AHP Career Track: Assistant Editor
Hobby Farms, a rural lifestyle magazine, is seeking an Assistant Editor in our Lexington, Ky., office.
The assistant editor supports the editorial team in all aspects of magazine production, specifically with regard to customer service, clerical duties, copyediting and writing.
The Assistant Editor’s primary duties include, but are not limited to:
Customer Care: Reviews and handles telephone calls, mail and email, requiring knowledge of the community/industry.
Technical skills:
- Writes product spots, news, fillers, columns, articles, captions, pull quotes, headlines, subtitles and ancillary copy as necessary.
- Proofreads all copy and layouts using AP Style.
- Proofreads classified ads for grammatical and content accuracy, if assigned.
- Researches and verifies facts or questions in all copy to ensure editorial accuracy.
- Researches topics as needed for editorial team or magazine.
- Backs up content management for website editor as needed. Learns the Content Management System.
- Enters contributor payments. Learns Microsoft Dynamics to enter payments. Follows up on contributor questions regarding payments.
- Learns and applies necessary computer programs to daily work, including QuarkXPress, Outlook and other Microsoft Word applications.
- Teamwork: Works closely with the editorial team to assist in all stages of product development and production: art and manuscript procurement, content selection, color processing, editing and proofreading, corrections, ship day.
Professional growth and development:
- Learns and demonstrates knowledge of department and company procedures and policies, what departments do what, who to ask for information or who to send someone to.
- Reads and absorbs information about publishing industry, agriculture and sustainability.
- Researches and reads pertinent and competitive publications from the industry and the publishing fields.
Deadlines:
- Follows up with contributors, manufacturers, etc. to get needed information before press time.
- Prepares, sends, tracks and files all contributor contracts before press time.
- Prepares and inputs contributor payments and comp copy list.
- Returns non-digital photos to photographer in a timely manner.
- Stores, sorts and returns all contributor materials post-ship.
Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree in journalism, English, communication or an area that has relevance to the magazine or website subject matter. One completed internship in publishing or an area with relevance to the magazine strongly preferred. Skills required: writing, copyediting, researching and typing; knowledge of AP style is a plus. Basic computer knowledge of PCs and MACs required. Ideal candidate must thrive in deadline-driven environment and be willing to stay abreast of industry trends. Interest in or knowledge of agriculture, gardening or sustainable living is a plus.
Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and salary requirements to Attn: Human Resources, P.O. Box 8237, Lexington, KY 40533; or email to bhoch@bowtieinc.com. EOE