Job Description:

Web Editor / Web

Author.
Published 10/12/2012

A web author/editor is responsible for the content and images used

on a website. They plan, research, write copy and edit the content of
a website. They may be involved in providing copy for the internet or
for an organisation's internal intranet site.

Job Description, salaries and

benefits
A web author/editor is likely to get involved in:
producing new content and writing it in an
interesting and appealing manner.
sourcing images and artwork, and
commissioning photographers.
liaising with clients or internal departments.
maintaining the site once it is live and ensuring
the information is accurate..
They may take on the role of webmaster and be responsible for
dealing with enquiries emailed from the site and overseeing any
message boards.
A web author/editor works between 37 and 40 hours a week, 9am to
5.30pm, Monday to Friday. Additional hours may be required to meet
deadlines, which could include weekends and evenings.

Salaries range from about 18,000 to more than 40,000 for senior
positions.
A web author/editor should:
have excellent communication skills, both
written and oral
be able to undertake research using a variety of
sources
be creative, able to alter their style of writing to
reflect their audience
be able to multitask and prioritise work
schedules
be computer literate and possess good
keyboard skills
be interested in different methods of
communication.
Web authors/editors may be employed by web design companies, IT
consultancies, media organisations or a company's
marketing/corporate communication department. This is still a
relatively new role.
There is no set entry route, although many employers expect
applicants to have a degree. Degree course subjects such as
communications, journalism and multimedia may be useful.
Employers may look for previous experience of copywriting,
supported by relevant work experience and vocational skills. There
are no age restrictions.
Training is mainly on the job, and may include in-house training
courses.
As this role is in its infancy there is no clear career path.
Opportunities and promotion prospects vary depending on the size
and type of organisation. With experience there may be possibilities
to become self-employed.

What is the work like?

A web author/editor is responsible for the content and images used
on a website. They plan, research, write copy and edit the content of
a website.
A number of factors affect the role of a web author/editor. These
include:
whether they are providing the copy for the
internet or for an organisation's internal intranet
site
the frequency of content updates, for example a
corporate website will be relatively static,
whereas a news information site may be
updated on an hourly basis.
A web author/editor is likely to get involved in:
planning the style of copy required and the
frequency with which it will need updating
creating schedules and agreeing deadlines
producing new content and writing it in an
interesting and appealing manner
identifying suitable subjects for interview
sourcing images and artwork, and
commissioning photographers
liaising with clients or internal departments to
check on content, style and presentation
incorporating written copy onto the website
from other individuals or departments
maintaining the site once it is live and ensuring
the information is accurate
developing editorial policies, copyright, data
protection and best practice.

Web authors/editors may also take on the role of webmaster and be

responsible for dealing with enquiries emailed from the site and
overseeing any message boards. They may also get involved in
analysing statistics to determine the popularity of the site and how
many hits/visits it receives. In larger organisations the webmaster
may be a separate role.
A web author/editor may work within an editorial team or alone.
They work closely with a range of individuals, from web
designers/developers and project/account managers to
photographers and marketing professionals. It is essential that they
understand their site's target audience and requirements.
This is a non-technical role requiring creative writing skills, although
some technical understanding is useful and will help career
progression.
The average starting salary for a web author/editor may be around
18,000 a year.

Hours and environment

A web author/editor works between 37 and 40 hours a week, 9am to
5.30pm, Monday to Friday. Additional hours may be required to meet
deadlines, which could include working weekends and evenings.
Part-time work and flexitime are also possible. There may be
opportunities for self-employment and also to work from home.
It is usual to work in an open-plan office environment. There may be
a limited amount of travelling for research purposes or to interview
people.

Salary and other benefits

These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary,
depending on the employer and where people live.
The average starting salary for a web
author/editor is around 18,000 a year.
With experience they may earn about 30,000
a year.
For those in senior roles salaries may be
40,000, or more.

Skills and personal qualities

A web author/editor should:
have excellent communication skills, both
written and oral
be able to undertake research using a variety of
sources
be creative
be able to alter their style of writing to reflect
their audience
be able to multitask and prioritise work
schedules
be computer literate and possess good
keyboard skills
be able to simplify and explain complex issues
and procedures
be able to work on their own or in a team
be able to work to tight deadlines
be thorough and precise in their work with a
good attention to detail
be able to use their initiative

 be able to follow style guidelines and client

briefs
have a broad understanding of copyright laws.

Interests
It is important to be interested in:
different methods of communication
the worldwide web and its importance in
today's society.

Getting in
Web authors/editors may be employed by web design companies, IT
consultancies, media organisations or a company's
marketing/corporate communication department. There are job
opportunities throughout the UK.
The IT industry is working in a rapidly expanding global marketplace. As a result of the internet developing at great speed, there
has been an explosion in the number of new roles being created,
such as web author/editor. Many internet roles are still in their
infancy.
Vacancies may be advertised on individual company and
recruitment websites, and in trade publications, such as Computer
Weekly, Computing, Marketing and PR Week. The local and national
press also advertise positions.
Entry for young people
There is no set entry route, although many employers expect
applicants to have a degree. Degree course subjects such as

communications, journalism and multimedia may be useful. Entry to

degree courses is usually with at least five GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3)
and two A levels/three H grades, or equivalent qualifications. Check
with individual colleges and universities for entry requirements.
Some web authors/editors come from a background in journalism, or
may have worked previously in marketing or IT.
Employers may look for previous experience of copywriting,
supported by relevant work experience and vocational skills.
Applicants may also need to have some knowledge of, or experience
in, the field they are writing for. Technical computing expertise is not
required, although skills in web design and desktop publishing may
be useful.
Entry for adults
Relevant work experience in copywriting may be useful and
specialist knowledge may be required by some employers.
Access courses are available for people with no formal qualifications
who want to do a degree.

Training
Training is mainly on the job, and may include in-house training
courses. These may cover style requirements, research methods,
copyright and privacy laws, and content management systems. (This
covers areas such as web design, desktop publishing and photo
imaging.)
The Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP) and the National
Union of Journalists (NUJ) offer a range of courses, which specialise
in writing for the web and web editing.
Web authors/editors would be expected to keep up to date with
changes in web design trends and in software packages.

Getting on
As this role is in its infancy there is no clear career path.
Opportunities and promotion prospects vary depending on the size
and type of organisation.
There may be opportunities for web authors/editors to become more
specialised within the role, perhaps developing their technical
ability, or to move into a position in management, training or
marketing.
With experience there may be possibilities to become self-employed
or work on a freelance basis.