Careers in Publishing: A Student Guide
Publishing is a dynamic and multifaceted industry that brings stories, ideas, and research to audiences worldwide. From book publishing to journalism, editing, communications, and digital content creation, publishing careers can combine creativity with strategy, collaboration, and business. Students interested in this field often wonder how to get started—what skills to build, who to connect with, and where to look for jobs.
This guide pulls together credible, ready-to-use resources to help you explore publishing careers, connect with professionals, gain experience, and apply to opportunities. Instead of searching aimlessly, you can use this as a one-stop hub to navigate your publishing journey.
Industry Resources:
| Resource | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Publishing Professionals Network (PPN) | Nonprofit association supporting career development and community in publishing. | PPN |
| Bookjobs.com – Publishing Events | A list of regularly occuring industry events. | Publishing Events |
| Publishing & Editing Professionals (LinkedIn Group) | Professional networking group with publishing and editing discussions. | 5,600 Publishing Groups 1,800 Editor Groups 13,000 Communications Groups Specific Examples: Publishing and Editing Professionals (67,000 members) Editing and proofreading (5,000 members) ACES: The Society for Editing (4,000 members) Freelance Writing, Editing, Photography (2,000 members) Book Writing, Self Publishing & Marketing (94,000 members) Publishing Professionals Network (21,000 members) Book Publishing Professionals (77,000 members) Publishing and Editing Professionals (67,000 members) Publishing Professionals (14,000 members) |
| LinkedIn Company Search (Publishing Industries Filter) | Find and follow publishing companies to track trends and job postings. | Explore Companies |
| LinkedIn Alumni (Publishing + Binghamton filter) | See BU alumni in publishing-related industries—great for informational interviews. | View Alumni |
| Networking Guide (Questions + Outreach Templates) | Sample messages and thoughtful questions to ask alumni/employers. | Use the Guide |
| Mentor Match (Creative Arts, Media & Marketing) | BU alumni who’ve opted in to help students—filter to find publishing folks. | Examples: Rebekah Celletti – Sr. Manager, Compensation BetMGM Maura Danehey – Senior Communications Leader / Disability Consultant / Research Assistant – Momentive / Mercy Corps / New York University Tabitha Gregg- Marketing Coordinator, Healthy Kids Programs Barbara Josselsohn – Novelist, Self-employed Diana Shoykhet – Script Supervisor, Freelance Catherine (Cat) Wolinski – Senior Editor, Dotdash Meredith Ryan Yarosh – Sr. Dir. of Media and Public Relations Jonathan Zweben – Manager, Marketing Research, Walt Disney Company |
| Penguin Random House: Applicant Resources | These resources are designed for those who may be entering the publishing industry for the first time. Here, we provide a wealth of knowledge to help you on your journey. | Résumé Tips Cover Letter Tips Interview Tips |
| Penguin Random House: Applicant Resources | 50 common publishing terms that are used across the business. | Publishing Glossary |
| Bookjobs.com – Commonly Used Terms | Industry terminology broken down for these areas: Editorial Legal, Finance, Rights & Permissions Marketing & Publicity Parts & Kinds of Books Production & Design Publishers Sales Types of Childrens Books | Commonly Used Terms |
| The University of Chicago: Non-Credit Certificate Program in Editing | Gain the editing skills, knowledge, and networking needed to become an in-demand copyeditor. | Non-Credit Certificate Program in Editing |
| ACES: Resources for New Editors: A Curated List | These links are drawn from ACES website content that was created prior to 2024. It was curated by Kimberly Grow as part of The ACES Guide for New Editors project. | Resources for New Editors: A Curated List PDF Version also available |
| Indeed: Writing Samples | Review articles to learn tips on choosing writing samples for applications | How to Submit Writing Samples (With Tips and Examples)– Written by the Indeed Editorial Team (Updated 2025) A Comprehensive Guide to Writing Samples for a Job – Written by the Indeed Editorial Team (Updated 2024) How to Create a Digital Writing Portfolio in 7 Steps– Written by the Indeed Editorial Team (Updated 2025) Fleishman Center: Online Portfolio Guide: |
| Bookjobs.com – Publishing Organizations | Review a list of industry-related organizations and their brief descriptions | Publishing Organizations |
| Resource | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Penguin Random House: How to Get Into Publishing | Tips to help navigate the process of finding a career in the publishing world. | How to Get Into Publishing |
