Making a Career in Publishing
| Module title | Making a Career in Publishing |
|---|---|
| Module code | HAS2004 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Ms Isabel Moros (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 | 3 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 50 |
|---|
Module description
You will examine careers in the three main areas of publishing expertise: commissioning, marketing and production, exploring different sectors of the publishing industry in detail as well as the different roles in the modern publishing industry. You will learn key editorial skills developing the expertise and knowledge typically required in a graduate-level publishing role.
In addition to this, you will explore the world of publishing from a journalistic angle by discussing current issues such as the use of AI in the world of work (including publishing), the pay gap between men and women, and other areas of possible discrimination in the workplace.
The taught sessions take place in Term 1; you will work on your group presentation during Term 2 with three supervisory sessions from your lecturers. The group presentations will take place in Term 3.
Publishing careers are open to graduates of all disciplines and no prior knowledge of the industry is required for this module, just an enthusiasm and interest in publishing as a career.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to help you to develop an understanding of how the skills and knowledge acquired as part of a Humanities degree are applicable to the workplace and to extend your work-related learning and knowledge in a reflective way. This is within the specific context of publishing, providing you with an opening into the modern publishing industry and helping you to gain a critical understanding of the most widely areas surrounding the sector.
An important aim of the workshops and seminars is to develop a thorough understanding of publishing processes, enabling you to acquire key skills related to the world of publishing. These will cover also the role that journalism plays in the publishing industries and how we can establish a comparison between the various aspects surrounding the written word.
The module intends to improve your employment prospects in several ways. Firstly, the practical content of the module will enable you to enhance your understanding of the publishing industries and how your analytical skills can contribute to this sector. Secondly, the different forms of assessment (journalistic essay and group presentation) will provide you with tangible transferable skills such as identifying and reviewing the relevant sources, working as part of a group and communicating complex ideas to an audience in a creative and accessible form.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the modern publishing industry and the various careers available within it
- 2. Demonstrate knowledge of the key editorial, marketing and production skills needed to pursue a career in the modern publishing industry
- 3. Show a holistic understanding of the publishing industry and describe in detail the publishing process and the role of individual specialists within it
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Understand the processes involved in how to commission, produce and market both print and digital products
- 5. Show an understanding of different journalistic styles and how they can contribute to the publishing industries
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Demonstrate knowledge and application of the attitudes and qualities that are required to function well in a professional working environment
- 7. Establish connections between the skills acquired as part of a degree in the Humanities and the skills required in the workplace
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, topics are likely to include:
- Roles and careers in publishing
- Commissioning and list building
- Book production
- Copy-editing
- Proofreading and indexing
- Design, illustrations and printing
- Marketing and bookselling
- Digital publishing
- Authors, agents, foreign, and subsidiary rights
- Publishing career choices and making successful job applications
- Presentation planning
Alongside the publishing sessions you will study interdisciplinary seminars to gain an understanding of journalistic publishing with an emphasis on key areas.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | 266 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 22 | Publishing workshops (in Term 1) |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 11 | Seminars (in Term 1) |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 1 | Group tutorials with tutors to discuss the progress of the presentation (in Term 2) |
| Guided independent study | 266 | Research, reading and assessment preparation |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay plan or abstract | 500 words | 1-7 | Written, with verbal available on request |
| Group Presentation plan | 500 words per group | 1-7 | Written, with verbal available on request |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | 0 | 30 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 50 | 3,500 words | 1-7 | Feedback sheet with opportunity for tutorial follow-up. |
| Group presentation analysing an aspect of the industry | 30 | 6-7 minutes per person: c.20 minutes for a group of 3 people or c.25 minutes for a group of 4 people | 1-7 | Feedback sheet with opportunity for tutorial follow-up. |
| Reflective commentary | 20 | 1,500 words | 1-7 | Feedback sheet with opportunity for tutorial follow-up. |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay | 1-7 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Group presentation | Oral presentation (group or individual, 6-7 minutes per person) | 1-7 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Reflective commentary | Reflective commentary | 1-7 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken because of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e., a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Baverstock, Alison and Bowen, Susannah (2019) How to Market Books (Routledge)
Baverstock, Alison, Bradford, Richard and Gonzales, Madelena (2020) Contemporary Publishing and the Culture of Books (Routledge)
Clark, Giles and Phillips, Angus (2020) Inside Book Publishing (Routledge).
Guthrie, Richard (2011). Publishing: Principles and Practice (Sage).
Smith, Kelvin (2014) The Publishing Business: From p-books to e-books (AVA Academia).
Woll, T. (2014) Publishing for Profit: Successful Bottom-line Management for Book Publishers (Kogan Page).
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 2016 |
| Last revision date | 02/03/2023 |
