Exploring Internship Opportunities at Yale University Press
Yale University, globally recognized for its academic excellence, world-class libraries and museums, and distinguished alumni, faculty, and Nobel laureates, extends its commitment to education and community engagement through diverse internship programs. These internships, including those at Yale University Press and The Yale Review, offer invaluable real-world work experience and a pathway for students to explore careers aligned with their academic and personal interests. The internship experience is an investment towards your future.
Internship Opportunities at The Yale Review
The Yale Review (TYR) provides various opportunities for Yale University students interested in public writing, editing, and publishing. Through its student programs, undergraduate and graduate students gain in-depth training in print and digital media while collaborating with professional writers, editors, and publishers.
Undergraduate Reader Program
At the beginning of each academic year, TYR selects approximately fifty undergraduate readers to evaluate submissions. This volunteer program offers students exposure to the inner workings of a literary magazine. Responsibilities include reading submissions, writing reader reports, attending meetings with editors and special issue launch parties, and receiving acknowledgment in the journal. Students are also invited to professional development seminars and talks hosted by TYR, featuring leading editors, publishers, and writers.
Undergraduate Fellowships
TYR offers paid undergraduate fellowships that provide entry-level training in magazine publishing. Fellows work four hours per week during the academic year, taking on specialized roles such as social media intern, archives intern, or production intern, in addition to providing general support to the staff. They also evaluate journal submissions, assist with fact-checking and promotional copy, and contribute to special projects. The program welcomes applications from all students with a serious interest in writing and publishing, regardless of their background in creative writing or Yale student publications. Many fellows begin as volunteer readers, encouraging interested students to join the reading program.
Summer Internships
The Yale Review offers paid eight-week summer internships. Summer interns read submissions, digitize pieces from the archives, and provide research and production assistance. A call for applicants is typically announced in February of each academic year. This position is part of the Yale Arts Apprenticeship Program and qualifies for the Summer Experience Award (SEA).
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Professional Development Fellowships for Graduate Students
Graduate student fellowships at The Yale Review offer Yale University doctoral students the chance to join the editorial team of America’s oldest literary magazine. The role trains students in skills relevant to magazine publishing, beginning with fact-checking and proofreading before moving on to shadowing and assisting editors with all aspects of assigning and preparing articles for publication, including advising on early drafts, developmental editing, line editing, and closing pieces for publication in print and online. Each fellowship will be tailored to the strengths of the successful candidate. Fellows will have the opportunity to witness the conception of editorial features and rubrics and the planning and executing of events and special projects. They will also assist with reading and evaluating submissions; assigning art (in the form of photos and illustrations); managing social media and publicity campaigns; headline writing; working in a small team of editors and undergraduate readers, and other work that goes into making a magazine today and a concrete sense of what makes for good public writing.
The ideal candidate should possess an interest in magazine publishing or a deep engagement with literary magazines, familiarity with TYR itself, some experience of proofreading or fact-checking, and digital fluency. While not guaranteed nor a requirement, TYR seeks students who could be good candidates to participate in this fellowship for two consecutive semesters, which is the maximum limit for this fellowship. Note that only Ph.D. students in their teaching years, eligible for guaranteed sixth-year teaching, or approved for 7th-year extended funding may apply for this position. The art fellow occasionally designs graphics for print and the web and supports editors in finding art for online-only stories. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Internship Opportunities at Yale University Press
Yale University Press offers a Summer Publishing Internship Program that provides a comprehensive introduction to the publishing world. The program requires a commitment of 30 hours a week for 10 consecutive weeks, typically running from June to August.
General Information
Internships are open to undergraduate students, graduate students, and individuals who have graduated from an undergraduate or graduate program within the past 18 months. Applicants must commit to the full 10 weeks for consideration in the program. Due to the high volume of applicants, students who are granted internships will be notified in a timely manner. When applying, applicants must indicate to which department they are applying both in the SUBMISSION FORM and in the Cover Letter.
