57603 Publishing Workshop

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.

Subject level:

Postgraduate

Description

Recent technologies and digital practices are blurring traditional industry roles and transforming the ways publishers commission and position books in the marketplace. Through collaborative activities that simulate publishing processes, students gain a critical and practical understanding of publishing culture, key concepts and practices driving change, and new opportunities to reach audiences. This subject equips students to adapt to changing industry roles, evolve their own entrepreneurial projects, and negotiate a professional career as an editor, publisher or writer.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject engages with the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs), which are tailored to the Graduate Attributes set for all graduates of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:

• Deploy flexible creative practices, tools and dispositions to confidently navigate dynamic professional contexts (1.1)
• Approach creative practice through deep engagement with a range of forms, traditions, processes, and generic possibilities (2.1)
• Reflect critically on Indigenous cultural and intellectual property rights and apply to professional capabilities to work with and for Indigenous peoples and communities across writing, publishing and editing (4.1)
• Contribute in a confident and informed manner to conversations about cultural and creative practice and industry and identify opportunities for cultural/creative leadership (5.1)
• Convey complex ideas clearly and effectively in professional contexts and to specialist and general audiences across a range of media formats (6.1)

Teaching and learning strategies

The subject will run like an internship as students undertake real-world publishing activities, working to an industry brief to produce authentic materials under the supervision of academic staff with industry experience.

In face-to-face classes, students will participate in active learning through group discussions and in individual and collaborative exercises that are authentic, embodying professional publishing standards and practices. Face-to-face learning will be supplemented by asynchronous lectures and readings provided via the subject site in Canvas. Students will engage with this material in preparation for classes. Students will be able to continue to work collaboratively via Teams and online discussion boards.

Students will receive summative feedback on authentic assignments that simulate publishing activities, which will be presented in class and submitted to Canvas. Our industry partners will assure activities and learnings are relevant and realistic, while the academic staff member will assure subject learning outcomes are met, including diversity and equity outcomes. Policies and procedures will be informed by the FASS WIL (Work Integrated Learning) team, who will assist us in drawing up an agreement to ensure roles and responsibilities for industry partners, academic staff and students are clear.

Content (topics)

Students will experience all stages of the pre-production processes of book publishing, such as manuscript assessment, publishing plans, production schedules, book costing, marketing plans and relationship building. Course learning will cover the structure of the Australian publishing industry and changing roles within it, design, digital publishing, and international rights. Students will develop their knowledge in the context of further learning about contemporary issues in publishing such as sustainability, accessibility and representation, the future of the book, and opportunities for entrepreneurship.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Analysis of assigned publishing house’s list and SWOT analysis

Assessment task 2: Publishing proposal

Assessment task 3: Critical reflection

Minimum requirements

Students must pass all assessment tasks to pass this subject, as each task assesses unique subject learning objectives.

Required texts

Reading lists will be posted on Canvas.

Recommended texts

Reading lists will be posted on Canvas.