Understanding the Role of Managing Editors

The transcript discusses the role of the managing editor at the New Yorker, highlighting misunderstandings about the position. It compares the managing editor's role to that in news magazines, where the managing editor is more of a logistical coordinator rather than a decision-maker. The transcript also explores the differences in editorial hierarchies across various magazines, noting that titles and responsibilities can vary significantly. At the New Yorker, the managing editor is primarily responsible for logistics, and the magazine's structure is unique, with no masthead and less emphasis on formal titles.

What was the role of the managing editor at the New Yorker 10 to 15 years ago?

• Editor-in-chief

• Logistics coordinator

• Decision-maker

• Public relations officer

What was the previous perception of the managing editor's role at the New Yorker?

• A financial oversight position

• A decision-making position

• A logistics-focused role

• A public relations role

How do magazines differ in their editorial hierarchy?

• They have no hierarchy

• They follow a government-like structure

• Each magazine has its own unique hierarchy

• They all have the same structure

What is the role of the managing editor at the Times?

• The top decision-maker

• The second in command

• A public relations officer

• A logistics coordinator

How is the editor's role at the New Yorker compared to the governor general of Canada?

• Both have significant decision-making power

• Both have ceremonial roles with little decision-making power

• Both are involved in logistics

• Both are involved in public relations

What is the main difference between the managing editor at the New Yorker and the Times?

• The New Yorker managing editor handles public relations

• The New Yorker managing editor is the top decision-maker

• The Times managing editor is the second in command

• The Times managing editor oversees financial operations

What is the primary responsibility of the managing editor at the New Yorker?

• Overseeing financial operations

• Managing public relations

• Handling logistics

• Making editorial decisions

What is unusual about the New Yorker's editorial structure?

• It follows a government-like structure

• It has no managing editor

• Titles are not prominently displayed

• It has a clear hierarchy