NYUPubPosts

2011 SPI Alumna Reflects

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The Summer Publishing Institute  at NYU’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies was the subject of a recent post by alumna Julia Nollen in the Market Partners International blog Publishing Trendsetter. Below are some excerpts:

Summer Publishing Institute alumna Julia Nollen

“Last year, I set my sights high in hopes of breaking into the industry by applying for New York University’s prestigious Summer Publishing Institute certificate program. SPI (as it’s regularly referred to) annually accepts about 100 applicants worldwide to its 6-week-long intensive course, which is comprised of lectures and tutorials from some of the most influential and innovative members of the industry. From designing magazine feature spreads to drafting profit and loss statements [for books and e-books], students are given a crash course in all things publishing. What I found most appealing about SPI was its focus on the current and future state of the publishing industry. Print runs are shrinking, and unit costs are growing, we’re told. Texts are now tweets, and looking over your shoulder no longer reveals the identities of those ‘following’ you. But publishing houses are using the web’s unprecedented reach to enhance product discoverability and to expand existing audiences.  By offering weekly web design workshops and tutorials for both print and digital platforms, SPI’s lectures embrace this change and cover all avenues of publishing. Students are asked to analyze current trends and consider future solutions.

I have made invaluable contacts through the wide breadth of resources NYU eagerly extends its attendees, and have secured three internships for the fall season. Other students were offered full-time positions because of their time at NYU. And, if building lasting relationships with HR managers from the ‘Big Six’ [six major book publishing companies] isn’t enough incentive, consider the valuable feedback you’re guaranteed to receive on your résumé, interview performance, and overall contribution to both magazine and book groups. There is nothing like nervously sliding one’s magazine designs across a table, only to be critiqued and commended by the Art Director of Esquire, David Curcurito. Though our conversation was followed by a few residual heart palpitations, Mr. Curcurito‘s advice left a lasting impression and inspired me to radically reconsider my professional goals.

While every person’s experience at SPI is unique, most alumni (including me) would enthusiastically recommend the program to others. Ultimately, there’s nothing like learning about the industry in its epicenter locale of New York City, alongside other like-minded bibliophiles and aspiring publishing professionals.”

You can read the full post here: http://publishingtrendsetter.com/industryinsight/spi/#more-1291.

SPI 2011 students attend a seminar on magazine trends.

We’re extremely proud of the professors and students who make the SPI one of the leading intensives for publishing professionals in the country.The application for next year’s SPI will be available in early November and the application deadline is March 26, 2012.

For more information, please visit: http://www.scps.nyu.edu/areas-of-study/publishing/continuing-education/summer-publishing-institute.html

Step Right Up: Publishing Predictions for 2021

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Perseus CEO David Steinberger talks to SPI students.

“The first book published was the Bible,” announced David Steinberger, CEO of the Perseus Books Group. “And the second book was  ‘The Demise of Publishing.’” Laughter ensued as the NYU-SCPS Summer Publishing Institute (SPI) students listened to the final address of the 2011 six-week program. In fact, Steinberger depicted publishing as far from its demise, vibrant and alive with a spirit of adaption and improvement.

Steinberger led students through his own predictions for what publishing will look like in 2021. Despite the ephemeral nature of publishing today, Steinberger—if anyone—is in a great position to forecast future trends for the ever-evolving industry.

Listen up: the future according to Steinberger could become our reality. Here are the Perseus CEO’s predictions: [Read more…] about Step Right Up: Publishing Predictions for 2021

Tips and Thrills: Just a Day in Publishing

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Macmillan CEO John Sargent with students

“You guys are the future of publishing.” The NYU-SCPS Summer Publishing Institute students heard those words recently from John Sargent, CEO of Macmillan Publishing. As classmates headed off to book industry visits at Penguin Group USA, Simon & Schuster, Open Road Integrated Media, and Workman Publishing, my colleagues and I had the opportunity to visit Macmillan’s headquarters in the historic Flatiron Building on Fifth Avenue.

