Editorial assistants support editorial staff in all stages of the publication process. They work on many different products, including books journals, magazines, websites and electronic newsletters (sometimes known e-bulletins). Becoming an editorial assistant is a common starting point for an editorial career.

In print publishing typical duties include:

• liaising with creative, editorial, production and marketing staff
• acting as point of contact for freelance writers
• keeping databases, spreadsheets and other records up to date
• proofing and sometimes copy-editing manuscripts
• dealing with rights and permissions
• acting as personal assistant to commissioning editors
• doing general office duties like photocopying 
• setting up interviews
• scanning and manipulating images using image editing software such as Photoshop
• using page layout software such as QuarkXpress
• supporting editing decisions, for example reviewing manuscripts and recommending whether they should be published.

In online publishing key duties will also include:

• proofing and editing online text
• compiling newsletters using software packages such as Dreamweaver
• sending out newsletters using distribution software
• uploading text, images or media to a website using a content management system (CMS).

Hours and Environment

As an editorial assistant you will usually work normal office hours. You may need to be flexible and work extra hours to meet publication deadlines.

Skills and Interests

To become an editorial assistant you will need:

• a good standard of written and spoken English
• a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• the ability to prioritise and meet deadlines
• strong time management skills
• the ability to take initiative
• teamworking skills
• IT and administration skills
• effective communication skills
• determination and resilience.

Entry

There are no set qualifications for becoming an editorial assistant, although employers will often look for a minimum of A Level English. Many editorial assistants have a degree in English or another relevant subject. However, employers will still consider you for work if you can prove you have the right skills and commitment. You will normally  be asked to do a written test on interview.

Basic IT and administrative skills are essential for all types of publishing. If you do not already have these, you could do courses in a subjects such as MS Office, QuarkXpress and Photoshop at a local college.

Before looking for work it is a good idea to build up your experience of publishing and develop new contacts. You can achieve this by:

• doing unpaid work experience or job shadowing  – see the Periodical Publishers Association (PPA) for advice on finding a placement
• creating your own website showcasing samples of your work
• doing temporary administrative work in a publishing company 
• reading specialist publications such as The Bookseller, and subscribing to Publishing News Online.

You can also develop your general skills by doing courses in basic proofreading and editing. See The Publishing Training Centre and the Society of Editors and Proofreaders website in Further Information below.

If you want to work on journals, books or magazines covering a specialist subject like medicine, it is useful  – and sometimes essential – to have a background in that area.

Training

Once you are working as an editorial assistant a lot of your learning will be done on the job.

You can also develop your skills by doing short courses and distance learning courses through organisations like the Publishing Training Centre and the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP) – see Further Information below for details. These include subjects such as proofreading, electronic publishing, and rights and contracts.

Joining organisations such as the Society of Young Publishers, the Society for Editors and Proofreaders, and Women in Publishing will give you opportunities for professional support and networking.

Opportunities

The number of opportunities for editorial assistants vary from one type of publication to the next. You will find that vacancies in book publishing and magazine publishing are not always advertised, so networking, job shadowing and speculative applications are often the best approach.

Vacancies with other organisations like the university press, marketing agencies and online publishers are more likely to be advertised through the normal channels.  

You will find vacancies advertised:

• on the websites of professional bodies such as The Publishers Association 
• in specialist publications such as The Bookseller, Print Week, The Publisher and Publishing News – see websites in Further Information below
• on websites of larger publishers
• on national newspaper websites such as Media Guardian.
• by specialist recruitment agencies
• by some general recruitment agencies (often under the 'marketing' or 'media' vacancies).

After gaining experience as an editorial assistant you could progress to more senior editorial positions. See the Copy Editor and Commissioning Editor profile for details of these roles.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Editorial assistants can earn between £16,000 and £19,000 a year.

Further information

45 East Hill
Wandsworth
London
SW18 2QZ
Tel: 020 8874 2718 Riverbank House
1 Putney Bridge Approach
Fulham
London
SW6 3JD
Tel: 020 7736 3278 Queens House
28 Kingsway
London
WC2B 6JR
Tel: 020 7404 4166 29B Montague Street
London
WC1B 5BW
Tel: 020 7691 9191