Jobs in Book Publishing
Most book publishing companies are broken down into several departments: editorial, publicity and promotion, marketing and production. No matter which of these words your first job designation begins with, it is likely to end with the word “assistant.”
     Common to all assistants everywhere, regardless of their department, are certain inescapable duties that define the position: “assisting” superiors; handling their correspondence, answering the phones, writing their memos and generally carrying out whatever administrative duties are needed. There are ways, however, in which the assistant position differs from department to department.

Editorial Assistant
An editorial assistant, in addition to performing the universal assistant-duties mentioned above, might be called upon to review incoming manuscripts and provide reports to his/her boss; to go through the “slush” pile of unsolicited queries from hopeful authors, and bring anything worth a look to the editor’s attention; and to work with agents and authors to ensure that contracts are handled and processed correctly. Editorial assistants go on to become assistant or associate editors; then senior editors; each position brings with it more direct responsibility for the overall concept behind, and presentation of, a new book. The pinnacle of any editor’s career is to have his or her own “imprint” — a line of books to be determined completely by the editor’s own tastes.

Publicity Assistant
A publicity assistant sends out galleys (early bound and typeset copies of a book) to select book reviewers at newspapers and magazines; maintains and updates lists of reviewers who should receive free copies of the published book once it’s out; works with his/her boss to arrange radio, print and television interviews for authors; and may work to organize book release parties and signings at bookstores. Publicity assistants go on to be publicity directors — and because good publicity is so important to book sales, the best publicists sometimes move on to the corporate marketing and executive publishing levels.

Production Assistant
A production assistant will work with copy editors, typographers, binders and designers to help with the actual construction of a book. As more and more publishers realize that an unusual design or arresting cover art can help sell books, this area of publishing is getting more fun and inventive. Of course, good copy editors have always been and will always be essential to publishing of any sort.

Jobs in Magazine Publishing
Magazine staffs are usually broken down into two divisions: editorial and advertising.

Editorial Assistant
Editorial staffs are usually subdivided departmentally, depending on the focus and structure of the magazine. Again, the duties of the entry-level editorial assistant are largely administrative and/or clerical — but in addition to these, the assistant may also review manuscripts, give opinions on story proposals, line edit copy, generate story ideas, and even write for the magazine itself, in some cases. Production cycles are of course much shorter in magazine publishing than they are in book publishing, since most magazines publish monthly or even weekly. Thus the world of magazines can at times seem much more frenzied than the world of books, which moves along at a slower and more deliberate pace.

Advertising Assistant
Advertising assistants at magazines help their bosses sell advertising space — and having done that, work very hard to maintain good relationships with advertisers so they’ll continue to buy space. In addition to basic clerical duties, ad assistants will work on presentations; write reports on circulation, demographic distributions and reader purchasing patterns; coordinate promotional functions and activities (breakfasts, parties, etc.); and perform a variety of other duties designed to woo buyers and to keep them happy once they’ve been wooed.