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Brainstorm
Apart from the basic functions that every business needs (finance, marketing, human resources), publishing companies are distinct in two areas: Editorial and Publishing. (There's also Design but let's not go there for the moment.)
Editorial: language/visual and organisational/project management/attention to detail skills are crucial - that's where books are physically 'made'. Some sort of subject expertise helps - a maths background for working with maths books, for instance - but most editors are generalists: they need to know about a lot of things or know how to find out about them!
Publishing: the business side - that's where the commissioning of new books happens - the strategising over what to publish when and how and how to affort to do it etc. Publishing companies need to know that the time and effort and money that is spent on a project will be worth it over and over. No point otherwise. Again project management and organisational skills useful, wide general knowledge and appreciation of business (and environment whether trade or educational publishing). Usually lots of travelling required - either domestic or regional.
The Publishers' Association of South Africa (www.publishsa.co.za) sends vacancy ads to members - it doesn't post them on the website but the office might have details. PASA's offices in Green Point. (PASA should have details of training opportunities available.)
Centre for the Book is in Queen Victoria Street, Cape Town.
Entry level opportunities: Try and do some freelance proofreading, perhaps.
Join SAFREA - South African Freelancers Association (www.safrea.co.za) or Professional Editors Group (www.editors.org.za) - check through the directories of these organisations to seek what the members list as qualifications and experience.
Although still largely dead-tree based, electronic publishing (and the pressure to keep things interesting in this digital age) will certainly have an impact on how publishing eventually plays out as an industry. Give it another few years but it's something we can't ignore. Multimedia/computer skills or awareness are very useful in building a publishing career.
So, in brief:
- Contact
the Publisher’s Association of South Africa (details at
www.publishsa.co.za) and enquire about vacancies and internships in the industry. (See the link about internships at NB Publishers.)
- Sign up for the newsletter at www.litnet.co.za.
- Sign up for the newsletter from www.sabooknews.co.za.
- Ask about publishing at the MAPPP Seta.
- Check the daily papers and Mail & Guardian for job ads.
- Contact Viv Gordon Placements (www.vgp.co.za). VGP is a specialist in media
(including publishing) placements. - Attend the Cape Town Book Fair each June. www.capetownbookfair.com.
- Enquire at large publishers about internship opportunities.
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