How to become a newspaper, periodical and broadcast editor
Official title: Newspaper, periodical and broadcast editors
Also called: Editor, Art editor, Sub editor, Sub-editor, Copy editor, News editor, Photo editor, Online editor, Content editor, Digital editor, Picture editor, Listings editor
Newspaper, periodical and broadcast editors evaluate, manage and oversee the editorial direction for the style and content of features and stories for broadcasting and for newspapers, magazines, news websites and periodicals.
Main tasks
- Commissions articles and selects material for broadcast or publication
- Checks style, grammar, accuracy and legality of content and arranges for any necessary revisions
- Decides on lay out of material in news websites, newspapers, magazines, or periodicals
- Liaises with production staff in checking final proof copies immediately prior to printing
How to become one
Entrants usually possess a degree or equivalent qualification and significant relevant experience. A variety of postgraduate diplomas are available. Vocational qualifications covering various aspects of journalism are available at levels 3 and 4.
Ways in
- University: Communications & Media degrees, Offered by 24 universities in the UK
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £42,451 a year The middle half earn £35,694 to null.
- About 44,000 people work in this job now, and about 49,400 are projected by 2035. (+12.2%)
Related jobs
- Newspaper and periodical broadcast journalists and reporters
- Public relations professionals
- Advertising accounts managers and creative directors
Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz
Questions people ask
How do I become a newspaper, periodical and broadcast editor?
Entrants usually possess a degree or equivalent qualification and significant relevant experience. A variety of postgraduate diplomas are available. Vocational qualifications covering various aspects of journalism are available at levels 3 and 4.
How much does a newspaper, periodical and broadcast editor earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £42,451 a year (Office for National Statistics).
Is a newspaper, periodical and broadcast editor a growing career in the UK?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 12% by 2035, from about 44,000 to about 49,400 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a newspaper, periodical and broadcast editor?
Usually. 77% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
Graduate outcomes: Discover Uni dataset, HESA (www.hesa.ac.uk), licensed under CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0). Aggregated by subject and adapted by Peernovo.