If you have the craft of writing and can spot easily mis-spelt words, incorrect punctuation, and grammatical errors. The role of an editor might just be for you.
A profession that requires not just excellent communication and writing skills, but also an eye for detail and relatability. It is not one of the highly growing professions but has taken its place in multiple fields.
Read the article to learn more about how to become an editor, who it is, what are the courses and colleges you can apply to, the job preparation required, and the salary insights based on roles.
An editor organizes, plans, and revises content written by a person or entity before it is published or put into circulation. Editors work in a wide range of fields and on a wide range of publications, including periodicals, newspapers, blogs, and books.
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Editors are expected to be a part of the editing process at different points of the written process based on their industry and role. They look at the tone, vocabulary, and guide in presenting the material in a marketable way.
There is no restriction while choosing a stream post Grade 10. However, a person will have to pursue an undergraduate degree in English language, Literature, journalism, communication, or related fields to become an editor.
A crucial skill of an editor is writing and editing skills. Thus, enrolling in certificate courses during and after Grade 12, or graduation is a good way to master the skill.
Certificate courses are offered both online and offline. They can either focus on creative writing or communicative writing. Here are a few Certificate courses you can try:
| Name of the course | Duration |
| Good with words: Writing and Editing by University of Michigan | 3- 6 months |
| English for Journalism by University of Pennsylvania | 1- 3 months |
| Grammar and Punctuation by University of California | 1-4 weeks |
| Certificate course in Copyediting by University of Emerson | 45 hours |
| Proofreading and Copyediting with The Chicago Manual of Style | Self-paced |
There are different publication houses that hire editors on project bases. One can also be a part of the school/college editorial team and include their contribution as projects, with due attributions.
Irrespective of which language editor you choose to be, it is important to master the language. Therefore an undergraduate degree with a specialization in that language will give more credibility and skill.
How to become an Editor after 12th
An undergraduate degree in English, mass communication, journalism, media, etc. will be required. Additionally, internship experiences would be a good addon to the profile.
To become an Editor in India
A minimum of 55% in Grade 10 + 2 or equivalent from a recognized board and organisation is required to enrol in a Diploma or bachelor’s program. The admissions are admitted based on merit and in a few universities, based on entrance and merit.
| Name of the course | Duration |
| Advanced Diploma in Editing | 1- 2 years |
| Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication | 1- 2 years |
| Diploma in Mass Communication | 1- 2 years |
| Name of the course | Duration |
| BA in Journalism and Communication Studies | 3 years |
| BA in Linguistics | 3 years |
| BA in English Literature | 3 years |
| BA (Hons) Journalism and Publishing | 3-4 years |
| BA Journalism, Film and Television Studies | 3 years |
| BSc in Mass Communication and Journalism | 3 years |
| BA in Media Studies | 3 years |
| BA (Hons) Multimedia and Mass Communication (BMMMC) | 3 – 4 years |
| Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication (BJMC) | 3 – 4 years |
| Bachelor of Mass Media (BMM) | 3 years |
| Name of the College | Location |
| Christ University | Bangalore |
| University of Delhi | Delhi |
| Symbiosis Institute of Media & Communication | Pune |
| Sophia College for Women | Mumbai |
| St. Xaviers College | Mumbai |
| Indraprastha College for Women | Delhi |
| Lady Shriram College for Women | Delhi |
| Whistling Wood International | Mumbai |
| Jadavpur University | Kolkata |
| Jaipur National University | Jaipur |
Also read: Career as an Editor
To become an Editor abroad
To apply for an undergraduate program abroad, a candidate will need to have the following documents,
| Name of the course | Duration |
| Bachelors in Art, Film, and Visual Studies | 3 years |
| BA (Hons) Creative Writing and English Literature | 3 years |
| BA (Hons) English Literature and Linguistics | 3 years |
| BA in Magazine Journalism and Publishing | 3 years |
| BA (Hons) in Media and Publishing | 3 years |
| Name of the College | Location |
| University of Arts | London |
| University of Greenwich | UK |
| Teesside University | UK |
| Bath Spa University | UK |
| Liverpool Hope University | UK |
| University of Mississippi | USA |
| University of Leeds | UK |
| Illinois State University | USA |
| The University of Waikato | New Zealand |
| University of Victoria | Canada |
Internship opportunities will help in building industry-based skills in editing, whether it be in education, media or journalism. This would be a good time to identify your niche. There are different kinds of editorial roles, such as copy editor, proofreaders, line editors, etc.
Explore these fields and work on projects. You can pick the best of the projects as a highlight in your portfolio.
The portfolio should include certifications related to editing and mastery of different types of communications, samples, projects, references, and results of language proficiency tests.
Ensure to be proficient with different types of website templates, editing tools, blogging platforms, etc.
One of the perks of this profession is the independence it gives to the person. One can be a freelance editor and work on multiple projects. However, depending on the field, due to contractual obligations, one might have to work in different industries or handle multiple projects by a single company.
Technical Skills:
Interpersonal skills:
As mentioned before, the role has extended its reach to multiple niches. Though the field hasn’t seen many vacancies, the profession is paid a decent amount and may vary from one role to another, country, experience, etc.
| Role | Proofreader | Managing Editor | Copy Editor | Content Editor |
| Avg. Salary p.a. | 4.5 LPA | 8.2 LPA | 3 LPA | 3.1 LPA |
| Country | US(in dollars) | UK(in pounds) | New Zealand(in NZ Dollars) | Australia(in Australian dollars) | Canada(in Canadian dollars) |
| Avg. salary p.a | $70,034 | £38,977 | 84,800 NZD | $91,547 | $51,116 |
Editors are very crucial to businesses because of their skill to shape content in a palpable manner to the audience. The role has the power and responsibility to maintain the quality of the information, thus might be a challenging yet satisfying job for many.
An editor organizes, plans, and revises content written by a person or entity before it is published or put into circulation. Editors work in a wide range of fields and on a wide range of publications, including periodicals, newspapers, blogs, and books.
An editor is paid around 3LPA to 8 LPA in India depending on the role and experience.
Few of the Technical Skills: Proofreading, Revising, Drafting, etc. Interpersonal skills: Detail-oriented, Curiosity, Creativity and Management skills.
The role has the power and responsibility to maintain the quality of the information, thus might be a challenging yet satisfying job for many.
Hindustan Times, The Tribune, Forbes, Evelyn Learning Systems, Reader’s Digest, India Today, Pan Macmillan India, Penguin Random House, Rupa Publications, Enago English Editing.
One can start with an Assistant Editor role and then acquire senior positions with a few more years of experience.
Embarking on a journey as a content writer requires passion, persistence, and continuous learning. With the increasing digitalization of businesses, the demand for skilled content writers is on the rise. Dive in, keep writing, and you’ll carve your niche in no time!
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