An associate editor works for either an online or offline publication and creates and edits a variety of content for the publication. He or she is responsible for developing story ideas and may conduct interviews as a reporter. This editor works with other editors and writers and assigns projects as needed. To become an associate editor usually requires a bachelor's degree in English, journalism or a specific subject matter, along with extensive experience as a writer and editor.
A bachelor's degree is usually needed to become an associate editor, but the required major varies by the field in which you plan to work and your industry experience. A bachelor's degree in journalism or English may be required for general editing positions, but some companies require a degree in technology, engineering or marketing if the job requires knowledge in one of these areas. An associate editor who plans to work for a publication that produces content in another language may need a degree in the target language. Editing positions in universities may require a master's degree in a specific field.
Although checking written material for accuracy, style and grammar is an important part of the job, an associate editor usually must have additional skills to perform the job. You will need to be a strong writer who can create a solid article on a deadline and who can conduct successful interviews with outside parties. The position may require traveling to build a list of contacts in your industry, to report on news stories and to obtain ideas for future stories. Although you will be working with other editors and need to have strong teamwork skills, you also should be able to make important decisions on your own. Technical proficiency in productivity software, search engine optimization (SEO), web design, project management and Internet research also is helpful.
Having experience in both writing and editing is necessary to become an associate editor. Many job postings for associate editors ask for about five years of experience in copy editing and writing, and you may have to take a skills test to demonstrate your editing proficiency. An editing job in a specific area of expertise often requires professional experience in the field. To gain the experience needed to become an associate editor, you will usually start out as an entry-level writer and editor, which also gives you the opportunity to build a portfolio to use in applying for future associate editor positions.
