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Publications Editor

Occupation Information table
Overview: Publications editors determine themes of issues to be published in books, magazines and journals. They can also author the prefaces, editorials or reviews. They secure the graphic and art works from sources or contract the assignments to artists and photographers.
Duties: They decide upon the kind of stories and themes to be included in each issue of a magazine, journal or book.

Assign a story or theme to individual authors based on their authoring ability and past success for the production assignment. They edit the stories written.

They write the prefaces and editorial comments introducing each new issue and new ideas or theses covered in a story or article.

They decide upon photographs, sketches and graphics needed to complement each story. They contract out work to photographers and artists.
Degree(s): A.A. Liberal Arts and Sciences 
A.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences (Mathematics and Science) 
Job Outlook: Employment in this field is projected to decline by 2% or more from 2018 to 2028. For comparison, the average growth rate for all occupations over the same time period is projected to be 5% to 8%.
Salary Range (National Average): $28,000 to $32,000
Education Level: Typically, a Bachelor’s Degree from a 4-year college (some are 5 years) is required to be considered for this occupation.
Additional Training/Education: Most employers prefer to hire publications editors with a bachelor's degree in communications, journalism or English and with a broad liberal arts background. For those who deal with technically specialized topics, a background in that field--engineering, business, politics, etc. is essential.
Recommended Skills:
  • Using logic to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Talking, giving speeches, or speaking in a group to convey information, explain ideas, or give instructions.
  • The ability to understand complex written paragraphs, instructions, or reports.
  • Being aware of the reactions of others, and understanding why they react the way they do.
  • Paying attention to what other people are saying, and taking time to understand the points being made.
  • Allocating and budgeting your time for different tasks so that things get done when needed.
  • Weighing out the options in a situation or a problem and logically choosing the best course of action.
  • Composing and communicating your ideas in written form.
  • Painting, drawing, crafting, sculpting and creative designing.
Recommended Values:
  • Having a routine job where the duties are very predictable and not likely to change over a long period of time.
  • Persuading and influencing others to change their attitudes, behavior, and/or opinions.
 

* National data collected by the Department of Labor in 2014 with projections through 2024. For New York green job information .

* For New York salary data information .

* For New York green job information .

Understanding acquiring positions in this field may be enhanced through continuing academic study (i.e. earning a baccalaureate or a master's degree) and/or work experience in the field, Queensborough Community College has established transfer agreements with other institutions for students who wish to further pursue their educational goals. Students are highly encouraged to meet with one of our Career Services to fully understand the opportunities available through study in their degree program.