Tell me about it
Publishers are responsible for the content, style, sales and profitability of the publications produced by their organisation. They work in a number of areas, including books, newspapers, magazines, journals, directories and electronic media newspaper and magazine publishing, book publishing and online publishing.

We focus primarily here on book publishers. There are many thousands of books published each year, a small percentage of which are mass-market titles, while others include educational textbooks, academic research works or STM (scientific, technical and medical) publications. Publishers work as a team in selecting or commissioning new books, revising existing titles, in design, marketing and sales to ensure that each publication makes maximum impact in its particular market, reaching as many readers as possible and recouping the initial investment made in it.

The work includes the following roles:
· Commissioning editors decide whether to accept manuscripts submitted by literary agents or authors or whether to use their specialist knowledge of a particular market to commission specific books and projects. All manuscripts passing through their hands need to be read and given an initial assessment, often by readers employed for the purpose; a number then need a second opinion, perhaps from a specialist. Editors weigh up the opinions of readers, plus, in many cases, sales and marketing colleagues, before making a commitment to proceed.
· Contractual staff draw up the initial contract between publisher and author, and the handling of subsidiary rights, such as translation, book club and serial rights.
· Copy editors concentrate on preparing accepted manuscripts for the printers. They check details such as repetition, contradiction, spelling mistakes, punctuation and grammar, and would have to discuss and agree all changes with the author. They might also discuss details of printing and presentation with the production, design and marketing departments.

Entry level
While there are no standard entry requirements, most publishers have a degree and sometimes a postgraduate qualification. You could be successful without formal qualifications if you can demonstrate sufficient technical ability, commitment, enthusiasm and commercial awareness. Even with a degree, the actual subject is often unimportant.

For entry to a degree course, you would usually need a minimum of two A levels/three H grades, and five GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3), or the equivalent. For postgraduate courses, you would usually need a good first degree.

Making the grade
Most training is carried out on the job, but usually only after some form of academic study. Some large publishing houses run in-house training schemes or send new recruits on short courses run by specialist agencies but there are no universally recognised approaches to training and qualification

Experience is essential for promotion. Commissioning editors can become editorial managers or directors, or move into specialist areas. Overseas employment is possible, notably in the Far East and some Arab countries, where publishing is a developing industry.

Personal qualities
As a publisher, you should understand your target audience, have a good command of English, and combine an eye for detail with imaginative flair.

In all areas of publishing, good IT skills are essential. You must have a fascination for words and the mechanics of written language. You must also appreciate the commercial aspects of the publishing business.

Looking ahead
Getting a first job in the industry is difficult and requires real determination. Experience of writing or editing a college magazine is useful, and you should learn as much as possible about publishing from people in the industry. You should also read a trade magazine, such as The Bookseller.

Good personal contacts are important, together with detailed knowledge of the sector in which you choose to develop your career. Many publishing jobs are never formally advertised, so you should develop contacts by visiting book fairs, work shadowing and talking to people already in the business.

Alternative suggestions
Other possibilities might include broadcasting researcher, graphic designer, journalist, magazine publisher, marketing executive or public relations officer.

Take-home pay
Salaries are extremely varied in book publishing, depending on seniority and the size of the company, but you should start as an editorial trainee on around £17,000 or £18,000 a year. This should rise with experience to £25,000 to £40,000.

Effects
You are likely to work normal office hours, but you may need to work longer and more irregular hours as publication deadlines approach. There is some scope for freelance work on a self-employed basis.

Sources of information
Publishers Association: www.publishers.org.uk
Publishing Training Centre: www.bookhouse.co.uk
Scottish Publishers Association: www.scottishbooks.org
Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers: www.alpsp.org
Society for Editors and Proofreaders: www.sfep.org.uk
Society of Young Publishers: www.thesyp.org.uk
The Bookseller: www.thebookseller.com
Booksellers Association: www.booksellers.org.uk

CRCI: PD