Career Prospects of Editing and Publishing

Editors are of different types and their work varies widely within the industry. There are copy editors who can get into academia or the publishing industry. In academia, they may work for journals, universities, or independent academic clients. In publishing, they may work for newspapers, magazines, journals, book publishers, websites, online publishers, or individual writers. In the business and nonprofit sectors copy editors can work as independent contractors and freelance for a variety of clients. They can serve as partners or employees in specialized copywriting agencies or work in specific industries such as technology, medicine, engineering or the arts. It always helps if you have previously worked in a scientific or medical role or are well-qualified in an academic area.

Opportunities for editors exist in both print and digital media and at all different levels from junior positions such as editorial assistants and web editors to more senior roles such as picture editors, designers and publishing copywriter, copy editor, web content managers and editors of big publications. You can also work in book publishing, periodical journals and educational publishing houses and with magazine publishers.

Book publishers may have significantly downsized in response to the slow economy but it has, on the upside, created numerous outsourcing opportunities for copy editors, line editors, acquisitions editors, proofreaders and marketing copywriters etc. Companies are getting used to the idea of internet publishing and so there is a demand for more writers and editors with knowledge of web based technologies. There is also an increasing demand for e-books and print-on-demand, so after gathering enough experience in the industry you might even want to launch your own desktop publishing company.

This industry is challenging and calls for a lot of creativity whether you work for a fashion magazine or an academic house or a literary website.

Job growth within publication firms will grow along with consumer demand for these publications. Special interest periodicals are growing in demand, and business newsletters are becoming a common practice. Other areas of job growth will occur within public relations and advertising agencies.