Editors

(NOC 5122)

in All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

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. Copy editors read and edit copy to be published or broadcast to detect and correct errors in spelling, grammar, and sentence structure. They work for publishing firms, magazines, journals, newspapers, radio and television networks and stations, and by companies and government departments that produce publications like newsletters, handbooks, manuals, and websites. Editors may also work on a freelance basis. Editors may specialize in a subject area like news, sports, or features, or in a publication like books, magazines, newspapers, or manuals.

Job Outlook

Average

Read more

  • Estimate Weak growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 40 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Low rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

  • Estimate 840 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 1495 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Newsprint and publishing industries are facing challenges and continue to adjust to the growing demand for digital content and cost pressures. Competition for positions is likely to remain strong for higher-level editors with bigger media outlets, while many local media outlets have generally downsized over the years. A decrease of advertising revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic also resulted in the downsizing of some print media operations. Occasional opportunities may occur with companies which have a need for technical writing/editing, and with those involved with website content editing or online news distribution.

Hourly Pay

$18.46

Minimum

$26.00

Median

$34.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$578

Minimum

$33,199

Median

$70,025

Maximum

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

Hourly Pay

$13.00

Minimum

$21.00

Median

$40.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$945

Minimum

$11,712

Median

$60,447

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

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. Copy editors read and edit copy to be published or broadcast to detect and correct errors in spelling, grammar, and sentence structure. They work for publishing firms, magazines, journals, newspapers, radio and television networks and stations, and by companies and government departments that produce publications like newsletters, handbooks, manuals, and websites. Editors may also work on a freelance basis. Editors may specialize in a subject area like news, sports, or features, or in a publication like books, magazines, newspapers, or manuals.

Job duties

Editors:

  • 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.

Sample job titles

  • advertising editor
  • assistant editor
  • book editor
  • copy editor
  • editor
  • editor, Web site
  • literary editor
  • magazine editor
  • newspaper editor
  • technical editor

Skills

  • You should be organized, resourceful, and creative. A critical mind, excellent writing ability, and language skills are also necessary. At times, writing requires patience, self-discipline, and perseverance. Editors must be tactful and able to guide and encourage others. Copy editors require a sharp eye for detail. Good keyboarding skills and word processing skills are a definite asset.

Job requirements

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

Other considerations

  • Some people in these jobs work irregular hours including evenings and weekends. Several years of experience in journalism, writing, publishing or a related field are usually required. Progression to supervisory and management positions like editor-in-chief or managing editor is possible with experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

350

employed in 2016

74.6%

employed full-time

32.4%

self employed

47.9%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
52.1%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
46

median age

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

11,000

employed in 2016

53.3%

employed full-time

29.3%

self employed

55.6%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
44.4%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
38.2

median age

Where will I likely work?

60.6%

Halifax

$37,143 median annual income
14.1%

Annapolis Valley

$36,915 median annual income
9.9%

Southern

N/A
8.5%

North Shore

N/A
7.0%

Cape Breton

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

60.3%

Information and cultural industries

13.8%

Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

12.1%

Professional, scientific and technical services

6.9%

Arts, entertainment and recreation

3.4%

Manufacturing

What is the age of Employment?

27.0%

35-44

23.0%

55-64

19.0%

45-54

14.0%

25-34

10.0%

65+

7.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

29.7%

15-24

15.9%

35-44

15.7%

45-54

15.4%

25-34

14.9%

55-64

Top levels of education

38.6%

Bachelor

$38,481 median annual income
27.1%

College Diploma

$33,948 median annual income
14.3%

Master

$23,955 median annual income
12.9%

High school

$20,558 median annual income
7.1%

Doctorate

N/A

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

26.4%

Bachelor

$17,829 median annual income
24.9%

High school

$7,552 median annual income
19.5%

College Diploma

$22,120 median annual income
13.7%

Less than high school

$2,922 median annual income
7.9%

Master

$36,173 median annual income

Education & training

English Language and Literature

College or University Program

These programs focus on the English language, including its history, structure and related communications skills, and the literature and culture of English-speaking peoples.

Institutions providing this program

Academy of Learning Career College - Halifax

Halifax, NS

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

French Language and Literature (Canada)

College or University Program

These programs focus on the French language, including its history, structure and related communications skills, and the literature and culture of French-speaking peoples.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Journalism

College or University Program

These programs focus on the theory and practice of gathering, processing, and delivering news and that prepares students to be professional print journalists, news editors, and news managers. They include courses in news writing and editing, reporting, photojournalism, layout and graphic design, journalism law and policy, professional standards and ethics, research methods, and journalism history and criticism.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Technical and Scientific Communication

College or University Program

These programs focus on communicating technical and scientific knowledge to a variety of audiences through print, video, and digital media and prepares students to function as technical writers and editors, documentation developers, web designers, and usability specialists. They include courses in scientific and technical writing and editing, graphic and information design, web design, audience analysis, document usability and field testing, publications management, and applications to specific technical fields.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Editors Atlantic
Atlantic, Canada

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.