RunMags journal
An Editorial Coordination Workflow for Magazines
Editorial coordination makes assignments, expected space and review decisions visible before the issue close. It connects commissioning and editing to page production without treating an unfinished draft as approved copy.
Define the assignment
Record the article's purpose, issue, editor, contributor, length or space allowance, asset requirements and due date. Identify fact-checking, permissions and image responsibilities. Agree what the contributor must deliver rather than discovering missing elements during layout.
Use meaningful editorial states
Separate assigned, draft received, editing, fact or permission review, approved for layout and final proof approved. Name the person responsible for moving each assignment forward. A status change should reflect evidence, with comments preserved where they explain unresolved questions.
Coordinate with page planning
Share expected space and asset readiness with production. When a story changes length or misses its deadline, review the flatplan and any affected advertising positions. Keep the current approved copy and images identifiable; avoid multiple emailed files becoming competing final versions. A shared flatplan in RunMags lets you place editorial spaces on the pages, create a story for each one and follow its progress with color-coded statuses.
Review the issue handoff
Before layout closes, check copy approval, captions, credits, rights and final proofs. Record late changes and who authorized them. After release, review recurring blockers such as incomplete briefs or missing permissions. Improve the assignment template when the evidence points to a repeated omission.
A practical worksheet
An assignment brief can contain working title, reader question, issue, word or page allowance, editor, contributor, copy date, images, captions, credits, permissions and review responsibilities. For an illustrative feature that expands during editing, alert production before changing the assumed space allocation. Confirm whether nearby advertising or editorial pages are affected. When approved copy moves into layout, preserve a clear version and route subsequent edits through the editor. This gives the designer a stable input and lets the final proof review focus on the publication rather than on competing draft files.
Review checklist
- Give each assignment an editor, issue and deliverables.
- Distinguish draft receipt from approval for layout.
- Recheck rights, credits and proofs before release.
