Columbia Publishing Course - Columbia University Graduate ...

Columbia
Publishing
Course
formerly the Radcliffe Publishing Course
For Information
Lindy Hess, Director
Susan Caplan, Assistant Director
The Graduate School of Journalism
Columbia University
2950 Broadway, MC 3801
New York, NY 10027
Tel. 212-854-1898
E-mail: publishing@jrn.columbia.edu
www.journalism.columbia.edu/publishing
The Columbia Publishing Course does not discriminate
among applicants or students on the basis of race, religion,
age, gender, sexual orientation, national origin,
color, or handicap.
Columbia
Publishing
Course
A Professional
Experience in
the Business
of Publishing
June 17 – July 27, 2012
Columbia University
Graduate School of Journalism
New York City

Columbia
Publishing
Course
Careers in publishing have always attracted
people with talent and energy. Those with a love
of literature and language, a respect for the written
word, an inquiring mind, and a healthy imagination are
naturally drawn to an industry that creates, informs,
and entertains. For many, publishing is more than a
business; it is a vocation that constantly challenges and
continuously educates. For people who have always
worked on school publications, spent hours browsing
in bookstores, or subscribed to too many magazines,
choosing a career in publishing is a logical means to
combine personal and professional interests.
The Publishing Course was originally founded in 1947
at Radcliffe College in Cambridge where it thrived as the
Radcliffe Publishing Course. In 2001, the course moved
to Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.
New York City is the heart of American publishing and
the Publishing Course has taken every advantage of its
new location while building on its strong legacy.
For over sixty years, the Publishing Course has
provided an intensive introduction to all aspects of
book and magazine publishing as well as digital media,
from evaluations of original manuscripts to the sales
and marketing of finished products. Students learn
from writers, editors, publishers, design directors and
illustrators, advertising experts, and publicists—all are
leaders in the industry and many are course graduates.
More than 100 publishing professionals come to the
Publishing Course each summer to describe the nature of
their work, conduct workshops and seminars, and answer
questions in classroom discussions and informal sessions.
The curriculum is very intensive. Students learn
about publishing through a rigorous schedule of
lectures, seminars, and workshops, and by completing
professionally evaluated assignments. By spending time
with speakers at meals and in late-night discussions,
working on assignments after class, and living with likeminded
colleagues for six weeks, students take part in
a total-immersion program that cannot be duplicated
by a series of part-time courses. In the process, students
discover a capacity to assimilate and produce more than
they imagined possible.
The Publishing Course provides a comparison of
book, magazine, and new media publishing which
< Hachette’s
Chairman & CEO
David Young with
students after his
keynote speech.
x Elle’s Robbie Myers
helps students determine
their career preferences.
During the first weeks, the
course concentrates on book
publishing, from manuscript
to bound book, from bookstore
sale to movie deal. Students
study every element of the
process: manuscript evaluation,
agenting, editing, design, production, publicity, sales,
e-books, and marketing. Students also learn about
different types of publishing houses, publishing
strategies, and career paths. The class then divides into
smaller groups for a seven-day book workshop. Each
workshop group simulates the operation of a publishing
house, giving students a chance to apply what they’ve
learned and to gain hands-on experience in a particular
area of book publishing.
The second section of the course is devoted
to magazines and new media. Magazine and web
professionals lecture on every facet of magazine and
website publication, from planning, writing, and design to
marketing, promotion, and distribution. Through lectures
and regular assignments, students learn what it takes to
publish a successful magazine and launch a profitable
website. During the magazine and online workshop,
student groups develop proposals for new magazines or
websites, researching possible audiences, establishing
editorial mission statements, designing layouts and
wireframes, assessing competitors, determining potential
advertisers, and developing a web strategy. By the
end of the six weeks, course graduates have a greater
understanding of book, magazine, and new media
publishing than many people now working in the field.
The final week of the Publishing Course continues to
focus on new media as well as career planning. Lectures by
top online professionals give a broad exposure to writing
and editing for the web. Individual and group career
guidance sessions are offered throughout the course.

