An editor might be expected to undertake a range of tasks from managing the entire publication process to performing one very specific part of it. Regardless of the size of the publication or the extent of the editor’s role, all editors need to manage their own (and sometimes others’) time and resources. They also need good communication skills, initiative, tact, perseverance, flexibility and respect for others’ points of view.
Editing therefore requires knowledge of the following matters:
B1 Project definition
| B1.1 | How to define exactly what the project is: its purpose, readershipand delivery mode. |
| B1.2 | How to clarify who the client is and the lines of authority.
A client is the entity to which an editor is answerable for a publishing project. The client may be an individual, group of individuals or an organisation; the client may or may not be the author. |
| B1.3 | The components of the publication, the standard of quality required, and the resources that may be needed:
(a) the different publishing skills and services |
| B1.4 | How to negotiate an acceptable and achievable result from the available resources. |
| B1.5 | How to find and engage the necessary publishing team members, and define their accountability, responsibility and authority.
The publishing team may include project manager, editor, designer, illustrator, photographer, electronic publishing specialists, word-processing operator, typesetter, proofreader, indexer, prepress operator, printer and marketing personnel. |
| B1.6 | How to establish review and approval processes. |
© CASE (Council of Australian Societies of Editors) 2001. All rights reserved. This publication may be reproduced without charge or written permission provided it is copied in total and without any change, and that appropriate acknowledgment is made of the source (Australian Standards for Editing Practice). Institute of Professional Editors: www.iped-editors.org.