WRITERS AND EDITORS

Nature of the Work

Writers and editors communicate through the written word.  Writers develop original fiction and nonfiction for books, magazines and trade journals, newspapers, technical reports, company newsletters, radio and television broadcasts, movies, and advertisements. Editors select and prepare material for publication or broadcasting and supervise writers.

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement

A college degree generally is required.  Although some employers look for a broad liberal arts background, most prefer to hire people with degrees in communications, journalism, or English.  Technical writing requires a degree in or some knowledge about a specialized field engineering, business, or one of the sciences, for example. 

Job Outlook

Employment of writers and editors is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2005. Employment of salaried writers and editors by newspapers, periodicals, book publishers, and nonprofit organizations is expected to increase with growing demand for their publications. Growth of advertising and public relations agencies should also be a source of new jobs. Persons preparing to be writers and editors should also have academic preparation in another field as well, either to qualify them as writers specializing in that field or to enter that field if they are unable to get a writing job.

Earnings

In 1992, beginning salaries for writers and editorial assistants averaged $20,000 annually.  Those who had at least 5 years experience averaged more than $30,000 and senior editors at the largest newspapers earned over $60,000 a year.

Additional information can be obtained by contacting the following organizations:

The Dow Jones Newspaper Fund, P.O.  Box 300, Princeton, NJ 08540.

American Society of Magazine Editors, 575 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10022.

Society for Technical Communication, Inc., 901 N.  Stuart St., Suite 304, Arlington, VA 22203.


