coeditor

A coeditor is a person who shares responsibility for editing a work with one or more editors. The term can refer to formal editorial roles within publications as well as to collaborative editing arrangements in writing projects. In publishing, coeditors may jointly oversee content selection, development, and editorial policy; in journals they may be titled coeditors or coeditors-in-chief, sharing decisions about acceptance, scope, and standards. In edited volumes or anthologies, two or more editors may act as coeditors, dividing tasks such as commissioning chapters, coordinating peer review, and ensuring consistency of style and terminology.

Coediting also occurs in digital and collaborative environments. In word processors, wikis, and other content-management platforms, coeditors edit the same document, often with simultaneous access, track changes, comments, and version history. This mode emphasizes cooperative production and transparent revision trails rather than a single gatekeeping editor.

The exact duties of a coeditor vary by project, publisher, and platform. Common responsibilities include shaping content scope, maintaining quality and accuracy, coordinating editorial workflows, and communicating with authors and reviewers. In some settings, the title implies a formal partnership in decision-making, while in others it may reflect a practical division of editing tasks. Regardless of context, the concept centers on shared editorial ownership and collaborative governance of a publication or document.