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FACTOIDS:
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• Approximately 95,000 people were employed as editors in 1998. The average wage was $37,470.
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• Jobs with major organizations are concentrated in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, DC.
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• It took the copy editor about 12 minutes to edit this page of text.
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- Editors review, edit, fact-check and rewrite the work of newspaper or magazine writers or authors of books. They check for accuracy, content, grammar and style.
- In the publishing industry, an editor’s primary duty is to plan publications' content while taking into account what's likely to appeal to readers.
- Newspaper editors assign topics to reporters and oversee the publication's production.
- Most editors use personal computers or word processors. Many use desktop or electronic publishing systems, scanners and other communications equipment.
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- Editors must be able to express ideas clearly and logically and should love to write. Creativity, curiosity, a broad range of knowledge, self-motivation and perseverance also are valuable.
- They need to demonstrate good judgment and a strong sense of ethics in deciding what to publish.
- The ability to concentrate amid confusion and work effectively under pressure is essential.
- Familiarity with electronic publishing, graphics and video production equipment is increasingly necessary.
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- A college degree is usually required. Most employers prefer to hire people with degrees in communications, journalism or English.
- For those who specialize in a particular area, such as science, fashion or legal issues, additional background in that particular field is helpful.
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- Employment opportunities for editors are expected to increase as demand grows for books, newspapers, periodicals, and online and niche market publications.
- The outlook for most editing jobs is expected to be competitive. Competition for jobs is greatest in larger media markets where the pay is better.
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Sources: Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics; Job Results Management Institute; American Copy Editor's Society
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