New York City
The New York City publishing community continues
to welcome students of the course to various special
events. In the final week of the Publishing Course,
students had the opportunity to spend a day at
HarperCollins meeting with editors and executives in
various departments. This year students also visited
Scholastic Books and Newsweek/The Daily Beast. In past
years RollingStone, Condé Nast, and Random House have
also welcomed our students. The week following the
course there is an annual reception for recent graduates
and alumni at Christopher Cerf’s home.
The Columbia Publishing Course provides an
unparalleled overview of the entire publishing process,
teaches basic publishing skills, and offers students the
opportunity to meet and learn from top publishing
professionals.
Course Faculty
The instructors and lecturers, drawn from all areas
of the publishing industry, are recognized as experts in
their fields. Many speakers are course regulars; others
are invited to speak because they are setting trends
or challenging traditional methods. Faculty members
represent publishing’s diversity; some are executives
in multinational conglomerates, others are successful
entrepreneurs, some work for nonprofit organizations,
others strive to reach specialized markets. The detailed
list of the 2011 faculty is representative of the high
caliber of instructors each year.
Editing Seminars
Short seminars are held during the course to
teach the fundamentals of manuscript evaluation
and magazine editing. For the manuscript evaluation
seminar, each student reads an unpublished manuscript
and writes a reader’s report recommending whether
or not to publish. Students meet in small groups with
editors to discuss the editing process and methods
of manuscript evaluation. In the magazine editing
seminar, students edit an article about to be published
in a national magazine. Seminar sessions focus on
developing effective leads, as well as editing for length
and clarity.
Workshops
Students apply what they’ve learned in lectures
during two hands-on workshops. These week-long
workshops are intensive, collaborative simulations that
require interaction with writers, agents, illustrators,
and advertisers. Based on their particular areas of
interest, students are assigned to one of ten workshop
groups and have specific job responsibilities. Teams
of carefully selected mentors work with each group,
facilitating discussion and providing guidance and
professional advice.
Students have access to a computer lab equipped
with custom software models for financial projections
and sophisticated design software. At the end of each
workshop, top publishing leaders carefully evaluate every
group’s proposal, giving constructive criticism and real
world feedback. These workshops equip students with
the practical knowledge, experience, and confidence
needed to succeed in their careers.
Book Workshop
During the book workshop each student group forms
a publishing company that develops six potential titles
for publication. Students are responsible for determining
the company’s editorial mission, evaluating book ideas
and manuscripts, and contacting authors and agents.
Students create marketing, publicity, and subsidiary
rights plans for each book and present their titles to the
class at a simulated rights auction. They design book
jackets, set production specs, and use computer models
to create financial projections for each title and for the
publishing house as a whole.
Magazine and Digital Media
Workshop
For the magazine and digital media workshop, student
groups develop original concepts for new magazines
or websites. Each team finds underserved audiences,
evaluates competitive titles and sites, and shapes the
content and editorial voice of their magazine or site.
They research story ideas and writers and determine
regular features and departments. Students target
advertisers, propose circulation or web audience
development and promotion strategies, and set budgets.
Designers create layouts that complement editorial
content. The final results capture the look, feel, and tone
of each magazine or website and include detailed longterm
business plans.

