Bildredakteur/Bildredakteurin

Hate in the daily work life of media professionals: “Publishing becomes a test of courage.” This profession covers imaging, photo, contact journalism, and publishing.

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasing in media houses and publishing companies. AI-based systems analyze texts, recognize keywords, and check whether content is understandable and credible. They also identify and categorize people and motifs in images and videos. Advanced AI systems grasp the meaning of texts and independently create complete articles. With the help of AI, content providers can tailor content specifically to different target groups, allowing journalistic offerings to be marketed more effectively. Specialists and executives will critically and responsibly examine the use of these new technologies.

Picture editors usually work in offices. They may also work from home or remotely.

Core competencies generally required in this profession include: Picture reporting, visual media, research and information gathering, editing, acquiring and managing exploitation rights and licenses. Further competencies that may be significant for practicing this profession are: Accessible media, image archiving, digital image processing, Digital Asset Management (DAM), plain language, graphic processing, layout, media management, media technology, public relations, online editing, press law, project management, publishing and journalism, copyright. Additionally, skills and knowledge from the competence groups 'Graphics, Image Processing, DTP, Multimedia Software' and 'Editorial Departments' are relevant.

Picture editors use specialized software such as image processing programs and electronic image archives on computers. They typically work in the offices of publishing houses, television broadcasters, or image archives. Picture editors work largely independently in picture editorial departments. However, they often make final image selections based on strict guidelines or in collaboration with authors, graphic designers, art directors, or chief editors. Since they also frequently have contact with clients and photographers, communication skills are important. Furthermore, they must be resilient, as work is often performed under time pressure due to deadlines.

Picture editors can become self-employed, for example, by establishing a picture agency or a picture editorial office.

An exemplary collectively agreed gross basic salary (monthly) is 4,396 €. This information is for orientation purposes only, and no claims can be derived from it. Please check BERUFENET for more information.

They can work in publishing (newspapers, magazines, books, online publications), journalism, news agencies, media content distribution via blogs, archives, libraries (e.g., image archives, image documentation centers), radio, television, and other media distribution (TV broadcasters, video content distribution), film, video, audio production (video films, films, TV programs, vlogs), advertising (advertising agencies), public relations (PR agencies), IT services (data processing, hosting, internet image database providers).

Employers often expect an Ausbildung (vocational training) or Weiterbildung (further training) in journalism and photography, or a corresponding Studium (university degree).

Graduates from fields such as Photography (undergraduate), Photography (postgraduate), Journalism (undergraduate), and Journalism (postgraduate) are typically sought after.

Image editors find employment with publishers, television broadcasters, online services, correspondence and news agencies, image archives and documentation centers, PR agencies, advertising agencies, and companies offering internet image databases.

They work as image editors. English job titles include Photo Editor (m/f) and Picture Editor (m/f).

Image editors procure photo and illustration material primarily for print media, but also for digital media.

Job and applicant exchanges include Blickpunkt Film, BVPA-Jobbörse, dasauge, DWDL.de, HORIZONTJobs, Journalist.de, Kress Jobs, LeanderWattig, medien.jobs, medienjobs.ch, newsroom.de, and W&V - Werben & Verkaufen Stellenmarkt.

Associations and organizations active in this field include Berufsgenossenschaft Energie Textil Elektro Medienerzeugnisse (BG ETEM), Deutsche Journalistinnen- und Journalisten-Union (dju) in ver.di, Deutscher Journalisten-Verband e.V. (DJV) Gewerkschaft der Journalistinnen/Journalisten, DFJV Deutscher Fachjournalisten-Verband AG, Institut zur Förderung des publizistischen Nachwuchses e.V. (ifp), and Jugendpresse Deutschland e.V. Bundesverband junger Medienmacher.

Image editors frequently encounter changing tasks and work situations, with varying demands and conditions due to rapid shifts in topics and editorial preparation. They have customer contact, for example, discussing visually prepared articles or contributions with clients. They perform screen work, such as researching suitable image materials, editing digital images, and archiving image materials in databases. They work with technical devices, machines, and equipment like cameras, image editing software, and scanners. Their work takes place in offices at publishing houses, television broadcasters, correspondence and news agencies, PR agencies, and advertising agencies.

Their main working tools include media and media presentation forms (e.g., pictures, photos, articles, contributions, texts), data management systems and software (e.g., image databases, Content Management Systems (CMS), image editing programs, video conferencing tools), technical devices (e.g., film and video cameras, cameras), documents (e.g., budget plans, order documents, legal regulations (copyright)), and office equipment (e.g., PC, internet access, telephone).

Image editors support the visual design of articles or contributions using suitable images. They visually enhance texts and make them more understandable. They research appropriate image material, for example, by using image databases or commissioning photo studios. Image editors may digitally edit images and write captions. They conduct fee negotiations, monitor their budget, and clarify usage rights.

Professions such as state-certified photo designer, media and information services specialist (image agency specialization), photographer, master photographer/Bachelor Professional in photography, journalist (Ausbildung - vocational training), and editor can provide access to this field.

Professional adaptation training helps to keep professional knowledge up-to-date and adapt to new developments (e.g., in journalism, photography and photo technology, DTP). Furthermore, the trend of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in media houses and publishing companies can become an important further training topic for image editors.

Further professional and career opportunities arise—depending on prior professional education—through an undergraduate (Studium) or postgraduate degree (e.g., in journalism or photography). Under certain conditions, it is also possible to study without a general higher education entrance qualification. More information: Access to higher education in the individual Bundesländer (federal states).

Procuring image material for print or online media, researching suitable images (e.g., in image databases), obtaining images from press offices of associations and companies or directly from professional image agencies, commissioning photo studios or photographers, possibly taking photos oneself, researching shooting locations, obtaining usage rights, preparing and inserting images for the respective media, checking image material based on quality criteria, digitally post-processing images, creating image captions or coordinating them with text editors, archiving and managing images in databases, conducting fee negotiations, and monitoring budgets.

The following lists professions or activities that show similarities to the initial profession. These professions represent a possible alternative for applicants. Furthermore, employers can consider individuals from these professions as alternatives for filling a position in the initial profession. Some alternative professions only comprise partial activities of the initial profession, while others require an induction period, which can vary in length in individual cases. The following immediate employment and staffing alternatives are available for the profession of image editor: Job and staffing alternatives for the overall activity (usually short induction): State-certified photo designer, media and information services specialist (image agency specialization), photo designer, photographer, master photographer/Bachelor Professional in photography, journalist, editor.