05 Exploiting the dream


A career in the publishing industry can be a joy – working with passionate, enthusiastic people in what is seen by many as a dream job


But, like many other “passion-led industries”, having a large number of young eager applicants can result in abuse and exploitation, with entrants into the business soon finding they are overworked and underpaid. Research published this March


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byTe FLIP, Female Leaders in Publishing, found that that while 77 per cent of staffers enjoyed work, most (97%) cited burnout. Pay is a significant problem. Overall, 58 per cent of respondents said their salaries did not cover their living costs and this rose to more than two-thirds (68%) of those with additional caring responsibilities and three-quarters (76%) of those working part-time.


Michaela and Eleanor believe the London-centric nature of publishing is very much part of the problem. “Just geting together the money to go for interviews is for many difficult,” said Eleanor. Te


o, say Michaela O’Callaghan and Eleanor Gaffney co-chairs of the Society of Young Publishers (SYP).


high cost of renting homes, never mind buying, means many young publishers live with their parents if they are lucky to be in London or rent rooms in shared houses. It’s slightly easier for those who have trust funds.


A typical entrant’s wage at a London publishing house ranges from £26,00 to £28,000, but smaller publishers and those outside the capital may pay less. More worrying, according to Eleanor and Michaela, is that publishing is no longer seen as a career for life. A mixture of burnout and pay levels that even with promotion are not enough to sustain a family life, means


many leave aſter five to six years, they said. Te SYP celebrates its 75th


anniversary this year and exists to support publishing hopefuls in the UK and Ireland to break into the industry, and the next 10 years. Applications for its mentorship programme, which links industry experts with beginners and those contemplating a career, are now


open until 23.59 on Sunday 9 June. It provides a network for young publishers and its Spare Room Project offers beds for the night for jobseekers. Te NUJ provides a collective voice


for the publishing industry lobbying for improved pay, flexible working, greater diversity and supports and represents young members. Pamela Morton, NUJ magazines and books organiser, said: “Te SYP and NUJ share similar aims in calling for changes to the industry, so it less London-centric, beter paid and more inclusive.


Find out more about the Society of Young Publishers.


Action •


Find out more about the NUJ and publishing.


If you work in publishing invite a young colleague to join the NUJ.


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PUBLISHING


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