An editor is a qualified person who is involved in the publishing decisions and processes; proofs the text; carries out the publishing process and participates marketing and advertising.
Duties and responsibilities
1- Reviews and suggests a file/book for publication
a- Reads and reviews the file/book.
b- Examines the contents of the book/file in accordance with publishing house policy.
c- Examines the authenticity of the book/file.
d- Examines the book/file regarding convenient language use, style, meaning, coherence and adequacy for the target audience.
e- To conduct market research for commercial success and placement of the book/file.
f- Makes suggestions to the editorial board.
g- Provides information about the book for the relevant department.
h- Oversees the contracting process.
2- Develops books and projects for publication
a- Analyses the market to foresee needs and emerging trends.
b- Develops new ideas.
c- Makes suggestions to the editorial board.
d- Finds and suggests writers, translators, artists, etc. to take part in the project.
e- Guides and assists people with specific needs and work method.
f- Decides on the series and medium of publication (print or e-book)
g- Suggests publishing time.
3- Develops content
a- Liaises with writers, translators, etc. about content, language, schedule, contract terms, etc.
b- Oversees production and translation process.
c- Contributes in texts production via proofing.
d- Helps writers in their writing process.
e- Contributes in determining sections of the book.
f- Develops contents required to produce an e-books.
4- Develops related texts
a- Writes a bio of the writer/translator.
b- Edits the copyright page.
c- Prepares foreword, afterword, introduction, table of contents, publisher, translators’ note, index, and dictionary pages or oversees their production.
5- Contributes to titling of the book and the chapters
a- Ensures that the best title is chosen to represent the book.
b- Decides or suggests titles / sub-titles for the book in accordance with its genre, content and target audience.
6- Contributes to the decision process of visual content
a- Decides the visual content.
b- Decides and controls the visual content while considering target audience, copyright, cost and printing issues.
7- Expresses opinions on front and end cover, writes cover letters
a- Suggests visual content for front and end cover.
b- Writes or oversees the writing of end cover.
c- Ensures that any special condition or issue about the book is reflected on the cover.
d- Conducts communication among designers, translators, authors, etc..
8- Determines additional materials
a- Decides which additional contents will be included (maps, CDs, posters, documents, etc.) and oversees their production.
b- Decides which additional contents will be included (audio-visual) in e-books and oversees their production.
c- Decides which promotional materials will be included in the package.
9- Reviews the contents of the text
a- Proofs the chapters according to the genre of the text, their connection to each other, order, length.
b- Reviews the text for consistent, repetitive, excess or insufficient information.
c- Reviews the book for logical and narrative errors and make changes if need be.
d- Reviews the fluency of the text and makes suggestions to the author.
e- Updates the information in the book according to its launch date.
f- (Checks the proper sources of information, accuracy, and appropriateness of given examples, about the subject of the text and to check whether the text has consistent and accurate information for non-fictional texts, makes suggestions for the author and corrects errors if need be).
g- Checks the given information, cross-references, corrects the errors of fact, applies necessary corrections.
h- Checks time, place, character, plot, discourse consistency through the text, makes changes if need be.
10- Reviews the form and content of the text
a- Reviews the text for formal and technical consistency regarding its genre.
b- Proofs the footnotes, bibliography, etc. according to a proper reference system, checks the accuracy and consistency of the given information.
c- Proofs the index and dictionary for consistency and accuracy of references..
11- Proofs the text for narration and style
a- Ensures the fluency of the text.
b- Proofs for any unnecessary words.
c- Suggests proper words and phrases for the narrative.
d- Proofs the text for spelling and grammar.
e- Gives the text to the Proofreader and instructs the Proofreader about the text.
f- Checks and proofs the translation, to makes a suggestion about the translation and makes corrections if need be..
12- Reviews the text while considering the target audience
a- Reviews the book while considering the language, and concerns of the target audience.
b- Reviews the terminology used in the book.
c- Reviews the book for legal complications, if any, to inform related units.
d- Finalizes the text after recieves corrections from the proofreader.
13- Oversees printing process
a- Provides complete text and additional materials to the relevant department before printing and e-book publication.
b- Oversees layout process.
c- Delivers the layed-out text to a proofreader and any other relevant personnelle.
d- Reviews the proofed text and makes changes if need be.
e- Checks the proof sheet for any inconvenience and any other problem caused by the Printworks.
f- Approves printing order.
14- Oversees re-printing
a- Reviews previous copies, lists errors, if any, and prepares a checklist.
b- Reviews re-printings, lists errors, if any, and prepares a checklist.
c- Reviews the tag and additional texts, adds, removes and updates their contents.
d- To make changes need for the reprints (ISBN, e-ISBN, contracts etc)..
15- Contributes advertising and marketing
a- Expresses opinions on advertising and marketing / instructs the writer.
b- Contributes advertising and marketing policy making process.
c- Suggest ideas for and organize possible book publicity events
d- Suggests medium to PR, marketing and advertising departments.
16- Produces materials for advertising and marketing
a- Oversees bulletin, advertisement, social media content production for advertising and PR.
b- Contributes to the production of audio-visual material for advertising the book.
TYPES OF EDITORS
The senior editor presents the publishing house with a specific subject line evolving around a writer or a genre. During the publishing process, S/he conducts information among the writer, translator etc. and reviews the texts with publishing policy in mind. He also contributes to the text both regarding form and content. S/he informs PR, advertisement and sales departments about the book and is involved in each and every step.
Oversees the translation processes. Is responsible for the entire translation process and recommends books for translation.
Decides the files to be published with the publisher, develops ideas and projects, meets with writers and potential writers to produce new projects. Suggests or decides on publishing subjects and their potential budget. Scans domestic and foreign markets for new projects, prepares terms and conditions of the contracts and bargains, reviews files for the project, and oversees budget, sales and marketing processes.
Researches, finds, reads and decides books to publish in accordance with the publishing house policy. Keeps up with the publishing world home and abroad, follows new trends and publications. Communicates with agencies, publishing houses, editors, and writers. Reviews drafts. Develops publishing, sales and marketing projects and prepares their budgets. Oversees bargaining process with agencies, publishing houses, writers and translators; signs contracts. Works on the text with the writer in accordance with publishing policy.
Responsible for final checks controls of the proof sheet and reprint production. Checks proof sheet of texts. Tracks editorial changes on texts, prepares texts for design and production. Oversees caption production, proofreading of captions, and layout. Oversees and updates proof sheets. Responsible for last control of updated prints, format changes and renewals. Applies any technical change in case of emergency or need. Reviews and approves credits. Controls proof sheets and blueprints etc. Corrects errors if any, approves texts for production. Keeps a record of reprint revisions and oversees their application.