What Do Editors-in-Chief Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for editors-in-chief?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what editors-in-chief do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Editors-in-Chief Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about editors-in-chief by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Editors-in-Chief plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication.
Popular Job Titles For Editors-in-Chief
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Editors
- Technical Editors
- Copy Editors
- Content Editors
- Managing Editors
- Editorial Assistants
- News Editors
- Assignment Editors
- Writers/Editors
- Photo Editors
- Associate Editorial Directors
- Lead Assistant Editors
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for editors-in-chief can be found.
Best Industries for Editors-in-Chief
Editors-in-Chief Jobs By Industry
- Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers: 40.2%
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers: 7.6%
- Motion Picture and Video Industries: 7.3%
- Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services: 6.4%
- Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations: 3.4%
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services: 3.1%
- Other: 32%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of editors-in-chief can be found working in the Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers sector. In 2023, about 40.2% of all jobs for editors-in-chief were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (7.6%), Motion Picture and Video Industries (7.3%), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (6.4%), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (3.4%) and Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (3.1%).
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What Do Editors-in-Chief Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what editors-in-chief do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work editors-in-chief do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that editors-in-chief tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for editors-in-chief, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Editors-in-Chief
Based on 25,465 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Editors-in-Chief
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Journalism | 7,912 | 31% |
| Proofreading | 4,737 | 19% |
| Marketing | 4,322 | 17% |
| Copy Editing | 3,647 | 14% |
| Social Media | 3,475 | 14% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Editors-in-Chief
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Editing | 13,909 | 55% |
| Communication | 12,596 | 49% |
| Writing | 10,777 | 42% |
| Detail Oriented | 7,328 | 29% |
| Research | 6,070 | 24% |
Based on 25,465 job postings related to editors-in-chief, journalism was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 31% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for proofreading, marketing, copy editing, social media and project management were also highly sought.
As for common skills, editing was the most desired skill found in job postings for editors-in-chief, followed by communication, writing, detail oriented, research and english language.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Journalism | 7,912 | 31% |
| Proofreading | 4,737 | 19% |
| Marketing | 4,322 | 17% |
| Copy Editing | 3,647 | 14% |
| Social Media | 3,475 | 14% |
| Project Management | 3,405 | 13% |
| Content Creation | 3,196 | 13% |
| Content Editing | 2,949 | 12% |
| Search Engine Optimization | 2,943 | 12% |
| Workflow Management | 2,873 | 11% |
| Style Guides | 2,582 | 10% |
| Newsletters | 2,473 | 10% |
| Punctuation and Capitalization | 2,111 | 8% |
| Adobe Photoshop | 2,037 | 8% |
| AP Stylebook | 1,777 | 7% |
| Analytics | 1,540 | 6% |
| Storytelling | 1,517 | 6% |
| Fact Checking | 1,436 | 6% |
| HyperText Markup Language (HTML) | 1,415 | 6% |
| Technical Writing | 1,326 | 5% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Editing | 13,909 | 55% |
| Communication | 12,596 | 49% |
| Writing | 10,777 | 42% |
| Detail Oriented | 7,328 | 29% |
| Research | 6,070 | 24% |
| English Language | 5,792 | 23% |
| Grammar | 4,417 | 17% |
| Management | 4,242 | 17% |
| Ability To Meet Deadlines | 3,740 | 15% |
| Planning | 3,705 | 15% |
| Microsoft Office | 3,435 | 13% |
| Leadership | 3,309 | 13% |
| Organizational Skills | 3,024 | 12% |
| Microsoft Excel | 2,797 | 11% |
| Time Management | 2,738 | 11% |
| Self-Motivation | 2,503 | 10% |
| Problem Solving | 2,423 | 10% |
| Operations | 2,409 | 9% |
| Multitasking | 2,390 | 9% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 2,298 | 9% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Editors-in-Chief
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Editors | 3,048 | 15.8% |
| Technical Editors | 2,038 | 10.5% |
| Copy Editors | 1,739 | 9% |
| Content Editors | 1,529 | 7.9% |
| Managing Editors | 2,057 | 10.6% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was editors, with 1,540 unique job postings. Technical editors were second, with 963 postings, followed by copy editors, content editors and managing editors.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to editors-in-chief.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Editors | 3,048 | 15.8% |
| Technical Editors | 2,038 | 10.5% |
| Copy Editors | 1,739 | 9% |
| Content Editors | 1,529 | 7.9% |
| Managing Editors | 2,057 | 10.6% |
| Editorial Assistants | 1,463 | 7.6% |
| News Editors | 1,159 | 6% |
| Assignment Editors | 822 | 4.3% |
| Writers/Editors | 746 | 3.9% |
| Photo Editors | 560 | 2.9% |
| Associate Editorial Directors | 558 | 2.9% |
| Lead Assistant Editors | 614 | 3.2% |
| Production Editors | 518 | 2.7% |
| Digital Editors | 412 | 2.1% |
| Executive Editors | 480 | 2.5% |
| Copywriters/Editors | 373 | 1.9% |
| Engagement Editors | 279 | 1.4% |
| Magazine Editors | 338 | 1.7% |
| Medical Editors | 299 | 1.5% |
| Sports Editors | 289 | 1.5% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for editors-in-chief? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for editors-in-chief.
How much do editors-in-chief make?
Editors-in-Chief: How do you become one?
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