Vanessa Mobley Brendan Curry Carolyn Pittis Chris Jackson Evan Schnittman Niko Pfund Geoff Kloske Marysue Rucci Sarah Touborg Dawn Davis
2011 Book Program
Book Publishing: A 21st Century Career
David Young, Chairman & CEO, Hachette Book Group
The Digital Future
Madeline McIntosh, President of Sales, Operations & Digital,
Random House
My Life as an Editor
Robert Gottlieb, Editor-at-Large, Alfred A. Knopf, Random House
Agents’ Panel
Doug Stewart, Literary Agent, Sterling Lord Literistic
Amy Williams, Literary Agent, McCormick & Williams
Children’s Books
Brenda Bowen, Literary Agent, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates
Young Adult Publishing
Megan Tingley, Senior Vice President & Publisher, Little, Brown Books
for Young Readers, Hachette
Marketing and E-Marketing
John Fagan, VP Director of Marketing, Penguin
Paul Lamb, Associate Marketing Manager, Penguin
A Digital Vision: The Future from Black Plastic Glasses
Evan Schnittman, Managing Director Group Sales and Marketing,
Print and Digital, Bloomsbury Publishing
Textbooks
Sarah Touborg, Editor-in-Chief, The Arts, Pearson Education/
Prentice Hall
Billy Grieco, Acquisitions Editor, Art & Humanities, Pearson Education
Launching an Imprint
William Shinker, President & Publisher, Gotham Books, Avery, &
Viking Studio, Penguin
Book Ideas/Life as an Editor
Eric Chinski, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief, Farrar, Straus and
Giroux
Jordan Pavlin, Vice President and Senior Editor, Alfred A. Knopf,
Random House
How Do We Make Money at This?
Peter De Giglio, CFO, Bloomsbury
Digital Strategies
Carolyn Pittis, SVP, Global Author Services, HarperCollins
Reinventing the Reading Experience: From Print to Digital
Nicholas Callaway, CEO & Chairman, Callaway Digital Arts
Academic Publishing
Niko Pfund, Vice President & Publisher, Oxford University Press
Publicity
Kate Lloyd, Publicity Manager, Scribner, Simon & Schuster
Independent Publishing
Morgan Entrekin, Publisher and President, Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
Subsidiary Rights
Kendra Poster, Rights Director, Workman Publishing
Contracts, Agenting, and Rock ‘n’ Roll
Ed Victor, Director, Ed Victor Ltd.
Book Jackets
Chip Kidd, Associate Art Director & Editor-at-Large, Alfred A. Knopf,
Random House
Small Press Publishing
Dan Simon, Publisher, Seven Stories Press
Book Editorial Seminar
Helen Atsma, Senior Editor, Grand Central Publishing, Hachette
Millicent Bennett, Senior Editor, Free Press, Simon & Schuster
Brendan Curry, Senior Editor, W. W. Norton
Kendra Harpster, Senior Editor, Random House
Christopher Jackson, Executive Editor, Spiegel & Grau, Random House
Geoffrey Kloske, Vice President & Publisher, Riverhead, Penguin
Vanessa Mobley, Senior Editor, Crown, Random House
Marysue Rucci, VP & Editorial Director, Putnam, Penguin
The Making of a Bestseller
Noah Eaker, Senior Editor, Dial Press, Random House
Seth Fishman, Literary Agent, The Gernert Co.
Susan Kamil, Publisher, Dial Press & Random House
Jynne Martin, Associate Director of Publicity, Random House
Téa Obreht, Author, The Tiger’s Wife
Book Sellers
Sessalee Hensley, Fiction Buyer, Barnes & Noble, Inc
Digital Publishing Panel
Brendan Cahill, Vice President & Publisher, Open Road Integrated
Media
Evan Ratliff, Co-Founder & Editor, Atavist.net
Michael Solomon, Executive Editor, Byliner.com
Book Workshop Instructors
Lisa Adams, Director, The Garamond Agency
Shaye Areheart, Publishing Consultant
Julie Cepler, Associate Marketing Director, Crown & Hogarth,
Random House
Doe Coover, Owner, The Doe Coover Agency
Erin Curler, Director of Print-on-Demand and Self-Publishing,
McNally Jackson Books
Sara Eisenman, Freelance Book & Jacket Designer
Susan Ferber, Executive Editor, Oxford University Press
