How The Publishing Post Helps People Break into Publishing Careers
When I launched The Publishing Post in June 2020, I felt that, although there were many great resources in publishing, they were often expensive or linked to networks that felt inaccessible to those starting out. I was a first-generation university student from a lower socio-economic background, and had been working part-time to complete my degree. I didn’t have spare income for extra learning opportunities. I also found myself caught in the cycle of needing experience to get experience, as many publishing hopefuls do. For me, launching the magazine as a free resource was very important. We have since moved to an annual £5 fee to cover running costs, but I want the platform to be as accessible as possible.
Industry resources at The Publishing Post
The Publishing Post is a platform hosting over 3,000 articles on everything from publishing news to children’s publishing, the hottest trends across the industry to audiobook recommendations. We have articles for every part of the industry and explore all roles available. With an audience of over 20,000 social-media followers and over 500,000 views to date, we are always looking to teach our audience something new. It is also important to all of those who work on the team to ensure that we are championing inclusivity and diversity across the literary landscape, sharing our favourite books written by authors from underrepresented backgrounds, initiatives that progress the industry and books which speak to our values.
In addition to knowledge, the platform also offers hands-on experience to those looking to break into the industry. With roles for volunteers across writing, editorial, production and social media, there are lots of ways for hopefuls to gain publishing-adjacent experience and demonstrate their passion to employers. Since its inception, The Publishing Post has offered experience to over 500 aspirants and typically maintains a team of around 130 members at any one time, producing 80-plus articles each month for the site.
Advice on skills
Upskilling articles are one of The Publishing Post’s most popular type of content. These help readers build practical knowledge and skills in different parts of the publishing industry –helpful for those who have yet to decide their preferred route. For example:
- “Upskilling for the Production Department” explains how the production team functions (from printing to binding, project management to budgeting) and what technical and organisational skills are useful in a production assistant role.
- “Upskilling Tips for LDN Apprenticeships: Publishing” shares tips for apprenticeship-entry into publishing.
- “How the Publishing Training Centre’s E-Learning Modules and Publishing Starter Kit Could Help You” reviews The PTC’s training resources and how readers can use them to boost practical skills.
Within each upskilling article we are looking to share new information with our readers, whilst also showcasing roles and areas which are often not the most obvious choice. For example, sharing articles on departments like licensing or audio, in addition to editorial. Each article covers the department or role: what it is, how it fits into the publishing process, what day-to-day looks like, as well as tips or skills that readers can focus on in this particular area.
Supporting our audience of readers is a key pillar of The Publishing Post, aiming to contribute to shared knowledge, career progression and network building. The site not only hosts articles but also has a job board and recordings of previous events in collaboration with publishers like Bonnier Books. The Publishing Post is a co-creator of the First Chapter Award with the Society of Young Publishers (SYP), aimed at those who often go unrecognised in traditional trade awards, such as publishing hopefuls, volunteers, booksellers, librarians and freelancers. It seeks to celebrate individuals who have demonstrated passion, teamwork and dedication to the industry, as well as their own professional goals. Our subscribers are not passive consumers of our articles, but actively participate, building knowledge and skills, accessing roles, and ideally move from hopeful to employed within the industry.
What the future holds
Looking ahead, The Publishing Post aims to further support this community with our content and growing platform. In 2025, we began offering CV and cover-letter feedback. This has been really brilliantly received by those who often find themselves questioning their approach to applications. We also look forward to the growth of the First Chapter Award and seeing how it positively affects the careers of its winners. Having been available for just over five years, we are moving from start-up phase to a more structured, consistent organisation. With that, I’m excited to explore further opportunities to open up the industry, from working with schools to reach people earlier, to running more events and opportunities for the community to come together.
