The Job Description of an Editorial Director

Barbara Bean-Mellinger reports:

"While every individual magazine, newspaper and online website has at least one editor who is responsible for that publication, an editorial director's job has a broader scope. The position may involve overseeing several publications or websites -- or a combination of the two -- as well as books and any other materials the parent company publishes...The editorial director is an executive who works with other executives and senior management to plan the overarching vision that encompasses all of the company's publications. This includes the short-term and long-term goals for the parent company and the individual publications, websites and divisions, as well as the coverage, target audience and tone for each. The editorial director conveys this information to the editors of each publication, site or division. In some cases the editorial director may be the editor of some of the publications...Although each publication and website has its own purpose and audience, the editorial director makes sure they share certain qualities determined by management. It could be a similar look, layout or tone. Sometimes the editorial director is involved in hiring writers and photographers, or in setting policies such as submissions guidelines or editorial style across all of the publications and websites...It's the editorial director's responsibility to ensure that the quality of each publication and website meets the standards set by senior management. Often, a board of directors -- made up of industry experts and scholars -- sets the direction for each entity, and it's up to the editorial director to make sure those guidelines are met. The editorial director may not review every issue before it's published; that's the editor's job. Over time, however, the editorial director can assess how well each is meeting its goals and serving its audience...In the case of a book publisher, the editorial director supervises editors, each of whom is expected to acquire a certain number of book titles per year. Setting the guidelines outlining the types of manuscript ideas editors should seek is part of the job, as is approving titles and authors editors have chosen. The editorial director also prepares and administers the budget and finds funding for titles if necessary...Editorial directors typically have bachelor's or more advanced degrees in English, journalism or a related field, plus direct experience as editors of publications, websites or books. They have keen interest in the English language and grammar, and keep current on media and publishing trends. Successful editorial directors must be detail[-]oriented, organized, adept at prioritizing tasks, and able to delegate appropriate responsibilities to editors and assistants."