The literal meaning of the term ‘edit’ is to correct, change or alter. Changing is a vast term and could take multiple forms and take on numerous ways to affect a change. For instance, editing a word document is one meaning of editing supported by a set of ways for doing that. It is done by us every time we use the Microsoft. In that sense, can we call ourselves Editors? No, because what Editors do as professionals, is a lot more than just making changes. Let us first understand, what is meant by editing in publication.

Editing refers to the course of selecting, organizing written, visual, and audible and film media used to put across information through the process of correction, reduction and arrangement of data in various media to convert it into an accurately informative output.

Whatever we read in the newspapers or magazines, or course books; whatever we see in the news, TV shows and movies; is a resultant of editing which makes the conveyed information look so impeccable. In essence, the process of editing starts right when the idea of work is generated. It, quintessentially, involves the application of creative thinking, human relations and a cut out systemic process.

The process of Editing could, broadly, be classified into the following steps.

Light/ heavy editing: This sort of editing is usually done in newspapers, journals, books, magazines and other publishable articles and other media. The articles we read are not, originally, like we get them. The raw data is converted into the perfect article after undergoing light, heavy, medium edits as per requirement. This may involve correcting grammatical mistakes, building coherence. Similarly what our eyes see in theatres, on TV and other mediums is a collection of worked parts and sub-parts of a sequence.

Technical editing: This goes a step ahead after making the basic changes. This involves establishing relevance of the topic with the information that substantiates it.

Skills

An Editors has to be a very apt individual with great gut feel who could do magic with words and images. It is the creative ability that makes a larger difference in the line of editing. There are a set of certain skills that must be abundantly present in an editors to make their output appealing and pleasing.

An editors must without doubt have an affinity for writing. They should be keen to write things. It is commonly said that one who preaches must practice what he preaches. Same is the thumb rule for editors. He should himself be able to write well before pointing out any flaw in the writings of the other.

An important ability that an editors is expected to possess is the forte of expressing and communicating his ideas in writing well.

Another aspect that an editors needs to exhibit is his ability to judge well without any prejudices. He should be a quick but street smart decision maker to opt for the best alternative that will be most appropriate in a given situation.

Creativity is another skill that must be adequately at hand in case of an editors. His artistic mind should be spontaneous in chalking out good attractive layout for the print or visual content he is working at.

An editors must be self motivated and a curious professional who constantly remains thirsty for more novel and better ideas for beautiful execution of his task.

He should be a great team worker and team leader too and should not treat himself as an isolated privileged. He should be tactful in extracting the most optimum output fro his team.

Qualifications in Editing

The basic education that is required for being an editors is a college degree. With the advancements that have been brought by computers and information technology, it ha almost become a precondition that sufficient and relevant knowledge of computers must also be there in an editors.

The list of more formal and desirable editorial qualification is given below:

Though it is just a college degree in arts that suffices but the recent trend says that the employer looks for a broad and li9beral arts background or a degree in the field of journalism, communication or English could prove to be an icing on the cake.

The ones who intend to specialize in a given field like fashion, sports, business etc. an additional course in the respective field becomes a must.

For technical editing, some sort of connection, with technical disciplines like engineering, is also required. This is in the light of the fact growing usage of graphics and web applications. In this event, a background in web designing, computer graphics will be helpful.

Familiarity with the electronic publishing could be another desirable characteristic sought from an editors.

The tool in the hands of an editors to earn his living is WORDS. The ethical responsibility of an editors should remain his top priority and the respect that he earns shall be his biggest earning.  He should not misuse his advantageous position and play with words to earn a little more. Coming to the factual information, the salaries etc of an editors could be presented in the following lines.

The average salary of an editors may come at around $54,000 a year.

There are fields that require continuous smart editing, advertising being one such. It offers a very sumptuous financial up gradation. Technical editors are the most sought after these days and, hence, are the most highly paid these days.

As with any other occupation, salary gets increased with increase in the work experience. The same rule is applicable here too. In 2009, the median salary of an editors in a year amounted to $ 53900 and the hourly salary of an editors came at around $25.9 per hour, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The figure of benefits and salaries will mount with every expertise gained by an editors. More grasping of technical know how will lead to an escalation is salaries of an editors.

And this in quite an achievable target in the sci-fi world we are living in now a days.

editors may work on as per job, per contract, per article basis again multiplying their chances to earn better. editors may also go forth as freelancers and enjoy the benefits and profits of an independent organization which is more rewarding.

In the early phases of their careers, editors may start as proof readers, researchers or copy editors. However after starting as a proof reader, they could look up to being a copy editors and then a senior editors and finally to a publisher.

Sometimes at the entry level, the employers may prefer candidates who are experienced in the field or have at least worked as volunteers. The prospects of growth may improvise with in house experience with a publication house. This act will have the effect seasoning the editors to become even finer. Small publications give large amount of vital tasks to budding editors. The pay might not be much but the experience gained is worth it.

For the ones who want to set out on their own as free lancers, may call on for free lancing. But free lancing would reap benefits only when the editors has bundles of talent, stamina and some luck too. Free lancers may work as per their convenience and wishes and enjoy the benefits and rewards of own business set up too. They can widen their chances of earning more income and gaining more experience by going to open markets in search of more and more customers to broaden their market.

Coming to the creation of job opportunities, the factual data indicates that the total number of jobs held by editors in 2008 were 130,000. Also the estimates of future employment generation are also very encouraging. The employment figure of editors is expected to raise manifolds by 2018 as there is a sharp increase in demand for editors. The greatest demand is for the technical personnel. Apart from this, the salaries of editors for periodicals, journals, book publishers and non profit organizations are likely to get heavily increased. Also a lot of companies are becoming increasingly dependent on advertising, which is a very good sign for the editors as this would call for more business.

Editors main job is to rectify anything that is incorrect. And for this, he should himself be one such person who is capable of identifying a mistake and then devising a methodology to put the entire content in a flawless system. Since the task of an EditorsEditors

• Print media:

• Print media Editors is required to work in a team. Therefore he is vested with the responsibility of putting, not self, but the creative team forth to achieve the desirable content output.

• Editors, here, should assume total responsibility of the content, authentication, verification of content along with the management of the team.

• Another responsibility of the Editors is to reorganize the gathered input from various sources into a systematic and lucid format.

• The Editors are expected to stick to set time schedule within which they have to synchronize the functioning of all people involved.

• An Editors in print media is responsible for reading the pulse of public and understanding the impact an article may carry on the public.

• The Editors is responsible for the main part of the newspaper, magazine or book. He should be tactful in choosing the headline and substantiating it with the best suited photographs that he chooses.

• The likes and dislikes of the target audience is something that an Editors is much responsible to know.

• He has to take decisions with respect to the placement and positioning of the articles in an articulate manner. In addition, he must also put the pictures which portray the most about the article.

• Visual media:

The main responsibility of the Editors in this case is to arrange all the objects necessary for compiling the sub parts into one visual. He is liable for giving a fine quality to the pictures to bring out the best results.

• The Editors is responsible for managing the camera shots so that every shot could be merged to get one video which will be worked upon.

• The uncut shots of the video have to be properly matched and corroborated with high quality sound to be later loaded into a system.

• Next task of an Editors is to place all the scenes in the most cogent manner and as according to the will of director.

• Another chore that the Editors has to pay attention to is the arrangement of the scene with the required kind of audio so that what comes out is the smooth flow of visuals.

• The Editors has to take sufficient note of the technical smoothness of the video. He has to rule out any possibility of a technical error. He should be first time right with the selection of color scheme, appropriate graphics.