Web Editor
What is the work like?
As a web editor you would research, write and check the material (images and text) which is published on your company or organisation's website.
Today's websites often contain a mixture of text, images, music and video, and many web editors are skilled in producing multimedia content. Some examples might include a college website, local authority public information pages or a news organisation's multimedia service.
Your main duties as an editor would include:
- researching, writing and presenting text in ways which appeal to the site's target audience
- putting (uploading) material on to the website, using a content management system
- making sure site content is kept up to date
- monitoring and posting replies to online message boards and dealing with email enquiries
- editing and proofing materials produced by colleagues or freelances
- developing new content and editorial guidelines
- attending content planning and commissioning meetings with other departments or clients
- keeping track of developments in web technology and good practice, for example website accessibility issues
- training new staff how to produce and edit content.
Depending on the size of your organisation, you may work alone or in a team with web developers, designers, and marketing and public relations staff.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You can get into this kind of work in various ways. You may have a background in journalism, marketing or IT, or maybe experience within the area the website is aimed at, for example education or sport.
You will normally need previous experience of writing content in some form (not necessarily online). Building up a portfolio of your published work is a useful way of showing off your writing skills to employers.
You can gain writing experience in several ways:
- through your existing workplace – producing marketing materials or news bulletins for the company intranet
- voluntary work – creating articles, leaflets and information sheets for a community group, charity or local free newspaper
- taking a training course at college or university.
Some courses may give you a greater insight into web content editing and include journalism, publishing, media, and communications, PR and marketing.
You do not usually need specific knowledge of web authoring software for this job. However, you may find skills in web design, desktop publishing and photo imaging will broaden your options, as many jobs combine writing with design.
See the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) for more information about web accessibility standards. Skillset and e-skills also have details about careers in IT and multimedia.
What further training and development can I do?
You will be given in-house training by your employer, covering:
- house style
- content management systems
- policies and procedures.
You may have opportunities to develop your editing skills by attending short training courses, which cover specific parts of the job. You can choose from a number of private training providers or professional bodies like the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Society of Proofreaders (SfEP). They offer courses covering editing, writing for the web, copy-editing and proofreading.
You could also take a postgraduate course at university if you already have a degree. Courses include online journalism and electronic publishing.
Where can I go for more information?
London
SW1E 6DR
308-312 Gray's Inn Road
London
WC1X 8DP
Tel: 020 7278 7916
21 Caledonian Road
London
N1 9GB
1 Putney Bridge Approach
Fulham
London
SW6 3JD
Tel: 020 7736 3278
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser at Careers Advice, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Related profiles...
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Starting salaries range from £18,000 to £22,000 a year.
- With experience, this can rise to between £23,000 and £30,000 a year.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would work between 35 and 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Overtime may be necessary to meet deadlines.
Your job would be office based at a computer workstation. There may be some out-of-office work, for instance going out to research information, meet clients or interview people for features.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- excellent research and writing skills
- the ability to pick out key points from detailed information
- the ability to write in a clear and concise way
- an excellent understanding of English grammar, punctuation and spelling
- the ability to write for a target audience
- creative skills to find interesting ways of presenting information
- a high level of accuracy and attention to detail, for example for proofreading
- good organisational skills
- teamworking skills
- an understanding of legal issues, such as copyright, privacy and website accessibility
- the ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines
- an understanding of online writing issues, such as house style and content structure.
What opportunities are there?
Your prospects are very good, as more and more organisations develop their own sites. For example, you could find work with local authorities who are following drives to make their public services available online. You can find job adverts for web editors in the local and national press, as well as online, including the links below.
Your career progression routes depend upon your employer's size and structure but you may be able to move into editorial team management or wider information resource management jobs within the organisation.
With further training, you may have the option to move into related areas, such as website development, training, marketing or public relations. With experience, you could also work freelance.
You may find the following links useful for job vacancies and general reading: (links open in new window)
ITJobsWatch
ComputerWeekly
Computing Careers
Datascope
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
Search Careers Advice
Contact an adviser
Email
Call back
or phone: 0800 100 900
Bilingual advisers available
Face-to-face advice
