The editor's role

The role of an editor covers a multitude of tasks and varies greatly from project to project. Below are brief desciptions of some of the more common types of job and the editor's role in each case.

For example, in my role as general editor of a termly newsletter for a group of academic lawyers, I undertake all aspects of editorial production. This includes: 

• liaising with contributors
  
• researching and writing news items and features
  
• copy-editing
  
• design and layout of pages
  
• proofreading
  
• dealing with advertisers
• and organising printing and distribution. 
  

As production editor for an academic legal journal, my role is slightly different: 

• liaising with journal editor
• copy-editing
• raising and resolving queries with contributors
• page design and layout
• circulating and collating proofs
• organising printing and distribution.

Nowadays, many of these tasks are done on screen, but I am also able to work on hard copy.

The job of the copy-editor is different. It is a much more specific role, typically involving:

• liaising with in-house editors
• checking spelling and grammar
• editing text for consistency and house style
• marking up/coding text according to design specification
• raising queries with authors
• checking references and notes
• supply of text ready for typesetting.

I have copy-edited a large number of academic books at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. I also enjoy working on books for a more general readership.

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