Distance education (DE) materials take a learner-centered approach rather than the traditionally content-centered approach of textbooks. This fact has several implications for the editing of DE materials. The role of the editor within the DE organization will depend on the organization's size and structure. The basic features of the DE program or course will be dictated by the organization's academic structure. For any new program, fundamental decisions must be made regarding the materials' format, components, and style. Individuals responsible for editing instructional materials must address issues in the following areas: instructional design; academic editing; plagiarism, copyright, and ownership; and relations with authors, academics, and administrative staff. The following are some guidelines for addressing these issues: (1) ensure that the manuscript conforms to course objectives and that it contains clear course, unit, and/or chapter objectives; (2) ensure that all instructional resources are linked, activities provide feedback, and assignments and assessments comply with university-wide recommendations; (3) edit the materials with their audience in mind; (4) keep materials student-friendly and avoid gender and racial bias; (5) learn to spot plagiarism; (6) keep authors briefed on the editorial process and liaise between administration and academics. (Contains 24 references.) (MN)