We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Roles

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What does an Assistant Editor do?

By Bethany Keene
Updated: Mar 02, 2024
Views: 42,855
Share

An assistant editor, also referred to as an editorial assistant, may work in any form of print or online media. This includes book, magazine, and newspaper publishing. Depending on the size of the publishing corporation, the assistant editor typically works directly with senior editors or the editor-in-chief; he or she may also work with authors, article writers, or reporters.

Job duties are also varied, depending on the nature of the work and the size of the business. In general, an assistant editor in a newspaper or magazine will assist the editor in selecting stories for print. He or she may also do research, check statistics and facts presented in an article, edit articles for content or adherence to a particular style guide, and help with layout. This may involve selecting photographs, charts, graphs, or other illustrations to accompany an article.

In addition, an assistant editor may need to come up with new ideas and assign stories to reporters, writers, or freelancers. He or she will likely need to work closely with other staff members, including copy editors, fact checkers, graphic designers, or anyone else who works in the production of the magazine or newspaper. On occasion, the editorial assistant's job duties may overlap with the duties of other employees. These types of editors will also need to answer questions from writers and other staff members.

Assistant editors who work in book publishing generally have similar duties, but they typically work with book manuscripts. Many assistant editors work with the author and his or her book during the entire process, from the first manuscript until the book is in final production. He or she may edit the book for content, grammar, style, and other issues. An editorial assistant may also deal with literary agents to acquire new manuscripts for publication.

An assistant editor is a somewhat open job title, and job responsibilities can vary significantly between different publishing houses, different specialties, and different types of media. Most editors in any capacity have a bachelor's degree, often in English or journalism. A graduate degree is generally optional, and many businesses favor experience over higher education.

Most assistant editors need to work their way up from entry-level jobs in publishing, which may mean copy editing or fact checking to start. It is important for an assistant editor to be able to cultivate good relationships with writers and other editors, because a writer who is happy with his or her editor will be more likely to stay with them, even if the editor changes employers. In addition, an editorial assistant with good relationships with editors is more likely to be able to move up in the field, eventually becoming a senior editor, or an editor-in-chief of a publication.

Share
Practical Adult Insights is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By anon353470 — On Oct 30, 2013

I am an Assistant Editor now, and I make 20,000 per year.

By sunnysideup — On May 17, 2011

@chrysalis - The salary range for the assistant editor job is between $30,000 and $45,000, from what I hear.

You also have to consider the geographical area you'll be working and living in. For example, I heard on TV the other day that highest paying cities for this position are: Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Diego, Dallas, TX, and NY, NY.

You might be able to find other payscales, according to your city and state.

If you live somewhere else in the U.S., you might be making a lot less or (whoop whoop) a lot more.

By chrysalis — On May 15, 2011

Hi -- I have a bachelor's degree and about a year and a half of similar experience, but I'm thinking about applying for some assistant editor jobs. Is this the kind of editing job that you need to work your way up to once you've made your mark in a company at the entry level?

Also, what can you expect to make in this position?

Share
https://www.practicaladultinsights.com/what-does-an-assistant-editor-do.htm
Copy this link
Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.