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Newspaper and magazine editors manage the style and content of online and printed publications.
You could work: evenings / weekends; flexibly
There will be
4.8% more Newspaper or magazine editor jobs in 2029.
In your local area
As a newspaper or magazine editor, you would:
You could work in an office.
You can get into this job through:
You could do a degree in a subject like:
You can do a postgraduate qualification in publishing or journalism if your first degree is not related to the industry.
If you want to work for a specialist publication, such as a medical or scientific journal, you'll usually need:a degree or postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject; an excellent understanding of the field
You'll usually need:
You could start as an editorial assistant, copy editor or journalist with a regional newspaper or magazine and work your way up through training and promotion.
You'll need to get some experience before applying for your first job. To build up your experience you could:
These are good ways to develop industry contacts, as many jobs are not advertised. They are also useful for creating a portfolio of work to show employers what you can do.
You could take an editing or proofreading course to develop your skills, which may help when looking for work.
Courses are offered by:
Employers will expect you to have an excellent grasp of English language, grammar, punctuation and proofreading, alongside knowledge of publishing regulations like copyright and licensing.
You may find it useful to join organisations like the Society of Editors and Professional Publishers Association for industry recognition, training opportunities and to make contacts.
You can find out more about becoming a newspaper or magazine editor from the National Council for the Training of Journalists.
You can learn more about other editorial and media careers from Discover Creative Careers.
With experience as a local newspaper or magazine editor, you could move on to regional or national publications.
You could become editor-in-chief of a group of newspapers or magazine publishers, managing an editorial team.
You might move into the wider publishing world, for example working as a commissioning editor for a national or international publishing house.
You may also find opportunities to work freelance in broadcast and digital editorial roles.
The National Council for the Training of Journalists and the Professional Publishers Association have more information on journalism and becoming a newspaper or magazine editor.