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Editors

OaSIS code 51110.00

Editors review, evaluate and edit manuscripts, articles, news reports and other material for publication, broadcast or interactive media and coordinate the activities of writers, journalists and other staff.

Overview

Also known as

  • Advertising editor
  • Associate editor
  • Contributing editor
  • Copy editor
  • Editor
  • Editorial consultant
  • Literary editor
  • Manuscript editor
  • News service editor
  • Sports editor
  • Technical editor

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Evaluate suitability of manuscripts, articles, news copy and wire service dispatches for publication, broadcast or electronic media and recommend or make changes in content, style and organization
  • Read and edit copy to be published or broadcast to detect and correct errors in spelling, grammar and syntax, and shorten or lengthen copy as space or time requires
  • Confer with authors, staff writers, reporters and others regarding revisions to copy
  • Plan and implement layout or format of copy according to space or time allocations and significance of copy
  • Plan and coordinate activities of staff and assure production deadlines are met
  • Plan coverage of upcoming events and assign work accordingly
  • Write or prepare introductions, marketing and promotional materials, bibliographic references, indexes and other text
  • May negotiate royalties with authors and arrange for payment of freelance staff.

Additional information

  • Progression to supervisory and management positions, such as editor-in-chief or managing editor, is possible with experience.
  • Editors may specialize in a particular subject area, such as news, sports or features, or in a particular type of publication, such as books, magazines, newspapers or manuals.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Authors and writers (except technical) (51111)
  • Journalists (51113)
  • Translator-reviser (in 51114.01 Translators and translator-revisers)
  • Sound editor (in 52113.00 Audio and video recording technicians)
  • Film editors (51120.05)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

5 – Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport

TEER

1 – Occupations usually require a university degree

Major group

51 – Professional occupations in art and culture

Sub-major group

511 – Professional occupations in art and culture

Minor group

5111 – Writing, translating and related communications professionals

Unit group

51110 – Editors

Occupational profile

51110.00 – Editors

Work characteristics

Work characteristics gathers the various components describing the work environment of each occupation, such as employers, work activities, and the work context. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of complexity (for Work Activities) or other measurement dimensions (for Work Context), and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Work Activities

Proficiency or complexity level
Clerical Activities
4 - High Level
Getting Information
4 - High Level
Judging Quality
4 - High Level
Making Decisions
4 - High Level
Planning and Organizing
4 - High Level

Work Context

Structural Job Characteristics

Structured versus Unstructured Work
Degree of freedom to determine tasks and priorities
3 - Moderate amount of freedom
Work Week Duration
Worked hours in a typical week
2 - Between 35 to 40 hours

Physical Work Environment

Physical Proximity
Physical distance from others
3 - Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Physical Demands

Sitting
Duration
5 - All the time, or almost all the time
Standing
Duration
1 - Very little time
Bending or Twisting the Body
Duration
1 - Very little time

Interpersonal Relations

Contact with Others
Frequency
4 - Every day, a few times per day
Duration
4 - More than half the time
Work with Work Group or Team
Importance
4 - Highly important
Frequency
3 - Once a week or more but not every day

Workplaces/employers

  • Journals
  • Magazines
  • Newspapers
  • Publishing departments of companies
  • Publishing departments within government
  • Publishing firms
  • Radio stations
  • Self-employment/free-lance
  • Television stations and networks

Skills and abilities

This section displays the various competencies required for an occupation. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency (for Skills and Abilities) or importance (for Personal Attributes) and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Abilities

Proficiency or complexity level
Written Comprehension
5 - Highest Level
Written Expression
5 - Highest Level
Perceptual Speed
4 - High Level
Speech Clarity
4 - High Level
Verbal Ability
4 - High Level

Skills

Proficiency or complexity level
Reading Comprehension
5 - Highest Level
Time Management
5 - Highest Level
Writing
5 - Highest Level
Coordinating
4 - High Level
Negotiating
4 - High Level

Personal Attributes

Importance
Attention to Detail
5 - Extremely important
Adaptability
4 - Highly important
Analytical Thinking
4 - Highly important
Collaboration
4 - Highly important
Creativity
4 - Highly important

Interests

The OaSIS uses the Holland Codes to describe the work-related interests. According to the Holland model, people work best in work environments that match their preferences, which means that people and work environments can be matched for a best fit. Occupational environments in Holland’s theory are described according to a combination of main interests and the activities they represent. There are six interests in the Holland typology: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. All occupations in OaSIS have up to three interests assigned to them.

Interests

Preferences for work environments and outcomes.

Interests profile: AEC

Artistic (A)

Artistic occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail artistic expression to create, compose or produce visual, performing, literary or applied art. These occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns and often require self-expression and the accomplishment of work without following a clear set of rules.

Enterprising (E)

Enterprising occupations are characterized by the dominance of action-oriented activities to attain organizational or self-interest goals. They frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects, influencing, leading or mobilizing people, making decisions, and sometimes require risk taking and dealing with business.

Conventional (C)

Conventional occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail following sets of procedures and routines. These activities may include systematic manipulation of data, such as keeping records, filing materials, reproducing materials, organizing written and numerical data according to a prescribed plan, and operating business and data processing. They often require following a clear line of authority and usually involve working with data and details more than with ideas.

Employment requirements

Employment requirements includes the education, training, certifications and the knowledge required to work in each occupation. The Knowledge category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency, and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of Knowledge descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Education, certification and licensing

  • A bachelor's degree in English, French, journalism or a related discipline is usually required.
  • Editors who specialize in a specific subject matter may be required to have training in that subject.
  • Membership in the Editors Association of Canada may be required.
  • Several years of experience in journalism, writing, publishing or a related field are usually required.

Knowledge

Knowledge level
Clerical
3 - Advanced Level
Languages
3 - Advanced Level
Arts
2 - Intermediate Level
Business Management
2 - Intermediate Level
Communications and Media
2 - Intermediate Level

Skills for success

 
Skills for Success Model
 
Skills for Success are skills that help you in a quickly changing world. Everyone benefits from having these skills. They can help you to get a job, progress at your current job or even change jobs. The skills also help you become an active member of your community and succeed in learning.
 
 
Linkages Between ESDC Skills Models and Frameworks
 
ESDC makes available a dictionary of over 300 terms (or descriptors) and definitions, known as the Skills and Competencies Taxonomy (SCT). Descriptor information from the Taxonomy is used in the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).
 
While there is general commonality of meaning between the descriptors in the SCT and the Skills for Success model, there are some differences in their definitions due to their distinct purposes. The Skills for Success Model [9 broadly defined skills] identifies the skills that are universally applicable. The SCT displays specific skills and competency requirements for 900 occupations. Users of the Skills for Success Model and Essential Skills content may find competency information from the Taxonomy and the OaSIS to be complementary.
 
Stay tuned to this section for more information and updates regarding linkages between the Skills for Success model and the OaSIS.

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

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