Magazine Editor

  1. Name
    Michelle Downes


  2. Age
    26 yrs


  3. Job Title
    Editor of a magazine.


  4. Job Description
    Planning, writing and editing magazine content each month. Ensure the smooth running of the magazine.


  5. Hours (per week)
    Too many really! On average 50-60 hours per week.


  6. What was your first job?
    A cleaner in my parent's offices.


  7. What inspired you to choose this particular career?
    I have always enjoyed communicating with people and really love to be creative in more than one aspect. The opportunity to work in this area allows me to be able to express myself by communicating with other people as well as write, meet amazing people, talk on radio and be my own boss.


  8. What qualifications are needed to work in this field?
    None really. Though many might say you need to have a degree in journalism or media or some other type of degree or diploma. It may help you get a foot in the door a little quicker, but real talent to organise, create and to write is what you really need. AND ambition.


  9. What are the best aspects about your job?
    Getting each monthly publication out and seeing what you have had a hand in creating.Meeting really interesting people and talking to them about their careers or their lives.Not having to answer to other people and working to my own expectations (which are incredibly high!)


  10. What are the worst aspects?
    Long hours, temperamental writers, deadlines and did I mention the long hours?!


  11. How many years' experience do you have in this field?
    2 years.


  12. Are there many employment opportunities?
    This is a very competitive environment and industry. There are many talented people out there and it is basically a situation of knowing someone who can help or creating something for yourself. Once you have had a bit of experience, there are more opportunities though. You can work for yourself, an established company, the government, and corporations or even work overseas.


  13. Other related careers
    Being an Editor can lead to many other areas and open up many doors. You can be a writer/Author, edit in many different fields i.e.for children, for educational tools, for newspapers, purely for entertainment or on a political level.You could seek employment in copywriting or freelance journalism.
    • Information technology
    • Internet start-up companies
    • Recruitment agencies as someone who employs other editors.
    • Management/business consulting ... the list goes on and on.

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