Editors review, evaluate and edit manuscripts, articles, news reports and other material for publication, broadcast or interactive media and co-ordinate the activities of writers, journalists and other staff.
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Editors work for:
They may also work on a freelance basis.
Editors must have excellent writing and communication skills. They must also have highly developed computer skills, be adaptable and able to work with online content.
Source: Estimated median employment income based on 2021 Job Bank median hourly wage rate (median annual salary = hourly wage rate x 40 (hours per week) x 52.14 (weeks per year))
Note:Estimated median employment income based on 2021 Job Bank median hourly wage rate (median annual salary = hourly wage rate x 40 (hours per week) x 52.14 (weeks per year))
Source: 2021 Job Bank Wage Report
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook
10 year expected job openings: 1,110
N/A - Data not available
Editors:
Editors may specialize in a particular subject area or type of publication, such as: news, sports or features, books, magazines, newspapers or manuals.
Editors typically work in office buildings, while freelance and contract editors often work from home offices. Editors work for a wide range of employers, including newspapers, television newsrooms, government and publishing firms.
A 35 to 40 hour workweek is common, however, editors may be required to work extra hours, sometimes on evenings or weekends, in order to meet deadlines. Looming deadlines may cause stress.
Editing is usually done using computers so eye and wrist strain are possible.
Source: 2016 Census
A bachelor's degree in English, French, journalism or a related discipline is often the minimum education requirement. Other requirements may include:
In addition, workers in this field can improve their chances of getting a job with certification through the Editors' Association of Canada. After passing a series of exams, editors can earn the right to designate themselves a Certified Professional Editor (CPE).
Training in computer programs such as Photoshop, Adobe InDesign or Quark may also be helpful since it allows editors to work with design issues and use contemporary printing and website applications.
For more information about programs offered specifically for this career, visit EducationPlannerBC.
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
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See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. You’ll also find the skill strength needed, letting you know how capable you must be in that skill.
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Job opportunities in the next few years are expected to come from new job creation and the need to replace retiring workers.
Industry sources report that there is currently a large supply of recent graduates seeking work in addition to an already good supply of experienced editors. As demand for editors is expected to be average, future jobs for new graduates will be limited due to tough competition from more experienced editors.
Many editors work in the traditional areas of newspaper and printed publications, which have seen little expansion. Advances in technology have affected this field of work, and the internet is having a noticeable impact on traditional media. As a result, editors need to be fluent in both traditional and new media in order to perform effectively. As well, there will be greater opportunities for editors with specialized training (e.g., legal editing, editing of technology websites, editing jobs requiring medical or science background).
In recent years, the Canadian book industry has experienced economic challenges. As a result, many book editors have turned to freelance or contract-based work as opposed to full-time employment at one firm.
Education and certification will likely become more important, and applicants looking for work in book editing will benefit from taking a university publishing program or earning a Master's degree in publishing. Membership in the Editors' Association of Canada will likely become more important to employers in the coming years.
Career paths
Workers entering this field typically begin their employment in entry-level positions. These positions may involve work in public relations, marketing publicity, website editing or writing in the public sector or non-governmental organizations.
With experience, workers may progress to supervisory and management positions, such as editor-in-chief or managing editor at large newspapers, magazines or publishing houses.
Additional resources
Additional resources are not currently available for this career.