A professional who formulates policy; plans, coordinates, and directs editorial activities; and supervises workers who assist in selecting and preparing material for publication in magazines, trade journals, house organs, and related publications. Responsibilities include:

• Confers with executives, department heads, and editorial staff to formulate policy, coordinate department activities, establish production schedules, solve publication problems, and discuss makeup plans and organizational changes.
• Determines theme of issue and gathers related material.
• Writes or assigns staff members or freelance writers to write articles, reports, editorials, reviews, and other material.
• Reads and evaluates material submitted for publication consideration.
• Secures graphic material from picture sources and assigns artists and photographers to produce pictures and illustrations.
• Assigns staff member, or personally interviews individuals and attends gatherings, to obtain items for publication, verify facts, and clarify information.
• Assigns research and other editorial duties to assistants.
• Organizes material, plans overall and individual page layouts, and selects type.
• Marks dummy pages to indicate position and size of printed and graphic material.
• Reviews final proofs and approves or makes changes.
• Reviews and evaluates work of staff members and makes recommendations and changes.
• May perform related editorial duties listed under editorial assistant.
• May direct activities of production, circulation, or promotion personnel.
• May prepare news or public relations releases, special brochures, and similar materials.
• May be designated according to type of publication worked on as Communications Manager; Editor, Farm Journal; Editor, House Organ; Editor, Magazine; Editor, Trade Journal; Industrial Editor.