What does an Editorial Assistant do?

An editorial assistant is an entry level staff member who works in the publishing industry. These assistants can be found in news rooms, publishing houses, magazine offices, and the offices of new media companies which publish online. This type of job is generally taken by someone who is just getting started in publishing, although sometimes some experience is required to work in this job position.

The duties of an editorial assistant can vary widely, depending on the publication. Some may act primarily like secretaries, handling the phones, sending out correspondence, making copies, filing, and tracking filed materials through the office and between departments. It may also be the duty of the editorial assistant to get guests settled in the office, to attend meetings, and to help keep the editorial schedule on track and focused.

More hands-on work may be available at some publications. For example, it may be the responsibility of an editorial assistant to read any unsolicited materials which arrive, and to report on these materials to higher-ranking editors. In fact, the editorial assistant can become a key gatekeeper who decides which content will be passed on to higher ranking members of the editorial staff. In addition, the assistant may be involved in the editing and proofing process as materials are prepared for publication.

At publications which have an online presence, the editorial assistants are often involved in maintaining that presence. For example, he or she can be put in charge of a blog or bulletin board, and may coordinate an online community on behalf of the parent company. For these types of positions, experience in online communities is usually required, and some companies prefer to work with people who have specifically been engaged in their online communities. Someone who has been active in the message boards for Xyz publishers, for example, will be more likely to be hired to manage that community than someone who has not been a participant.

In some offices, people must start in very low ranking positions, below that of editorial assistant, and work their way up gradually. In other cases, people with college degrees may be hired on as editorial assistants directly, allowing them to skip some of the lower rungs. College students who are interested in publishing careers would be well served to seek out internships while in school so that they can start engaging in professional development which will allow them to land jobs when they graduate.