Your Role as a Copy Editor and Proofreader
As a copy editor and proofreader, it is your duty to ensure that texts organized well, without any grammatical or typographical errors. The function of eliminating these hitches has to be done before the publication process. A proofreader requires working on various kinds of publications like journals, resources based on IT, newspapers etc.
Based on your employer and project, a copy editor or proofreader requires doing the basic checks in terms of spellings, grammatical and typographical mistakes. They are also required to check the consistency, style, and facts and also do re-writing if required. Most of the copy editors and proofreaders are freelancers employed in a lot of publishing companies.
There are other responsibilities of a proofreader, like communicating between the authors and the publishers via e-mail, phone etc. or checking up with authors and seeing to it whether all paperwork and other relevant details etc are provided and resolve author queries.
A copy editor and proofreader in an IT firm are liable to work with databases, disks, and manuscripts through the internet. Manuscript coding for various features and designs, like headings and providing instructions to the production department has to be done by a copy editor and proofreader. Creation of briefs related to artwork for content illustration has to be done by a copy editor and proofreader too.
Skills Required When Becoming a Copy Editor
Most of the copy editors and proofreaders are hired on an in-house basis and therefore they have to have certain skills, especially technical skills. Alongside that, an applicant must be updated with all the advancements and latest developments in technology, be well versed with on-screen and copy editing skills, in house production editing skills etc. You must possess a thorough knowledge in English or the language the publication house requires. Your style of working should be methodical, accurate, and attentive as it requires complete concentration. You must also take up tasks and projects on your initiative and work on them tactfully and efficiently. Negotiating capabilities should be complemented with self motivation, management skills etc.
The proofreader or editor must have a graduate degree in English along with qualification in publishing studies, media and electronic media. If you are a postgraduate then your chances would increase too. Other than having the necessary qualifications, the copy editor should be an expert in computing skills with an aptitude in grammar, spellings and punctuation.
The salary of a copy editor and proofreader ranges and differs as per the work and employer. The rates may also be calculated on an hourly basis which is $46 an hour. If it is in house then the salary structure is around $40,000 annually.
Opportunities for success and advancement are many as there is always a need for copy editors and proofreaders. The employment outlook is increasing because of the recent development of publication houses and the publishing industry as a whole.