| Penguin Random House: How Can I Get Published? | A guide to demystify the process and provide you with resources. | How Can I Get Published? |
| Handshake: Job/Internship Tool | Handshake is designed specifically for college students, so the employers posting here are actively looking to hire students or recent grads. Since they’ve chosen to recruit through Binghamton’s board, they’re often especially interested in Binghamton students—which means less competition compared to large public job sites. | Job/Internship Tool Use the search bar and filters to look up entry-level roles in fields like UX design or publishing. You can also save searches and set up job alerts so new opportunities come directly to your inbox. |
| Handshake: Employer Tool | The “Employers” tab lets you browse organizations by industry. You can filter to see if an employer is “open to messages,” which means you can directly connect with recruiters or representatives. This is a great way to expand your network and ask questions about opportunities. | Employer Tool |
| LinkedIn Company Search Tool: Filtered by Publishing | Use the other filters to fine-tune the listed companies and then check out their “people” tab and “about” table to network and find their official website to identify postings. | Publishing-related (and have listings on LinkedIn) |
| Bookjobs.com – Publisher Profiles | An alphabetized list of publisher profiles, each linked with information about each publisher. | Publisher Profiles |
| 2026 Entry-Level Jobs for New Graduates | U.S. The Ultimate 2026 U.S. Internships List | Use the filters “Creatives and Design,” “Arts and Entertainment,” and “Marketing” to find related opportunities. | Entry-level jobs Internships |
| Penguin Random House: Opportunities | See their list of jobs and internships | Careers Internships |
| Simon & Schuster: Opportunities | Their early career programs offer hands-on experience, mentorship, and a front-row seat to the world of publishing. Hear from our interns and see how your story could begin with us: | Candidate Portal: Jobs Early Career Programs |
| Rachel Coker’s Science Writing & Communications Resources | Curated list of writing and communications opportunities (Binghamton University). (Add link once hosted; last updated July 2025) | Explore Tailored Resources |
| Publishing Professionals Network (Jobs) | Job board curated for publishing professionals. | Search Jobs |
| Other Job Sites (via PPN) | List of external job boards relevant to publishing. | Browse Sites |
| Publishers Weekly Job Zone | Dedicated job portal for book publishing and media. | Job Zone |
| PW Job Zone Career Advice | Articles and resources for career development in publishing. | Career Advice |
| BookJobs.com | Central hub for publishing job listings, industry terms, and company profiles. | Explore Book Jobs Explore Internships |
| JournalismJobs.com – Job postings | Job board for journalism and related media roles. | Search Journalism Jobs |
| MediaBistro | Browse creative jobs in editorial, copywriting, communications, production; plus career tips on their blog. | MediaBistro Jobs |
| HigherEdJobs.com | Universities hire staff in publications, communications, and editing—great experience pathways. | Publications & Editing Communications, Marketing & Public Affairs |
| Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing | Review their job listings with this resource | SABEW Job Board |
| American Society of Magazine Editors | The American Society of Magazine Editors is the principal organization for the editorial leaders of magazines and websites published in the United States. | ASME Job Board |
| ACES: Job Board | The ACES Job Board connects those in need of publishing services with experienced communication professionals. Job details and instructions on how to apply are provided in each specific post. Please contact the employer and/or contact listed, not ACES, with any job-specific questions. | Job Board |
| Upwork | A global freelance marketplace where businesses and independent professionals connect for project-based work in fields like writing, graphic design, marketing, IT, and more. | Job Board |
| Idealist: Relevant Volunteer Opportunities | Volunteer listing filtered by related skills and remote | Volunteer Listings |
Below are resources that can help you explore schools, fellowships, and even gap year opportunities. These tools can support your next steps in creative arts, media, and marketing careers. And if you’re not certain what a fellowship is, here’s a quick overview: fellowships are short-term, funded opportunities that support your professional growth through specialized projects, research, training, or creative work. They can help you gain industry experience, build your portfolio, and expand your professional network.
