Writing and reporting skills
An editor is observant of what the audience deems relevant and translates that into creating well-circulated issues. Ideally, an editor is well-versed in the subject area they are editing. Good writing skills and a firm grasp of the English language are important.
Artistic skills
An editor has an eye for what is aesthetically pleasing in terms of layout, fonts, graphics, color schemes, and use of art and photos. The pages have to be interesting to look at in order to engage the audience in reading the articles.
Management skills
An editor essentially supervises a slew of contributors. An effective editor knows how to optimize submissions and to communicate firm expectations about content, quality, and timelines.