In his office with a balcony overlooking Madison Square Park, Sargent began his talk to the students as if composing a choose-your-own-adventure novel. He offered to address current issues in publishing, describe the history of the company or volunteer career advice. “You choose!” he said. The CEO didn’t seem at all surprised when the students wanted to hear his tips on a career in publishing. [Read more…] about Tips and Thrills: Just a Day in Publishing

Blogging for Love (and Maybe Money)

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Bloggers Sarah Wendell, Jennifer Hart, David Gutowski, Rachel Deahl and Sarah Weinman at NYU's Summer Publishing Institute

“When it comes to social media, I fly by seat-of-your-pants airlines. I have a lot of miles there,” quipped Sarah Wendell, who runs the well-known book blog Smart Bitches, Trashy Books.  Wendell was participating in a blogging panel at the NYU-SCPS Summer Publishing Institute.  The moderator was Sarah Weinman, who created the blog Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind (currently on hiatus) and is now a reporter for Publishers Lunch. Under her deft guidance, the conversation turned to the need to change and adapt to a constantly evolving online landscape. Four bloggers, who came from all corners of the publishing and blogging landscape, were eager to share their thoughts.

When asked how publishers’ relationships to bloggers have changed in the last ten years, Jennifer Hart, Vice President and Associate Publisher of HarperCollins and the creator of the blog Book Club Girl, didn’t hesitate with her answer: “Tremendously!” she said, noting that bloggers are invited to parties, author events and receive galley copies. “Publishers really rely on them to be our word of mouth in the world.” [Read more…] about Blogging for Love (and Maybe Money)

“Ten Things You Might Do to Get a Job” (And More!)

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AAP's Tom Allen addressing SPI students

“You may well have signed up for this summer institute because you want to edit fiction or nonfiction,” Tom Allen, President and CEO of the Association of American Publishers (AAP), told the students in his keynote address at the beginning of the book session of the NYU-SCPS Summer Publishing Institute (SPI). “But in a few weeks, you’ll learn what that [editing] entails,” Allen counseled, and then added:

“You’ll also gain insight into the breath of jobs in this industry in finance, production, rights, marketing, to name a few, that directly affect the success of books. In publishing, it takes a village. It really takes a village. I urge you to be open to the many—what I think will be unexpected—opportunities that you come across that will offer you a fulfilling career within the community of literate, engaged, and interesting people.”

After this brief appeal, Allen then launched into a discussion of the effects of the digitization of books on the publishing industry. When more than half of the SPI attendees told Allen they read on digital devices, it would have been remiss for him not to focus a majority of his talk on this topic.  Still, I wondered, if digital was so important, why would he have urged us to stay open-minded to all the opportunities that the publishing industry affords? As I listened to the panel discussion that followed on the future of book publishing, I had a far better understanding of what Allen meant.  [Read more…] about “Ten Things You Might Do to Get a Job” (And More!)

Indie Closeup: The Paris Review

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Paris Review Editor Lorin Stein at SPI

“I don’t read short stories any more than you do. I don’t read poetry any more than you do.”

These words were surprising coming from Lorin Stein, editor of The Paris Review, which specializes in short stories and poetry. Stein spoke to the NYU-SCPS Summer Publishing Institute (SPI) about independent publishing.

“I started thinking about how to get you and me to read a short story,” Stein said of his first days as editor. “What would that short story look like?” He then referenced n+1, a periodical he said anyone interested in the magazine industry should look at. It comes out three times a year, has no web component and, according to Stein, “shows that young people can write work that spoke more to the readers.”

