Internship Opportunities

Wayne State University Press offers two internship opportunities for those interested in publishing: a combined internship in Acquisitions and Editorial, Design, and Production and one in Sales and Marketing.

As an intern with the Acquisitions and Editorial, Design, and Production departments, interns learn about all the pieces that go together to create scholarly books. As an intern with the Marketing Department, interns learn about the steps presses take to sell and promote books.

Our internships are unpaid and are offered throughout the year. If you are a student, your department might offer you credit for an internship with us. We are happy to work with your institution. Many of our interns are students, but being enrolled in school is not a requirement. We ask for a commitment of twenty hours per week and will work with you to accommodate your schedule. We are also willing to consider two-semester internships.

Our interns have gone on to summer publishing programs and to jobs with other university presses. The value of an internship is not only the hands-on experience but also the opportunity to show a potential employer that you are committed to publishing.

Our interns do real, hands-on work and are expected to take the initiative in their own learning. These are some of the duties:

Acquisitions and Editorial, Design, and Production

• Attend department and staff meetings, if schedule allows
• Track information through spreadsheets and presswide database
• Correspond with authors and reviewers
• Assist with review and approval process
• Prepare projects for copyediting and design
• Review sample edits from copyeditors
• Review page proof and edit indexes

Marketing and Sales

• Attend department and staff meetings, if schedule allows
• Write press releases and design flyers
• Assist with direct mail promotions
• Research awards and exhibits information
• Correspond with authors
• Provide clerical support
• Send materials to sales representatives of Wayne State University Press books

The next availability for internships with Wayne State University Press is January 2009.

2009 internship deadlines

Winter internship: January-May
Apply by September 15. We will let you know our decision by October 13.

Summer internship: May-August
Apply by December 1. We will let you know our decision by January 5.

Fall internship: September-December
Apply by April 1. We will let you know our decision by May 1.

Application materials should be sent by email and must include a current resume and a cover letter discussing your interest in an internship with Wayne State University Press. In your letter please tell us what department you would like to work with and what you hope to learn. We don't expect you to have a career plan laid out, and we don't expect you to have experience in or extensive knowledge about publishing. We do expect your letter to be clearly written and to show why you want to intern at Wayne State University Press.

Depending on the number of applicants, we might choose to interview individuals or to ask for additional writing samples. We work with only two interns per semester.

To apply

For a combined internship in Acquisitions and Editorial, Design, and Production, contact Kristin Harpster Lawrence at khlawrence@wayne.edu. For an internship in Sales and Marketing, contact Margaret Erdman at margaret.erdman@wayne.edu

For general information about our internships, please contact Kristin Harpster Lawrence at khlawrence@wayne.edu

Paid Employment

When available, staff positions at the Press are listed on the University’s online hiring page—search by Department H5201—University Press.