Christopher Franceschelli, President & Publisher, Handprint &
SmartInk Books
Christina Harcar, Director, Editorial Development, Audible.com
Gerry Helferich, Publishing Consultant
Cathy D. Hemming, Literary Agent, Cathy D. Hemming
Literary Agency
Anna Knutson, Freelance Reader & Editor
David Miller, SVP & Publisher, Island Press
Teresa Nicholas, Freelance Writer and Publishing Consultant
Rachel Rokicki, Publicity Manager, Crown, Random House
Julie Romeis, Editor, Chronicle Books
Krystyna Skalski, Freelance Designer
Paul Von Drasek, Trade Sales Manager, Capstone Publishers
Jason Wells, Executive Director of Children’s Publicity and Marketing,
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
Book Workshop Evaluators
Donna Bray, Co-Publisher, Balzer + Bray, HarperCollins
Sarah Crichton, Publisher, Sarah Crichton Books, FSG
Dawn Davis, VP & Publisher (Amistad) & Exec. Editor (Ecco),
HarperCollins
Jennifer Hershey, Senior VP & Editor-in-Chief, Ballantine Bantam Dell,
Random House

Sarah Gray Miller Luke Hayman Will Dana Michael Solomon Julia Turner Evan Ratliff Brandon Holley Jessica Kleiman Lorin Stein Chris Knutsen
Elizabeth Law, VP & Publisher, Egmont
Bruce Nichols, SVP & Publisher, Adult Trade, Houghton Mifflin
Harcourt
Amber Qureshi, Executive Editor, Viking, Penguin
William Shinker, President & Publisher, Gotham Books, Avery, &
Viking Studio, Penguin
Brian Tart, President & Publisher, Dutton, Penguin
Eric Zinner, Assistant Director & Editor-in-Chief,
New York University Press
2011 Magazine &
Digital Media Program
The Future of Magazines
Peter Kaplan, Editorial Director, Fairchild Fashion Group
The Publisher
Vicki Wellington, VP & Publisher, Food Network Magazine
Digital Magazines and Apps
Scott Dadich, Vice President of Digital Magazine Development,
Condé Nast
Wyatt Mitchell, Design Director, Editorial Development Group,
Condé Nast
Newsweek/The Daily Beast
Tina Brown, Editor-in-Chief, Newsweek & The Daily Beast
Magazine Editorial Seminar
Lea Goldman, Deputy Editor, Marie Claire
Chris Knutsen, Senior Editor, Vogue
Corby Kummer, Senior Editor, The Atlantic Monthly
Cori Murray, Entertainment Director, Essence
Doug Stumpf, Executive Editor, Vanity Fair
Carl Swanson, Editor-at-Large/Acting Culture Editor, New York
Molly Triffin, Features Director, Cosmopolitan
Julia Turner, Deputy Editor, Slate.com
Design
Luke Hayman, Partner, Pentagram
The Editor
Robbie Myers, Editor-in-Chief/Brand Consultant, Elle
Editorial Visions
Will Dana, Managing Editor, RollingStone
Sarah Gray Miller, Editor-in-Chief, Country Living
Publicity
Alexandra Carlin, Executive Director, Public Relations,
Hearst Magazines
Jessica Kleiman, VP, Public Relations, Hearst Magazines
Marisa Ollins, Associate Director, Public Relations, Hearst Magazines
Rodale Goes Digital
Steve Madden, VP of Creative Services & Digital Product Development,
Rodale, Inc.
From Zine to Paper Magazine
Mickey Boardman, Editorial Director, Paper
Direct Mail
Elaine Tyson, President, Tyson Associates, Inc.
Circulation
Richard Fontaine, SVP, Consumer Marketing,
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia
The Paris Review
Lorin Stein, Editor, The Paris Review
The App Lab
Chris Wilkes, VP, Digital Editions, Hearst Magazines
Bloggers
Alex Leo, Product Manager, Reuters.com
Chris Rovzar, Senior Online Editor, NYmag.com
Choire Sicha, Co-Founder, TheAwl.com
Sadie Stein, Contributing Editor, TheParisReview.org
Social Networking
Brandon Holley, Editor-in-Chief, Lucky
Magazine Ideas
Chris Kimball, President & Publisher, Boston Common Press
Life at The New Yorker
Dorothy Wickenden, Executive Editor, The New Yorker
Publishing Across Platforms
Christopher Cerf, President, Christopher Cerf Associates
& Sirius Thinking
Magazine & Digital Media
Workshop Instructors
Vince Bailey, Regional Manufacturing Manager, Time Inc.
