Editors
Plan, coordinate, or edit content of material for publication. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication. Includes technical editors.
AI Impact Summary
Editors faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 35/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 66% of all analyzed occupations. Of 23 analyzed tasks, 4 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Editors skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Creative Writing Specialization
by Wesleyan University
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
23 tasks analyzed
Read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax.
Verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources.
Read, evaluate and edit manuscripts or other materials submitted for publication and confer with authors regarding changes in content, style or organization, or publication.
Develop story or content ideas, considering reader or audience appeal.
Prepare, rewrite and edit copy to improve readability, or supervise others who do this work.
Oversee publication production, including artwork, layout, computer typesetting, and printing, ensuring adherence to deadlines and budget requirements.
Write text, such as stories, articles, editorials, or newsletters.
Supervise and coordinate work of reporters and other editors.
Monitor news-gathering operations to ensure utilization of all news sources, such as press releases, telephone contacts, radio, television, wire services, and other reporters.
Confer with management and editorial staff members regarding placement and emphasis of developing news stories.
Plan the contents of publications according to the publication's style, editorial policy, and publishing requirements.
Review and approve proofs submitted by composing room prior to publication production.
Select local, state, national, and international news items received from wire services, based on assessment of items' significance and interest value.
Allocate print space for story text, photos, and illustrations according to space parameters and copy significance, using knowledge of layout principles.
Make manuscript acceptance or revision recommendations to the publisher.
Direct the policies and departments of newspapers, magazines and other publishing establishments.
Assign topics, events and stories to individual writers or reporters for coverage.
Meet frequently with artists, typesetters, layout personnel, marketing directors, and production managers to discuss projects and resolve problems.
Arrange for copyright permissions.
Interview and hire writers and reporters or negotiate contracts, royalties, and payments for authors or freelancers.
Read material to determine index items and arrange them alphabetically or topically, indicating page or chapter location.
Respond to questions from the public.
Write text, such as headlines, stories, articles, editorials, or newsletters.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax. | 40.48Observed | 65.4% | 10% | |
| Verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources. | 72Estimated | 78.0% | 6% | |
| Read, evaluate and edit manuscripts or other materials submitted for publication and confer with authors regarding changes in content, style or organization, or publication. | 46.03Observed | 45.4% | 9% | |
| Develop story or content ideas, considering reader or audience appeal. | 57.25Observed | 49.9% | 6% | |
| Prepare, rewrite and edit copy to improve readability, or supervise others who do this work. | 52.02Observed | 47.8% | 8% | |
| Oversee publication production, including artwork, layout, computer typesetting, and printing, ensuring adherence to deadlines and budget requirements. | 66.67Observed | 53.7% | 5% | |
| Write text, such as stories, articles, editorials, or newsletters. | 85Estimated | 61.0% | 5% | |
| Supervise and coordinate work of reporters and other editors. | 15Estimated | 21.0% | 5% | |
| Monitor news-gathering operations to ensure utilization of all news sources, such as press releases, telephone contacts, radio, television, wire services, and other reporters. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 3% | |
| Confer with management and editorial staff members regarding placement and emphasis of developing news stories. | 25Estimated | 25.0% | 4% | |
| Plan the contents of publications according to the publication's style, editorial policy, and publishing requirements. | 44.57Observed | 44.8% | 5% | |
| Review and approve proofs submitted by composing room prior to publication production. | 63.42Observed | 74.6% | 4% | |
| Select local, state, national, and international news items received from wire services, based on assessment of items' significance and interest value. | 75Estimated | 57.0% | 3% | |
| Allocate print space for story text, photos, and illustrations according to space parameters and copy significance, using knowledge of layout principles. | 54.17Observed | 48.7% | 3% | |
| Make manuscript acceptance or revision recommendations to the publisher. | 63.02Observed | 52.2% | 3% | |
| Direct the policies and departments of newspapers, magazines and other publishing establishments. | 25Estimated | 37.0% | 2% | |
| Assign topics, events and stories to individual writers or reporters for coverage. | 35Estimated | 29.0% | 3% | |
| Meet frequently with artists, typesetters, layout personnel, marketing directors, and production managers to discuss projects and resolve problems. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 4% | |
| Arrange for copyright permissions. | 54.17Observed | 70.9% | 2% | |
| Interview and hire writers and reporters or negotiate contracts, royalties, and payments for authors or freelancers. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 3% | |
| Read material to determine index items and arrange them alphabetically or topically, indicating page or chapter location. | 43.75Observed | 66.7% | 2% | |
| Respond to questions from the public. | 65Estimated | 41.0% | 2% | |
| Write text, such as headlines, stories, articles, editorials, or newsletters. | 85Estimated | 61.0% | 3% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 30.6%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$75,260
per year
Mean Wage
$85,700
per year
Employment
95K
workers
Wage Range
$36,200 - $140,840
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
See all transitionsReporters and Correspondents
29%Higher risk than 34% of other occupations
Broadcast News Analysts
30%Higher risk than 36% of other occupations
Producers
30%Median salary: $83,480
Higher risk than 36% of other occupations
Directors- Stage, Motion Pictures, Television, and Radio
30%Median salary: $83,480
Higher risk than 36% of other occupations
Public Relations Specialists
30%Median salary: $69,780
Higher risk than 40% of other occupations
Copy Writers
33%Median salary: $72,270
Higher risk than 55% of other occupations
Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
35%Median salary: $72,270
Higher risk than 65% of other occupations
Radio and Television Announcers
36%Median salary: $45,680
Higher risk than 67% of other occupations
Technical Writers
38%Median salary: $91,670
Higher risk than 76% of other occupations
Social Science Research Assistants
43%Median salary: $58,040
Higher risk than 88% of other occupations
Sales Managers
25%Higher risk than 20% of other occupations
Chief Executives
26%Higher risk than 23% of other occupations
General and Operations Managers
28%Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Marketing Managers
30%Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Advertising and Promotions Managers
31%Higher risk than 43% of other occupations
Computer and Information Systems Managers
31%Higher risk than 45% of other occupations
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Editors professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Instructing
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Systems Analysis
Systems Analysis will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change