editors

An editor is a professional who reviews and refines content before publication or broadcast. Editors ensure accuracy, clarity, consistency, and alignment with stylistic and ethical standards. The term covers a range of roles across publishing, journalism, film, and software, as well as individual tools that manipulate text.

In publishing and literature, editors manage the development and refinement of manuscripts. Roles include acquisitions editors who assess proposals, developmental editors who shape structure and narrative, line editors who refine prose, copy editors who enforce style guides and correct errors, and proofreaders who perform a final check. Manuscripts typically pass through rounds of revision, fact-checking, and formatting before release.

In journalism, editors oversee the selection and presentation of news, write headlines, assign stories, and enforce editorial standards such as accuracy, fairness, and legal compliance. Ranks include editor-in-chief, executive editor, managing editor, and section editors, with copy editors ensuring grammar, style, and consistency across publications.

In film and video, a film editor shapes the final product by selecting takes, cutting footage, determining pacing, and coordinating with directors, sound designers, and producers. The editor's decisions influence narrative rhythm, continuity, and emotional impact, and often define the tone of the finished work.

In computing, editors include text editors and code editors that allow editing of plain text or source code. They range from simple programs to integrated development environments with features such as syntax highlighting, search and replace, and autofill, reflecting the broad use of the term beyond people.

Across domains, editors share a focus on clarity, accuracy, and audience fit, guiding content from draft to final form.