“I was very inspired and heartened by the example of n+1, in particular by their editorial bravery, their high standards, and their refusal to accept the current state of magazines as a given,” he said. “Why not publish a magazine of long-form criticism? Why not take our own educations seriously? Why not treat our readers as if they were our ideal readers?” [Read more…] about Indie Closeup: The Paris Review

Mag Lab: Carey and Carr Talk Shop

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Carey and Carr at NYU Media Talk

Are “two pizza” teams the future of media? Championing the value of start-up staffs being small enough to share, well, two pizzas, Hearst Magazines President David Carey praised the entrepreneurial spirit at the latest NYU Media Talk. Sponsored by The NYU-SCPS Center for Publishing, “Magazines 2011: The New Conversation” featured Carey and David Carr, Media Columnist for The New York Times, talking about important issues facing the industry. “There’s never been a better time,” Carey began about working in magazines. He described his faith in publishing as a ship that can change course, reroute and stay solvent (with proper leadership) in any tide.

Carey is widely known as an eloquent speaker about media. It was David Carr who had suggested him to Center for Publishing Director Andrea Chambers as perfect for the Media Talk. To be sure, Carey was a timely choice: earlier this month Hearst Magazines completed their $900 million acquisition of Hachette Lagardère, acquiring nearly 100 magazine titles in 14 countries, including Elle, Elle Décor, Woman’s Day, Road & Track, and Car & Driver. The merger is a bold gesture that now makes Hearst the largest publisher of monthly magazines internationally, and a dominant player in all sectors of lifestyle publishing. Carey addressed the importance of emerging markets for publishing  such as those in China and India) and commented that Hearst’s aim is to have a heightened presence in those climates, meeting the growing demands for consumer goods and Western culture. Next up for Cosmopolitan, noted Carey, was a possible move into Mongolia, though the magazine “takes a different tone” in such climates. [Read more…] about Mag Lab: Carey and Carr Talk Shop

When Gossip is News

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Blogger Evan Oare on Gawker Media's rooftop patio

“You can’t be afraid to have people hate you,” Jessica Coen, editor-in-chief of Jezebel, coolly told the group of NYU-SCPS Summer Publishing Institute (SPI) students as we sat in a meeting room at Gawker Media headquarters. At the same time, other SPI students were off visiting magazines like Women’s Health, The Food Network Magazine, Marie Claire, and Time Out New York.  Our group couldn’t resist signing up to tour this edgy digital media company.

Coen’s  bold statement aligns with what most people associate with the gossip blog Gawker. Want to know which politician is cheating on his wife? Check out what’s on Gawker. Want to know which tween star is partying too hard? Refer to Gawker. Anything that you might be embarrassed to read in front of your parents can likely be found on Gawker. Breaking a scandalous story before traditional media outlets do so is Gawker’s trademark, which is reflected perfectly in their tagline: “Today’s gossip is tomorrow’s news.” [Read more…] about When Gossip is News

Magazine Brand-Building: DOs and DON’Ts

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Cindi Leive, Editor-in-Chief of Glamour, speaking at NYU's Summer Publishing Institute

“One of our readers actually broke her toe when she dropped our [September 2010] issue!” It was the biggest issue in twenty years, explained Cindi Leive, Editor-in-Chief of Glamour. “So, we sent the reader a Zappos gift certificate to expedite her healing process.”

This humorous anecdote was just one of many wonderful moments during the keynote speech kicking off the magazine session of The Summer Publishing Institute at NYU’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies. Leive and William Wackermann, EVP & Group Publisher of Glamour, Details, W, and Bon Appétit, assured the 103 recent college graduates attending 33rd annual  Summer Publishing Institute that print is still the main source of revenue, though brand extensions such as partnerships, conferences, events and, of course, tablet editions and apps all build the bottom line.  While speaking about a partnership that Glamour.com built with www.match.com, Wackermann  exclaimed: “Single ladies, make sure you get to Glamour!” The students chuckled, and the editor and publisher continued speaking about how they have successfully turned Glamour into a multi-platform brand. [Read more…] about Magazine Brand-Building: DOs and DON’Ts