With great power comes great responsibility, they say, and this is especially true in the publishing world. Imagine being a so-called tastemaker. Or a KOL (key opinion leader), as they call it these days. The title of editor gives such prestige, and bears so much weight, too.
As an editor, you are privileged to have access to many things ahead. You wield the mighty pen (or keyboard), deciding which trends shall grace the public eye and how often they are pushed to the eager populace. You have brands and establishments at your feet, liking your every post, acquiescing to your every whim, and agreeing with everything you say for a seat at the proverbial table—or, in this case, a few inches of space on the page. How do you not allow all these to get to your head? Take my advice with a grain of salt, and follow these simple commandments to keep yourself professional, happy, and grounded.
Take your job seriously.
This sounds basic, yes, but you’d be surprised to find out how many editors are not actually editing. As an editor, you’re more than just a figurehead. You are the custodian of your brand, responsible for the quality of its output. Hence, you need to actually sit down, read every single article, and check for mistakes, the message of the story, and quality. It’s real work!
Learn from your peers.
That includes your younger staff. Stagnation is not a good look, especially for someone expected to stay abreast with the trends. Open your mind to what your editorial assistant or fresh-grad writer has to say, learn their language, and please, don’t reject their ideas just because you don’t get them—yet.
Give credit where credit is due.
Stealing ideas, even barely formed ones, is not cool. One mark of a good editor and more importantly, mentor, is being able to shine the spotlight on other writers. While you may have wished you could’ve thought of it first, don’t be tempted to present it as your own. Instead, support your team and help them manifest that big, grand idea. And when they do a good job, be their biggest cheerleader. Hype them up and see how much more motivated and dedicated they become.
Represent your title well.
You, the editor, are a walking, talking, living, breathing version of your brand. Therefore, make an extra effort to act accordingly. For example, dress the way your demographic would, and conduct yourself in a way that aligns with their values. On social media and IRL, be professional and mindful of your actions. With the internet allowing for receipts and our smartphones easily becoming a tool to snap proof, in whichever way you choose to air out your grievances, or, say, mere opinion, think twice, and don’t engage in behavior that can get you and your publication in trouble.
Conduct your dealings with integrity.
Receiving the occasional free staycation or gift is fine, but soliciting them? That’s borderline illegal. As is featuring people or brands to gain their favor. You also might want to start doing background checks on your subjects—aside from being newsworthy, are their actions behind the scenes worth featuring? Can you truly vouch for them? Know that not because their names and faces are on every other society page, you should blindly follow suit and do the same, too.
Know that nothing is free.
Getting press gifts is great, but as an editor, you should know by now that nothing comes for free, so be careful what you accept. You are allowed to draw the line with PR gifts—trust me, they won’t take it personally. They may even see it as admirable. In addition, be cautious about regifting as it can be mortifying if people find out. Just share them and be upfront about where they came from. And please, avoid reselling. As an editor, it’s bad form to sell something you got for free.
Be hungry for the story.
Events are not just social stops for an editor. You’re a journalist on the job, which means you should be turning up your radar and thinking of story angles even as you cut your steak. Mingle, sit up front, be interested in people and the story will come to you.
Take AI suggestions with a grain of salt.
Part of being an editor is evolving with the times and this includes adapting to new technology. But when it comes to AI, it’s important to know your boundaries and relay these clearly to your writers. AI is a tool, not a replacement for your brain. So use it with care and remember the golden rule of journalism: Thou shall not copy-paste.
Be gracious to your colleagues.
Being an editor is a job and other editors are just doing their jobs, too. Try not to get sucked into the politics of it all and start competing with them on a personal level. Be kind, treat everyone fairly, and don’t take everything too seriously. At the end of the day, we’re all just working here.
Finally, enjoy the ride.
You’re not going to be an editor forever, and no, that’s not a threat. It’s a promise of a life that’s rich and evolving. So enjoy your stint and try not to hold on to it so tightly that you can’t enjoy the little things.
With you always, in typos and tea,
Your Stunning Satire Specialist