Regina Buckley, Vice President of Finance, Time Inc. Style &
Entertainment Group
Lisa Chase, Contributing Editor, Elle
Byron Freney, Brand Strategy & Communications Consultant
Amy Goldwasser, Editorial Consultant
Matt Haber, Freelance Writer and Editor
Gail Horwood, VP, Digital Strategy & E-Commerce, Johnson & Johnson
Doug Johnston, Owner, Midway Communications
Mike Kelly, Creative Director, Hudson Union
Josh Klenert, Creative Director/VP, Clear Channel Radio—Digital
James Reyman, Founder, Reyman Studio
Sam Schulman, Senior Advisor, The Heartland Institute
Susan Segrest, Freelance Editor & Writer
Michael Solomon, Executive Editor, Byliner.com
Susan Soriano, Strategic Communications Executive
Phil Whitney, Vice President of Online Media,
American Express Publishing
Magazine & Digital Media
Workshop Evaluators
Bryan Curtis, National Correspondent, Newsweek/The Daily Beast
Richard Fontaine, SVP, Consumer Marketing,
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia
Brian Kroski, Chief Digital Officer, YourTango.com
Sara Nelson, Books Director, O, The Oprah Magazine
Frances Reilly, Publishing Consultant, Reilly Emerging Media
Shelley Ridenour, Executive Editor, Country Living
Jennifer Romolini, Editor-in-Chief, Yahoo! Shine
Carol Smith, VP, Publisher, & Chief Revenue Officer, Harper’s Bazaar
Lauren Stanich, Media and E–Commerce Consultant
Cyndi Stivers, Digital Media Consultant & Adjunct Faculty,
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism

y Author Teá Obreht
(second from right) and
her publishing team
> Publisher & President of
Grove/Atlantic Morgan
Entrekin
Career Planning and
Placement
Over the years, publishers have come to
recognize the advantages of hiring applicants who
possess the skills and knowledge gained at the
Columbia Publishing Course. The percentage of course
graduates placed in publishing jobs each year is excellent.
A career fair is held in New York the week after the
course ends. Representatives from a wide range of book,
magazine, and new media publishing companies meet
with graduates to discuss employment opportunities. At
a reception honoring the class, students are introduced
to publishing professionals working in New York City
and have a chance to connect with the courses’ active
alumni network.
During the course every effort is made to prepare
students for entry into the job market. Workshops are
held on resume and cover letter writing. Students meet
with course staff throughout the program to discuss
career plans, interests, and goals. Faculty members are
also valuable resources for those seeking information and
advice. Recent graduates often visit the course to share
their job-seeking experiences as well as their impressions
of entry-level positions.
While students are not guaranteed job placement, the
course offers extensive career placement and support
services. New job listings are posted frequently during
the program and are available throughout the year. The
extensive network of course graduates provides students
with access to individual companies and publications as
well as information about specific openings and general
employment opportunities.
2011 Career Resources
< Peter Kaplan,
Editorial Director
of Fairchild Fashion
Group, spoke about
the history and future
of magazines.
x Nicholas Callaway,
CEO & Chairman of
Callaway Digital Arts,
showcases an app.
Extreme Professional Makeover
Ellen Reeves, Author, Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview?
Alumni Panel
Lucie Alig, Production Assistant, Callaway Digital Arts
Mally Anderson, Editorial Assistant, The Penguin Press
Alexandra Crowley Gottlieb, Sales Associate, WIRED
Gabriella Doob, Editorial Assistant, Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Kathleen Hou, Associate Editor, G+, The Gerson Lehrman Group
Manuela Jessel, Literary Agency Assistant & Office Manager, Sarah
Lazin Books
Kaela Myers, Editorial Assistant, Random House
Alex Nagorski, Executive Assistant (Publicity), DC Comics
Nora O’Malley, Publicity Assistant, Crown, Random House
Lauren Piro, Editorial Assistant, Ladies’ Home Journal
Danielle Post, Assistant, Penguin Speakers Bureau & Content
Development
Adam Risman, Assistant Editor, Time Inc. Content Solutions

y Tina Brown of
Newsweek & The Daily
Beast with a student
> The Paris Review
blogger Sadie Stein
Kelly Stout, Editorial Assistant & Editorial Digital Projects Coordinator,
The New Yorker
Hayley Wagreich, Editorial Assistant, Disney Hyperion Books
(Children’s)
Who Should Apply
The course is aimed primarily at recent college
graduates but other applicants are not discouraged.
