Publishing
The publishing industry includes careers based in a variety of areas including books, magazines, corporate and trade publications and within online media. Companies can vary from multinational corporations to small niche publishing houses. Digital media is a growth area for the industry.
Roles include:
- Editorial – find authors and bring in books
- Production – copy editing etc .
- Marketing & PR
- Sales & Distribution – getting the book out to book fairs and book sellers
- Digital – handling the website, apps etc.
- Design
- Operations – stock control.
- Rights – translation, TV and tie ins
- Legal contracts
- Literary agent
Resources
Video
- An inside look at the role of production from Penguin Random HouseLink opens in a new window
- An interview with senior commissioning editor NiallLink opens in a new window at Emerald Publishing
- This video from LDN Apprenticeships about the first publishing assistant apprenticeshipLink opens in a new window
- Publisher at BHP Comics, Sha NazirLink opens in a new window, on making his own graphic novels and starting a publishing business in Scotland
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An introduction to the Creative IndustriesLink opens in a new window featuring Jade Anouka narrating an audiobook and designer Elisabetta Barbazza of Nosy Crow
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This video from the Manchester Get a Job in BooksLink opens in a new window conference
Quick reads
- HarperCollin’s visits to a Year 11 group at Sacred Heart SchoolLink opens in a new window in Camberwell and The Charter SchoolLink opens in a new window in East Dulwich
- Why do you love publishing? Responses from:
- Parveen BhambraLink opens in a new window, marketing assistant for higher education at McGraw Hill EMEA
- The Publishers Association policy and public affairs manager MaeveLink opens in a new window
- Bonnie Books publishing and sales coordinator Tsehay LambertLink opens in a new window and senior designer Jason ShortlandLink opens in a new window
- Becca ParkinsonLink opens in a new window and Zoe TurnerLink opens in a new window of Comma Press
- Digital delivery lead Ben BrownLink opens in a new window from IOP Publishing
- SpringerNature senior product manager and founder of SN Women Evelyn RamforthLink opens in a new window
- Managing editorLink opens in a new window, Publishing DirectorLink opens in a new window and designer BethanyLink opens in a new window of children’s publishers Imagine That
- Advice from editorial assistant JosephineLink opens in a new window of Buster Books on using work experience to your advantage
- This infographicLink opens in a new window from Austin Macauley
- Cambridge University Press’s Q&A on InstagramLink opens in a new window
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The Publishers Association interviewLink opens in a new window with assistant for Hashtag Press Elle McNicoll who is a neurodivergent person on her career so far
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Hachette Children’s Book Group’s Editorial DirectorLink opens in a new window on why she works in publishing
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Austin Macauley’s interesting factLink opens in a new window about publishing
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DirectorLink opens in a new window and editorial managerLink opens in a new window at Oriel Square on why they work in publishing
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IOP Publishing marketing executive HanaLink opens in a new window shares why she works in publishing
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Manchester-based Comma PressLink opens in a new window on what a publicist does day to day
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This behind-the-scenes shotLink opens in a new window of Michael Morpurgo from a digital marketing manager at Egmont
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Chair of the Society of Indexers Nicola KingLink opens in a new window on why she works in publishing
Long reads
- An interview with Perminder MannLink opens in a new window, CEO of Bonnier Books, on how she got started in publishing and her advice for the next generation
- English and Business students of Long Road Sixth Form CollegeLink opens in a new window visit Cambridge University PressLink opens in a new window
- All about production from Penguin Random HouseLink opens in a new window
- Kogan Page’s Q&A with trade sales manager CameronLink opens in a new window, business development manager PaulLink opens in a new window and sales admin assistant AngelicaLink opens in a new window
- Quotes from a range of staff at IOP PublishingLink opens in a new window on why they work in publishing
- Avon Books audio editor’sLink opens in a new window thread on practical tips for job seekers
- Penguin Connect events manager Ain in conversation with DK metadata and digital supply chain coordinatorLink opens in a new window Flavia
- A Fangirl’s Opinion on work experience at Penguin Random HouseLink opens in a new window
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The Publishers Association interviewLink opens in a new window with Bloomsbury Publishing’s production assistant apprentice, Eleanor Rose
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This BookMachine interview with Jenni LewisLink opens in a new window who commissions audio dramas for the BBC Audio list
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Common publishing misconceptionsLink opens in a new window by Austin Macauley
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Kogan Page’s Q&A with publishing assistant Anne-MarieLink opens in a new window
Podcasts
- Inspired Selection’s episode on how to make your application stand outLink opens in a new window
- Inspired Selection’s episodeLink opens in a new window on temporary opportunities and top interview tips with our Temps Consultant Rhiannon Griffiths
Employers
Case Studies:
Caitlin Allen
Associate Director of Riot Communications
University of Warwick – BA in English and French
Caitlin joined culture and entertainment specialist Riot Communications in 2015 after earning her stripes at full-service PR agencies Citypress and Golley Slater, where her clients included Hilton Hotels, Coca-Cola Great Britain and the Welsh Government. At Riot, she works with all major UK publishing houses plus literary prizes, literary estates, TV production companies, cultural institutions and entertainment brands. Recent campaigns that she has led on include publicity for Sapiens author Yuval Noah Harari’s new book 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, the 20th anniversary of World Book Day and the upcoming new TV animation based on Tove Jansson’s Moomin stories starring Rosamund Pike, Taron Egerton and Kate Winslet. Her current clients include the Royal Institution, the London Review of Books and artificial intelligence company, DeepMind. Caitlin is a former winner of the CIPR Cymru’s Outstanding Young Communicator Award and was named on PRWeek’s ’30 under 30’ list in 2018.
www.riotcommunications.com / @RiotComms
Caitlin's advice:
- Get as much experience as possible.
- Passion is important.
- Your first job doesn’t have to be the dream job – it just needs to be a foot in the door.
- Put yourself forward for awards – if you can’t promote yourself you won’t be able to promote a book.
- Think about what’s important to you e.g. agency or in house, a large agency vs a small agency. Agencies can say “no” to work whereas in house you have to promote what’s being produced.
Dr David Barker
Senior Lecture MA in Publishing Derby University
David started his career in a smaller publishing house before moving to Bloomsbury, and emphasises the importance of just getting your foot in the door. He explains that there are two main areas of publishing – Trade Publishing (what we see in book shops) and Academic Publishing (where a lot of money can be made).
David's advice:
- Office experience is very useful
- Be aware of freelance options eg copy editor, proof reading, type setting, indexing and design can all be done at home
- Keep in mind that a lot of publishers are in London but there are some elsewhere across the UK. The Northern Fiction Alliance is based in Manchester and Leeds, and some big publishing houses are discussing opening in Birmingham.
Jo de Vries
Conker House
Jo's advice:
- The role is to know the reader and know the author and to connect the two
- Some publishers are recruiting young bloggers who understand the younger market
- E-learning is very big in academic publishing so those with technical skills can flourish here
- In terms of getting work experience, Jo suggests the Society for Young Publishers and @pubinterns