| Website / Organization & Topic | Blurb | Article / Resource |
|---|---|---|
| Binghamton University – Further Education Guide | A one-page guide to exploring further education opportunities tailored to the Creative Arts, Media & Marketing career cluster. | Further Education One-page Guide (Creative Arts, Media & Marketing) |
| JournalismJobs.com | Directory of journalism and communications programs across the U.S. to help you explore further education options. | U.S. Journalism/Communications Schools |
| JournalismJobs.com | A listing of journalism-related fellowships designed to help you advance skills and gain real-world experience. | JournalismJobs.com – Fellowships |
| Scholarships.fatomei.com | Scholarships, fellowships, and research awards related to communications fields. | Media Communications: Scholarships, Fellowships and Postdoctoral Research Awards |
| ProFellow | A roundup of writing fellowships open to applicants at any career stage. | 28 Fellowships for Creative Writers in Any Career Stage |
| ProFellow | Search more than 2,500 fellowships and awards for graduate study and professional development. | Search the Fellowship Database |
| ProFellow | Fellowships that support flexible and remote creative careers. | 10 Fellowships for Freelance and Digital Nomad Work |
| ProFellow | Programs that support writers and journalists focusing on science communication. | 10 Fellowships for Science Writers and Science Journalists |
| ProFellow | Fellowships for those exploring or advancing careers in book publishing. | 15 Publishing Fellowships for Those Exploring Careers in Books |
| ProFellow | A list of journalism fellowships for both recent grads and experienced professionals. | 40 Journalism Fellowships for Experienced Journalists and Recent Graduates |
You don’t have to wait until graduation, or even an internship, to start building your publishing experience. Here are ways you can gain skills, build a portfolio, and test out roles now:
- The Binghamton University Times Tribune – The mission of the BUTT is to foster a community of satirical persons making satirical content, satirically.
- “We are always looking for new writers.” – Learn how to write for them here
- Rena Magazine – The primary purpose of the RENA Bing Magazine is to offer students and community members alike a creative outlet to appreciate the art of fashion.
- Join group here
- The Binghamton Law Quarterly is a student-run legal publication dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of the law within the Binghamton University community.
- Editor Interest Form – Due September 16th
- Spoon University – Spoon University is a food site for the next generation. Our goal is to help you eat intelligently and be a culinary resource.
- Business, Entertainment, Advertising & Media – BEAM is an organization that combines aspects of business, entertainment, advertising, and media, and immerses members into a hands on experience in creating, sharing, and marketing online content, while learning useful skills to prepare them for a career after college in some of the most exciting industries to work in.
- Binghamton Review is a non-partisan, student run news magazine founded in 1987 at Binghamton University.
- Submit an article here
- Free Press is a student-run magazine dedicated to analyzing current events, arts, and culture.
- Interested in writing for us? Submit your pieces through the form on the right or email them to publisher@bufreepress.com !
- Volunteer Writing Opportunities
Contribute to nonprofits, local organizations, or remote causes that need help with newsletters, blogs, or promotional writing.
- On-Campus & Local Employment
Many part-time jobs involve writing, editing, or communications—even if not labeled as “publishing.” Examples include writing blogs, drafting newsletters, or social media content.
- Take Leadership in Student Orgs
Run for e-board positions like Communications Chair, PR Officer, or Newsletter Editor—roles that mirror publishing tasks like editing, content planning, and audience engagement.
- Create Your Own Projects
Start a blog, podcast, or online magazine. Pitch new ideas to your student orgs or departments (e.g., a monthly newsletter). Independent projects count as portfolio-worthy experience.
Tip: Publishing careers often require writing samples or portfolios. Keep track of your work now and save your strongest pieces. Online Portfolio Guide
Additional Related On-Campus Opportunities Found Here:
Learn about these fantastic opportunities with their description below and the link to their website where you will find a full breakdown:
“The Binghamton Center for Writers is a SUNY Organized Research Center associated with the Creative Writing Program. While academic courses are handled through the English Department, the Center for Writers cultivates an active community of writers through extracurricular offerings.”
