In small organizations, a single editor may do everything. In larger ones, an executive editor oversees associate or assistant editors who have responsibility for particular subjects, such as fiction, local news, international news, or sports, or who edit one or a few publications. Editors hire writers, reporters, or other employees, plan budgets, and negotiate contracts with freelance writers. In broadcasting companies, program directors have similar responsibilities. Editors and program directors often have assistants, with the title of assistant editor, editorial assistant, copy editor, or production assistant.
Many assistants hold entry level jobs.
They review copy for errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. They check manuscripts for readability, style, and agreement with editorial policy. They add and rearrange sentences to improve clarity or delete incorrect and unnecessary material. Editorial assistants do research for writers and verify facts, dates, and statistics. Assistants also may arrange page layouts of articles, photographs, and advertising or plan the use of tapes.