Many students have worked in publishing briefly
and would like to broaden their understanding of the
field or have decided to make a career change from an
unrelated field.
The choice of college major is incidental to
acceptance, but applicants must have successfully
completed all requirements for a BA or BS degree by
June, 2012. Publishing is by no means restricted to the
editorial function. While most applicants have majored
in English and the humanities, many have majored in
other disciplines, particularly art, economics, business,
law, music, and the sciences.
Students with a demonstrated interest in publishing
have always gained the most from the course. Those
who have held publishing internships or worked on
high school or college publications are familiar with
publishing’s long hours and constant deadline pressure.
< Executive Editor of
The New Yorker
Dorothy Wickenden
x Wyatt Mitchell and Scott
Dadich of Condé Nast’s
digital development group
answer students’ questions.
Those with bookstore, library, or office experience have
skills and insights that publishers find valuable. Many
types of interests, work, or volunteer experiences can
be considered related to publishing. Photography,
graphic arts, sales, or marketing experience can be
good training.
Because of other available educational opportunities,
the course does not emphasize instruction in journalism
or creative writing. Applicants with writing experience
who seek new ways to apply their skills within the
world of publishing—as editors, publicists, designers,
marketing and business managers, or publishers—are
encouraged to apply.
Applicants should note that the Columbia Publishing
Course is a highly intensive six-week session, with
students expected to attend classes and workshops
every morning, afternoon, and evening, as well as many
weekends. As a result, students can expect little free time
during the course.

Applications
y VP & Publisher of
Food Network Magazine
Vicki Wellington
> Executive Editor at
Viking, Penguin
Amber Qureshi
< Director Lindy Hess,
Columbia Publishing
Course
Applications are accepted any time after
December 1, 2011. The following items must
be postmarked by Monday, March 19, 2012, to
complete the application process:
1. A completed application form
2. $50.00 application fee (payable by check or wire
transfer only)
3. A two-page personal statement and a short answer
response (suggested topics are listed on the
application form)
4. Two letters of recommendation from employers or
professors
5. A certified college transcript listing degree date or
projected degree date
Interviews are not required but are conducted at the
career services offices of several colleges during the first
half of the spring semester; graduating seniors should
check with their career counselors to determine whether
a visit to campus is planned.
Applicants will be notified of admissions decisions on
or before April 16, 2012. Those accepted are required to
make a $1,000.00 non-refundable deposit by May 4 to
guarantee enrollment.
Advance Assignments
In preparation for the program, all students must
complete advance reading and assignments. These
assignments cover many of the topics to be discussed in
lectures and are evaluated by publishing professionals.
They are short, practical, and require students to perform
tasks related to the publishing process.
Fees
> Madeline McIntosh
spoke about the
business model
for e-books.
x Editors Jordan
Pavlin and
Eric Chinski
evaluated students’
book ideas.
Tuition & Workshops ........ $4,700
Room ................................. $1,850
Board ................................. $ 886
The mandatory board plan includes breakfast, lunch,
and dinner on weekdays. Students living off campus will
be assessed an $886 fee for the mandatory board plan.
Limited financial aid is available. Aid applications
can be downloaded from our website and must be
postmarked by March 19, 2012. Applications are evaluated
by the scholarship committee and notification of
financial aid decisions will be mailed after acceptance.
Due to the short length of this course, federally
funded financial aid is not available. If you require
financial assistance, we suggest you explore direct-toconsumer
private loans in addition to applying for the
course’s modest financial aid fund.
International students please note: because of the
added expense of mailing materials abroad, admitted
international students will be charged an additional
$150.00 to cover mailing costs.
ART DIRECTION: REYMAN STUDIO