Editorial Assistants

Employees who start as editorial assistants and show promise generally become editors or copy editors. After gaining skill in that position, they may be given a wider range of duties while retaining the same title. The next step may be a position as an assistant editor or associate editor, and then senior editor. Copy editors may advance to a position such as senior copy editor, which involves overseeing the work of junior copy editors. Editors and copy editors may also progress to the position of project editor. The project editor performs a wide variety of tasks, including copyediting, coordinating the work of in-house and freelance copy editors, and managing the schedule of a particular project. From this position, a typical line of advancement for an editor may be to move up to become first assistant editor, then managing editor, then editor in chief. These positions involve more management and decision making than is usually found in the positions described previously. The editor in chief works with the publisher to ensure that a suitable editorial policy is being followed, while the managing editor is responsible for all aspects of the editorial department. The assistant editor provides support to the managing editor.