Publishing : Overview

The industry in a nutshell

The publishing industry in the UK is vast. It produces printed and digital information for individuals and businesses. This information can come in the form of books, magazines, journals, newspapers, databases, directories and electronic media.

The general or consumer book sector provides mass-market paperbacks, adult fiction and non-fiction, children’s books, audio books, illustrated or reference books.

The sector has some areas of decline and some growth areas. The internet and other digital channels have altered the landscape of much of the industry.

For graduates, industry knowledge, training and work experience are key to finding work in the publishing industry.

What kind of work can I do?

There are many kinds of work within publishing companies. Each company usually has a department which is responsible for a specific process. Areas of work can therefore be technical, creative or administrative.

For example, in book publishing, work is available in:

• administration (including IT and finance);
• contracts and rights (legal) - typically this will involve negotiating copyright and licensing agreements and contracts between authors, publishers and broadcasters;
• distribution and sales;
• editorial - commissioning authors and writers, copy-editing, proofreading; responsible for overall content of the finished product;
• marketing and publicity - including PR, events and promotions;
• production and design - ensuring the product is produced on time and within budget; responsibility for the visual look of the book, magazine or journal.

Magazines and journals may also have work in:

• circulation and subscriptions;
• advertising - a crucial source of revenue.

Newspapers and magazines consist of departments that are broadly similar to those in book publishing. The major difference is that book publishers buy content from authors, whereas newspapers and magazines will mainly employ journalists in-house to write articles.

News agencies supply articles to magazines and newspapers and will employ writers, photographers and editorial staff.

What’s it like working in this industry?

• Working culture within the larger publishing companies is generally sociable and relaxed. However, there is often a constant pressure from deadlines, so certain days can be much busier than others.
• The workforce in this industry is slightly younger than most other industries.
• Working conditions are generally good, but a high level of commitment is expected and the hours may be long with relatively low financial reward.
• People working within the publishing industry tend to be driven by a passion for the product.
• The working environment can be very competitive.
• The industry is fast-moving, challenging and exciting and can be extremely rewarding for those with the determination to succeed.

How big is this industry?

• There are over 164,000 people working in the UK publishing industry.
• This represents 0.6% of the overall working population (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills).
• The UK publishing industry is the second largest in Europe.
• There are over 8,000 publishing companies operating within the UK.
• The industry generates over £8billion GVA (Gross Value Added) (Skillset, 2009).
• Most publishing companies are small and have less than 24 employees. However, the major companies employ over half of those working within the entire industry.

Where can I work?

Over 45% of the UK magazines, major newspapers and other publishing companies are located in London and the South East of England. The North West area is the next largest employer followed by Scotland, the South West and the West Midlands. Opportunities are available throughout the UK and web searches and trade fairs can give you an idea of companies in other regions.

There is the opportunity to be self-employed and perhaps work from home; over 15% of employees in the publishing industry work as a freelancer or sole trader.

See opportunities abroad for jobs available worldwide.