Editorial standards: The guidelines on how to deal with and report on privacy, children, and death according to impartiality, and other standards.
Writing techniques: The different techniques to write a story such as the descriptive, persuasive, first person and other techniques.
Press law: The laws concerning the licensing of books and the freedom of expression in all products of the media.
Copyright legislation: Legislation describing the protection of the rights of original authors over their work, and how others can use it.

These skills are necessary for the role of magazine editor.

Participate in editorial meetings: Participate in meetings with fellow editors and journalists to discuss possible topics and to divide the tasks and workload.
Manage staff: Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.
Consult information sources: Consult relevant information sources to find inspiration, to educate yourself on certain topics and to acquire background information.
Adapt to type of media: Adapt to different types of media such as television, movies, commercials, and others. Adapt work to type of media, scale of production, budget, genres within type of media, and others.
Meet deadlines: Ensure operative processes are finished at a previously agreed-upon time.
Ensure consistency of published articles: Ensure that articles are consistent with the genre and theme of the newspaper, journal or magazine.
Delegate activities: Delegate activities and tasks to others according to the ability, level of preparation, competence and legal scope of practice. Make sure that people understand what they should do and when they should do it.
Develop professional network: Reach out to and meet up with people in a professional context. Find common ground and use your contacts for mutual benefit. Keep track of the people in your personal professional network and stay up to date on their activities.
Follow ethical code of conduct of journalists: Follow the ethical code of conduct of journalists, such as freedom of speech, right of reply, being objective, and other rules.
Apply organisational techniques: Employ a set of organisational techniques and procedures which facilitate the achievement of the goals set. Use these resources efficiently and sustainably, and show flexibility when required.
Create editorial board: Create the outline for each publication and news broadcast. Determine the events that will be covered and the length of these articles and stories.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of magazine editor. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Interview techniques: The techniques for getting information out of people by asking the right questions in the right way and to make them feel comfortable.
Graphic design: The techniques to create a visual representation of ideas and messages.
Spelling: The rules concerning the way words are spelled.
Desktop publishing: The creation of documents using page layout skills on a computer. Desktop publishing software can generate layouts and produce typographic quality text and images.
Grammar: The set of structural rules governing the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of magazine editor. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Edit negatives: Use different software products and techniques to process photographic negatives and adapt the images to the desired specifications.
Manage budgets: Plan, monitor and report on the budget.
Apply desktop publishing techniques: Apply desktop publishing techniques and software to create page layouts and typographic quality text.
Check correctness of information: Check if the information contains factual errors, is reliable, and has news value.
Adapt to changing situations: Change approach to situations based on unexpected and sudden changes in people’s needs and mood or in trends; shift strategies, improvise and naturally adapt to those circumstances.
Proofread text: Read a text thoroughly, search for, review and correct errors to ensure content is valid for publishing.
Interview people: Interview people in a range of different circumstances.
Perform image editing: Edit various types of images such as analogue and digital photographs or illustrations.
Hire new personnel: Hire new personnel for a company or organisation payroll via a prepared set of procedures. Make staffing decisions and direct selection co-workers.
Apply grammar and spelling rules: Apply the rules of spelling and grammar and ensure consistency throughout texts.
Write headlines: Write” titles to accompany news articles. Make sure they are to the point and inviting.
Use specific writing techniques: Use writing techniques depending on the type of media, the genre, and the story.
Edit photographs: Resize, enhance and retouche photographs, using airbrushing, editing software and other techniques.
Write to a deadline: Schedule and respect tight deadlines, especially for theatre, screen and radio projects.
Check stories: Seek out and investigate stories via your contacts, press releases and other media.
Follow the news: Follow current events in politics, economics, social communities, cultural sectors, internationally, and in sports.
Write captions: Write captions to accompany cartoons, drawings, and photographs. These captions can be humorous or explanatory.

2642 – Journalists

 

 

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References

1. Magazine editor – ESCO