As described on their website:
Summer 2026 Session in London
United Kingdom: Urban Fiction and Urban Sites Courses with Professor Amir Ahmadi
Spend 5+ weeks on-site, exploring the diverse literary portrayals of London, highlighting how the same physical setting comprised of certain locations, can be transformed into something entirely new through each novelist.
Earn 4 credits in English (ENG 380 Creative Writing)
Eligibility: Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors
GPA: 2.0
Terms Offered: Summer 2026
Contact: For more information about the summer program, please contact Professor Ahmadi, aahmadiarian@binghamton.edu, or Education Abroad
- Book Publishing → Editorial Assistant, Marketing Assistant, Rights & Permissions Coordinator, Publicity Assistant
- Journalism → Staff Writer, Reporter, Copy Editor, Digital Content Producer
- Communications & PR → Communications Assistant, Social Media Coordinator, Content Writer
- Academic/Science Publishing → Editorial Assistant, Peer Review Coordinator, Production Assistant
- Digital Media → Content Editor, Blog Writer, SEO/Content Strategist, Multimedia Assistant
Final Note:
As you explore this resource, we encourage you to take advantage of everything available to support your career journey. Below, you’ll find the sources and contributors that made this guide possible, multiple ways to connect with our office for personalized career support, and some important reminders to keep in mind as you plan your strategy. Be sure to check them out, and remember, our team is always here to help you move forward with confidence and clarity.
| Reminder | What This Means for You |
|---|---|
| Use Multiple Sources | Information about careers and education can vary depending on where you look. Try checking several websites and resources when researching anything related to your career development (for example: job outlooks, salaries, industry trends, graduate programs, or fellowships, etc.). This will help you get a fuller, more accurate picture of what employers or admissions committees are looking for. |
| Make Sure to Network | Talking directly with people associated with your career goals or the programs/companies you’re interested in can give you the clearest and most useful insights. Reach out to professionals, recruiters, alumni, or current students to learn what really matters in your field (for example: company expectations, hiring timelines, résumé preferences, graduate program requirements, etc.). Even within the same industry or graduate program type, different organizations and admissions committees may value things differently. Listening carefully to their guidance can help you put your best foot forward. |
| Use AI Ethically in Career Development | AI tools can be a great resource for brainstorming, polishing materials, or practicing interview questions (for example: outlining position description details to guide your documents, generating practice questions, etc.). But it works best when you use it thoughtfully and make sure the final work reflects your own skills and voice. Some employers and graduate programs may not allow AI, so always check instructions carefully. Think of AI as a helper, not a replacement—and remember, Career Consultants are happy to guide you on how to use it effectively! |
| Be Aware of Employment Scams | When searching for jobs or internships, it’s important to stay alert for potential scams—especially when exploring positions outside of Binghamton’s Handshake. Common warning signs include requests for personal or financial information upfront, job offers without interviews, or anything that seems “too good to be true.” To learn more about what to watch for, see real examples, and find out how to protect yourself or respond if you encounter a scam, check out Employment Scam Information – Binghamton University. Staying informed helps you pursue opportunities safely and confidently. |
Drop-ins: When classes are in session, Monday-Friday, from 12-4 p.m., you can visit our office to schedule a 20-minute drop-in with our staff.
Appointments: You can schedule your 30-minute career session on Handshake. These are offered all year and can be done virtually and in person.
Online Resources: Visit uConnect, our virtual career center that is always accessible to support your career needs.
Picture Source: Gemini (AI-generated image by Google Gemini)
Website Sources: Special thanks to the organizations, industry experts, and thought leaders who share valuable career resources, research, and articles with the public. Your work provides important insights that support students’ career development.
- Science Writing & Communications Resources: Thank you, Rachel Coker, for all these fantastic resources
- Staff Support: Thank you, Trish, for all your career resources/insights and support
AI Assistance: Portions of this resource may have been developed with support from AI tools (such as ChatGPT by OpenAI or Gemini), used to help synthesize research, generate summaries, and refine formatting. All final content has been reviewed and customized for Binghamton University students.
