Duties

• Editorial coordinators or directors conduct daily, weekly and monthly editorial meetings to plan the content of the publication or radio and television broadcast. The coordinator assigns writers and reporters topics to cover. They execute the editorial policy of the publication. This may include supervising opinion pages in newspapers and magazines or ensuring certain dog breeds receive specific coverage in each pet magazine issue. The coordinator of a celebrity gossip website or entertainment television, for example, may decide to focus on one high-profile celebrity. The coordinator delegates authority to subeditors. She reads and edits drafts of articles or books, and makes corrections or suggestions to improve the content. The coordinator acts as a liaison between editorial employees and management. Employers often require that editorial coordinators meet production goals.
  
  

Education

• News and similar organizations generally require a minimum of a bachelor's degree in journalism or communications, but experience in lieu of a degree is sometimes acceptable. Niche publications, such as a legal journal, may require a law degree. A music publication or broadcast program likely will require a music-related degree. In-house and external management workshops sharpen an editorial coordinator’s skills. Media organizations and clubs usually conduct annual and semi-annual conferences and workshops to provide ongoing education on the changes in the industry.
  
  

Qualifications

• Medium and large publications prefer editorial coordinators to have at least five years experience as a writer or reporter. Mastery of the English language is a skill that all coordinators must possess. Broadcast news producers, who perform the same duties as an editorial coordinator, must have experience in writing, editing tape and delegating authority. News judgment is critical to success, especially in the era of the 24-hour news cycle, says JournalismJobs.com.
  
  

Work Environment

• Editorial coordinators generally work in an office. The job in small niche publications and weekly and monthly periodicals generally requires a 40-hour workweek in an office setting. As deadlines near, coordinators work unpaid overtime. The deadline pressure can be tremendous on medium and large publications and in broadcasting. Breaking news may require 24-hour shifts either in an office or in the field. Broadcast producers, in particular, often accompany their reporters in the field and may work in difficult, if not dangerous, situations.
  
  

Salary

• Large publications pay editorial coordinators between $72,000 and $128,000 per year as of 2010, according to PayScale.com. Smaller publications pay considerably less.