Roles within the Magazine Industry: Magazine Editor

What is a Magazine Editor?

A magazine editor is someone who oversees the completion of each issue of a magazine publication so that it fits in with the magazine's original editorial vision. The higher up the editor's position, the more he or she will be involved in selecting and developing the magazine's voice and focus. The number and type of magazine editor's that work vary depending on the kind of publication and the size of that publication. Generally there are associate, contributing and managing editors as well as an editor in chief who will all work toward the same goal of creating quality issues of a magazine publication.

What qualifications do you need to be a Magazine Editor?

Educational qualifications one may need to be a magazine editor is a degree in journalism, English or communication, these qualifications can be enough for someone to begin a career as a magazine editor. Other educational qualifications may include someone needing to have attended classes on writing, editing and graphic layout programs so they have the ability to use those types of tools were they to get a job in magazine editing.

What are the responsibilities of an Magazine Editor?

A magazine editor has an significant role to play in planning and updating the editorial guidelines of the organization, as well as ensuring that those guidelines are followed by all the members of the editorial team. An magazine editor also carries the important responsibility of mentoring the staff of the editorial team and part of this is evaluating and analyzing their work and peformance consistently and provide feedback on that work. Finally, a magazine editor has the responsibility of writing content for editorial columns and cover stories for the magazine they work for.

What experience do you need to become an Magazine Editor?

It is almost essential to get some kind of writing and publishing experience before trying to apply to become an magazine editor, as its better to have qualifications and actual experience than it is to just have qualifications. Ways of getting experience could be by getting involved in your local magazine or newspaper, even if it means you're cleaning up floors or something similiar to that, you would still gain some kind of experience by being in a work place with writing and publishing taking place.