What's It Really Like to Be a Magazine Editorial Assistant? An In-Depth Look from Job Responsibilities to Salaries

Jan 12, 2024 | News On Japan

Fashion and beauty indulgences, supporting favorite idols -- these are just some of the expenses that girls in the Ray generation tend to incur.

TOKYO - Have you ever wondered how young women earn their money and what kind of jobs they do?

Let's learn about the role of a "Magazine Editorial Assistant" from someone who's actually in the position!

Magazine Editorial Assistant: Sakurako Kusano, 23 years old "I work on Ray magazine! Main duties include: - Producing Reel videos - Selecting products for magazine features and props for photoshoots - Developing concepts for projects - Assisting on photoshoot sets - and more.

Average monthly salary: For a 5-day work week, 8 hours per day, approximately 200,000 to 230,000 yen.

What got you started? "Ever since I was little, it's been my dream to become a fashion magazine editor. However, landing a job at a publishing company as a new graduate is extremely challenging. I faced many rejections from major publishers. But I couldn't give up on my dream of becoming an editor, so I decided to apply for the position of editorial assistant to learn on the job."

When do you feel the most fulfilled? "I find great satisfaction in all my work because I'm entrusted with significant responsibilities. And working with social media is particularly rewarding. It makes me incredibly happy when readers like and comment on the Reel videos I've created!"

What do you find challenging? "As an assistant, I have a lot of tasks to handle, plus additional work requested by the editors. So, I always try to get things done as soon as they're assigned. Also, during photoshoot periods, I'm literally running around Tokyo on various errands (laughs)."

Who is suited to be an editorial assistant? "This job involves important tasks that require a strong sense of responsibility, so it's best suited for someone who can take initiative, is responsible, and communicates well. There are times when you'll be asked to run errands on short notice, like 'Buy this and deliver it there!' So, it's a job for someone with energy and physical stamina!"

Source: Ray

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