Careers

Staff Opportunities

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Student Internships

The University of South Carolina Press undergraduate internship is eligible for class credit (pending approval by an academic advisor) and is paid, thanks to generous donors who have made this possible. Through this paid publishing internship, we aim to make our unique educational experience accessible to all USC undergraduate students.

Each intern will earn a stipend of $1,000 over the course of their semester with the Press. The internship lasts approximately 14 weeks, and interns typically work 10 hours per week. Each internship offers exposure to and potential integration with other USC Press departments. Interns will gain insight into the publishing process through varied learning opportunities tailored to their specific interests.

We look forward to having you on our team! See below for application instructions.

Acquisitions Internship

Acquisitions interns work with USC Press acquisitions editors—the staff members who evaluate and solicit book proposals, edit manuscripts, and shepherd projects into production. Interns will hone their writing, research, media literacy, and scholarly communication skills. They will learn the steps a book takes from proposal to production and will have a hand in the process for multiple USC Press titles. The details of interns’ work will vary depending on their interests and the acquisitions calendar.

The acquisitions intern will:

  • Prepare manuscripts for transmittal to the editorial department
  • Read and report on book proposals
  • Record proposals in the Press's book database
  • Research and identify potential authors and peer reviewers
  • Compile and update metadata
  • Create committee memos and presentation materials for upcoming books
  • Review text and image permissions
  • Attend departmental and Press-wide meetings
  • Participate in professional development activities with other interns
  • Proofread books and other documents
  • Assist with administrative tasks

Marketing Internship

Interning in the Marketing, Publicity, and Sales department of USC Press offers the unique experience of learning how the marketing side of academic publishing functions. Our goal is to teach interns the importance of audience awareness, as marketing is a public-facing department. We communicate directly with readers, interviewers, endorsers, authors, and reviewers, and it’s essential to understand the language necessary for each conversation. Interns will also gain experience working in a collaborative office environment. In a small department, we rely heavily on one another, and each member of the team plays a vital role. We are in constant communication with each other and with other departments to ensure the daily and weekly tasks of each publishing season are completed on schedule. Interpersonal communication skills are a necessity for any career, and we aim to provide valuable tools that will serve interns long after their time with us.

The marketing intern will:

  • Create review copy mailing lists
  • Attend marketing meetings
  • Maintain the pitch list
  • Process reviews received
  • Update the content database
  • Create press releases
  • Build custom publicity outreach pitch lists
  • Add contributors to metadata for edited collections
  • Draft email pitches and pitch letters
  • Collaborate on social media (copywriting/graphic design, depending on intern interest)
  • Participate in professional development activities with other interns

Publishing Internship

The Publishing Intern supports our Rights and Contracts Coordinator, who drafts contracts with authors, ensures each book we publish is registered with the U.S. Copyright Office and the Library of Congress, and pursues licensing opportunities (e.g., with audiobook companies and foreign publishers) to bring our books to new audiences both within and beyond the South.

The publishing intern will:

  • Monitor the submissions inbox and review incoming book proposals
  • Create first drafts of contracts for books in development and help maintain the Press’s contract files
  • Record basic contract terms and copyright details in the Press’s title management database
  • Prepare orders for author and office copies of newly published books
  • Complete applications to register new books with the U.S. Copyright Office
  • Review text and image permissions for books slated to be reprinted
  • Proofread catalogs, rights guides, and other materials to be used for pitching books
  • Read at least two unpublished books and write reader’s reports
  • Assist with administrative tasks
  • Attend departmental and Press-wide meetings
  • Participate in professional development activities

How to Apply

Internship opportunities are available during fall, spring, and summer semesters and are posted on Handshake during the preceding semester. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn for application announcements. Applicants are encouraged to apply via Handshake but may also submit their cover letter, résumé, and writing sample via email to Jolie Hale, publishing assistant, at halejm@mailbox.sc.edu.

What is a writing sample and why do we want one?

A writing sample can be many things, and its primary function is to show off your writing and communication skills. At the University of South Carolina Press, we ask intern applicants to submit a writing sample to give us insight into their skills and interests. Your writing sample can be from a course assignment, a previous internship, a personal book review, or relevant club/volunteer experience.

For the Acquisitions Intern position, a writing sample could be:

  • A literary analysis or book review you did well on
  • A newspaper or magazine article you wrote
  • A substantive book review that you have posted online

For the Marketing Intern position, a writing sample could be:

  • A newspaper or magazine article you wrote
  • A mock social media campaign you created (PowerPoint accepted)
  • A project that you worked on, such as:
    • A pitch letter
    • A press release
    • A publicity campaign
  • An essay or paper that you did well on

For the Publishing Intern position, a writing sample could be:

  • An essay or paper that you did well on
  • A newspaper or magazine article you wrote

Generative AI Statement

Your résumé, cover letter, and writing sample are all important pieces of the application process that help us get to know you better. These materials are also an opportunity for you to express your unique interest in this publishing internship. This is why it’s important that every piece is written in your own words. We strongly encourage each applicant to write their résumé, cover letter, and writing sample without the use of generative AI.