UNIVERSITY PRESS OF FLORIDA INTERNSHIP
You don’t have to go to New York to learn about publishing. The University Press of Florida is always looking for bright minds eager to learn about the field. The official publisher for the State University System, the University Press of Florida (UPF) has published over 2,500 volumes since its inception in 1945 and currently releases 90 new titles each year. Previous interns have gone on to work for academic and commercial publishing houses across the country.
Students who intern with UPF will learn the publishing business from the ground up, from being part of the acquisition of new works for publication to ensuring the manuscripts are edited and designed properly to helping the books find their ways into the hands of readers. Candidates should have a strong interest in publishing as a career. Excellent oral and written communication skills and organizational abilities are essential.
Internship opportunities are available in the departments listed below. Potential applicants should identify which department is the best fit for their interests and skills. Although candidates should apply to only one department per semester, interns with an interest in other departments will have opportunities to become familiar with them.
If you would like to be notified when internship opportunities are available, sign up here.
Acquisitions
The acquisitions department brings projects to the press by attending conferences, reviewing proposals, and soliciting manuscripts. They consider many factors when deciding whether to publish a book, including subject, quality, and marketability of the work. Acquisitions editors work directly with authors to develop manuscripts and guide projects through peer review. They bring projects to the editorial board for approval, negotiate contract terms with authors, and transmit projects to editorial.
Intern duties include sending form letters, maintaining the database, filing, and securing peer reviewers for manuscripts. Past interns have read and evaluated proposals and manuscripts, corresponded directly with authors, and assisted in the art direction of books.
Editorial, Design, and Production
The EDP department oversees the progression from acquired manuscript to bound book. The department staff manages the copyediting process, design and typesetting, proofreading, indexing, e-book creation, and printing. Fine attention to detail is a must as the EDP staff is responsible for the quality of all books that come out of the press.
Intern duties include copyediting, proofreading, following different style manuals, completing final checks on text and covers, and performing other clerical tasks. Successful candidates will have strong language skills and be extremely detail oriented. Prior editing experience and familiarity with Microsoft Word, InCopy, and InDesign are preferable.
Marketing
The marketing department spreads the word about UPF books to readers everywhere. This department is responsible for finding, growing, and interacting with an audience for all books published by the press. They have the most direct interaction with the public.
Intern duties include writing and proofreading press releases and other promotional copy, researching sales and marketing leads, maintaining UPF’s author event calendar, creating direct mail pieces, assisting with UPF’s email marketing program, planning and implementing social media campaigns (using Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Wordpress), and assorted clerical duties.
Marketing Design
The marketing design intern assists with designing promotional materials for UPF in a manner consistent with the UPF brand. The intern helps with the design of advertisements, posters, postcards, brochures, booklets, catalogs, flyers, email newsletters, social media content, and other projects for the sales and marketing department. This position also includes clerical work, such as tracking reserved advertisement space; researching rates; processing art; and general communications with UPF authors, outside vendors, sales and marketing staff, and staff in other departments at UPF. A portfolio is strongly preferred; please submit if available.