Connecting You With Hundreds of Online Courses and Online Degree Programs
Online-Education.net Home > Career Training > What To Do Now? > Editor

What To Do Now? Editor Career Training

by Karen Jo Shapiro
Online Education Columnist

Written materials are everywhere. Books, newspapers and periodicals, manuals and catalogues, and a myriad other places feature written words. In today's economy, there are an increasing number of blogs and websites that also contain written content.

Behind most content is the work of an editor. An editor is the professional responsible for making sure that text is accurate and written for the intended audience. Retraining as an editor may be an appealing option for someone who enjoys language and is detail-oriented. Online editor training courses are one way to hone the career skills needed for this multi-faceted profession.

Word Play: Career Skills for Editors

Editors serve different roles depending on where they work. In the publishing world, editors are the professionals who decide which manuscripts to accept and how writers should be compensated. They oversee the successful completion and publication of the book, magazine or newspaper. Copy editors have the task of proofreading grammar and punctuation, while more general editors read, rewrite, and make ready for publication the copy that comes before them.

To do this job well, you must understand good writing. You need to be detail-oriented, have an expansive vocabulary, a firm grasp on grammar, and possess good verbal fluency. Editors also need to be able to communicate clearly and tactfully with the writers of the copy they edit. If this occupation sounds appealing, consider looking into the ways you can improve your skills to enter this exciting field. Career Advice for Editors

The education to become an editor typically includes a bachelor's degree in a field like communications, journalism, or English. Online editor training courses can help you improve your skills by supplying the critical coursework. For someone who wants to retrain into this field, experience is also helpful. Internships can help you get experience in editing. This career should have longevity--no matter the economy, because as long as there are writers and written materials, there will be a need for editors.

More about Editor Career Training & Editor Schools Online


DeVry University

  • Bachelor's - Business Administration - Technical Communication
  • More Information
  • Full Sail University - Online

  • Creative Writing for Entertainment, Bachelor of Fine Arts
  • Creative Writing, Master of Fine Arts (Online)
  • More Information
  • Kaplan University International

  • BS in Communication/Technical Communication
  • BS in Liberal Studies
  • More Information
  • View all online Editor schools >>
    Karen Jo Shapiro is a psychologist who specializes in leadership and career development in addition to personal coaching. She is the owner of Your Next Steps Coaching and is on adjunct faculty at the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, NC. She leads workshops for women on achieving their dreams through action planning, and also on powerful connections through networking. Karen Jo has undergraduate degrees in English and Spanish from Colby College and a Psy.D. from the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. She has published two books of humorous poetry for children.