Abstract:
In this study, I explore how the professional experiences of nontechnical editors, a
group often underrepresented in existing scholarship, are being shaped by current
workplace environments and identify which of their skills are particularly valued by
superiors and colleagues to determine how editors can best position themselves to
succeed in the modern workplace. The findings of my online survey of 51 nontechnical
editors, primarily self-employed or working in nonprofit environments, demonstrate that
currently employed editors and those preparing to enter the field must align their work
with the priorities of their workplace and profession, proactively adapt to changes in
these priorities and professional expectations, and maintain a strategic, big-picture
orientation if they are to be successful in their jobs. I argue that editors need to be more
aggressive in bringing their contributions to the attention of those in charge so that their
work will not go unnoticed, denying them opportunities for advancement or other
professional rewards. They must also continually ensure that they get the training they
need to not only learn how to skillfully use relevant new technologies (e.g., word-processing
software, online content management systems, design programs) but also
understand how to best utilize them in their work. To prepare editors for success under
these conditions, undergraduate and graduate education programs should help students
learn business-related skills like strategic thinking and effective collaboration, as well as
textual-editing skills. Additionally, I recommend that current professional editors work
with editing students to build professional resources and communities that will help new
and current editors develop the skills they will need to be successful at a multifaceted job
in a dynamic environment.
