What does a career in publishing look like? How does someone interested in jobs or internships in publishing get started?
On Monday night, a packed room gathered to hear four, high-powered Villanova alumni answer these and other questions at an event organized by the English department, Communications, the Writing and Rhetoric Program and the Creative Writing Program. Cece Ryan, Publisher of People magazine and Senior VP at Meredith Corporation underscored that there are lots of different kinds of publishing (hint: it’s not all about books). According to Ryan, finding fulfilling work after Villanova should be an exhilarating process. Villanova students can feel both proud and prepared to meet their futures.
Gary Urda, senior vice-president for sales at Simon & Schuster, reminded the audience that publishing is a $26bn a year industry on the cutting edge of art and culture. Given the size of the industry, what percentage of jobs in this field are editorial? At Simon & Schuster, Urda estimated about 10 per cent. He then discussed the dynamic role that people with business, marketing, advertising, design, and legal backgrounds play in the publishing industry.
Bob Bender, VP and executive editor at Simon & Schuster, edits nonfiction and biography, including the bestselling Failure Is Not an Option, by Gene Kranz. When asked about the future of publishing and books, Bender said that the format changes, but the written word, and publishing, are here to stay. Bender was one of two English majors on the panel, though each of the panelists talked about how a love of books, reading, and curiosity are good skills for all publishing professionals to have.
Kelly Moran, a 2019 graduate and the other Villanova English major on the panel, landed her first internship in a literary agency while a student at Villanova. While the agency internship was a good experience, it helped her to see that editing might not be the best fit for her interests. Moran went on to complete a range of internships in New York and London, which ultimately led to her current position as a publicity assistant at St. Martin’s/Macmillan.
To launch a career in publishing, all of the panelists remarked on the importance of networking and building strong relationships. After a lively Q & A, students had a chance to mingle with the panelists and put these ideas into action. LinkedIn and Nova Network are good ways to connect with other alumni and professionals outside of these career events. In the meantime, the success of the evening was a reminder that publishing matters.
