The Future of Editing – Three Experts Share Insights at AMWA 2024

This article is a summary of a panel discussion at the 2024 American Medical Writers Association Conference.

At the 2024 AMWA annual conference in New Orleans, La., three seasoned editors – Loretta Bohn, ELS, Erica Goodoff, ELS(D), and Crystal Herron, PhD, ELS – pulled back the curtain on the evolving world of editing, sharing their insights about mentorship, language and navigating the digital landscape.

Mentorship took center stage early in the discussion. Loretta, a self-proclaimed "digital immigrant," doesn't just edit – she nurtures new talent by letting younger editors shadow her work. Erica actively mentors interns, and says she learns a great deal from them. Crystal sees every professional connection as a potential mentoring relationship, particularly through her involvement with AMWA.

The conversation quickly dove into the current topic of inclusive language. Crystal provides resources to help authors understand style guide choices, while Erica focuses on guiding researchers to be more specific about data collection. Loretta supports person-first language and appreciates the thoughtful approach of style guides, also sharing that her beliefs don’t allow her to endorse all current inclusive language practices. The panel members highlighted how terminology continues to evolve, with discussions around terms like "dual eligibles" versus "dually eligible recipients" demonstrating the ongoing complexity of inclusive language.

A discussion of how editors navigate differences in culture with clients and coworkers explored the issues of professional adaptability and emotional intelligence. At Loretta’s workplace, the team works closely with graphic designers who often have wildly different work styles – some prefer working at night, for example. Erica stressed the importance of "learning to watch people for cues," developing a keen sense of emotional sensitivity that goes beyond simply editing text.

Crystal takes this approach to heart, always meeting new clients via Zoom to get a comprehensive sense of who they are. She wants to understand their background, work style, quirks, and professional context. "Editing is very personal," she explained, highlighting the need to create psychological safety and work in a way that feels comfortable for both editor and client.

The conversation also touched on the nuances of working with international authors and students, recognizing that communication styles can vary dramatically across cultures.

The hot topic of AI tools generated some of the most animated discussion. Erica and Loretta both emphasized that they have yet to see an AI tool that could truly replace human editors. Loretta drew parallels to past technological shifts, recalling how people once feared WordPerfect and spell-check would eliminate editing jobs – but editors have always adapted. The panel highlighted specific concerns, like the potential for AI to generate completely inaccurate DOIs (Digital Object Identifiers), underscoring the continued need for human verification.

Practical technology tools took the stage, too. The panel discussed carefully vetted options like PerfectIt, limited ChatGPT use, and other language models – always with an eye on data security. Crystal shared insights about tools like Grammarly, noting it's most useful when viewed as a suggestion tool rather than an absolute authority. Erica pointed out the importance of institutional rules, especially in protecting patient privacy, suggesting that librarians can be invaluable in finding confidential, secure technological solutions.

The underlying message was clear: the future of editing isn't about technology replacing human skill, but about leveraging new tools while maintaining the core of what makes editing special – human connection, cultural awareness, and nuanced communication.

As Erica put it, there's still something AI can't replicate: your unique judgment. And in a world of increasingly automated content, that's worth its weight in gold.

About the author: Genevieve Walker, PhD, is a writer and editor specializing in patient education and public-facing communications. Her woman-owned business, Bridge Health Communications, is based in Hood River, Oregon. Find her at bridgehealthcomm.com.