Acquisitions Editorial Department Internship
This internship offers the opportunity to learn about the publishing world from the ground up. The Acquisitions Editorial Department evaluates proposals and manuscripts received from potential authors and literary agents, summarizes and presents selected projects to colleagues throughout the Press, signs book projects, and works with authors to prepare a complete draft of the book. Under the supervision of Editorial Assistants and Assistant Editors, the acquisitions intern will interact with all stages of this process. This may include summarizing proposals, researching sales data, contacting reviewers and blurbers, analyzing manuscript drafts, evaluating illustrations and permissions, and sending complimentary books. The intern will also have the opportunity to observe Press-wide decision-making and interact with other departments.
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Art Acquisitions Internship
Yale University Press is known for its prestigious art and architecture list, which includes both scholarly monographs and exhibition catalogs. An internship with the Art Acquisitions team offers a wide variety of experience working with illustrated books, and interns will have the unique opportunity to learn about all aspects of the publishing process, from acquisitions and manuscript editorial to production to marketing. Under the supervision of the Editorial and Production Assistant, interns will work on projects such as text and art preparation; descriptive writing for internal memos; proofreading; and sales and marketing research. A background or demonstrated interest in art history and/or architectural history is a plus.
A&AePortal Internship
This internship provides the opportunity to work with the editorial and production staff who produce Yale University Press’s prestigious art and architecture books and with the team dedicated to the A&AePortal. The A&AePortal is an innovative digital platform on which to discover and interact with important art and architectural history scholarship. The intern will gain first-hand experience with digital publishing and illustrated book production. Tasks include image preparation, creating conversion instructions, checking newly converted books for scanning errors, updating eBook metadata, proofreading, writing alt text, and more. Applicants should have taken classes in art and/or architectural history and demonstrate attention to detail and strong editorial skills.
Marketing Department Internship
The Marketing department is responsible for promoting Yale University Press books to a variety of audiences, from general consumers to faculty. Marketing department interns assist with a variety of tasks related to promotional activities, which may include research assignments, culling citations from reviews, assisting with catalog and galley production, blogging, designing digital marketing assets for social media and advertising, photographing books, and producing short videos. The intern will have the opportunity to attend press-wide launch meetings and focused marketing meetings.
New Business and Product Development Team Internship
The New Business and Product Development team is seeking a bright, curious, and highly analytical intern who is interested in learning more about digital publishing for Yale University Press. Interns actively participate in helping shape new digital products through user research, competitive analysis, and site testing. Projects include the ongoing product development of the A&AePortal, planning for updates to the Interaction of Color App, and the relaunch of Yalebooks.com.
Production Department Internship
The Production Department is responsible for coordinating the production and manufacturing of each book: making a schedule; trafficking interior and cover files between designers, acquisitions editors, and manuscript editors; estimating costs; and communicating with typesetters and printers. The department summer intern will have an opportunity to learn about bookmaking behind the scenes and will aid in various duties, such as assisting the Senior Reprint Controller with processing invoices and ordering print-on-demand editions, working with spreadsheets to track metadata for backlist books that will be given new life as ebooks, and helping to update electronic archives of book jackets and covers.
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Publicity Department Internship
Summer interns will gain hands-on experience in a publicity department as they work under the supervision of the publicity assistant. Interns will learn how to liaise with media contacts, assist in the production of promotional materials, track media coverage, and send materials, both digital and print, to media contacts across North America. In addition, interns will have the opportunity to work on long-term projects, such as compiling our annual holiday gift book catalog and researching media outlets and opportunities for select fall titles. Interns will also be able to attend major staff meetings.
Sales Department Internship
The Sales department works with accounts of all types, mainly retailers and distributors, on placement of our forthcoming titles, and maintenance of backlist, through strong buyer relationships and special sales. Under the supervision of the Sales Assistants, the intern is responsible for generating a variety of sales and inventory reports for analysis; outreach and support for book sales at author events (including tracking sales and creating promotional flyers); support for sales reps (such as galley orders, image requests, and inventory queries); and other projects as they arise. The intern will have the opportunity to attend launch meetings and monthly marketing meetings, among others. After completion of this internship, the student will understand how the sales department functions within Yale University Press’s publishing program and the marketplace in general.
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