During a study break in the library, a student gazes at the shelves of books and dreams of a future in publishing. They imagine the intensity of poring over new manuscripts, the excitement of collaborating with authors and the satisfaction of bringing a book from concept to completion.
But then reality sets in. Getting a job means first learning the ropes in an internship. And if that internship is unpaid, this particular student — a first-generation English major who already works two jobs to pay for school — will have to turn it down.
First-generation, low-income students frequently face the difficult choice between earning a paycheck and advancing their careers. The University of South Carolina Press Internship Program is changing this narrative through a paid stipend initiative so that no student misses out on a valuable internship experience because of financial constraints.
“It’s about opening those doors for the students who are already putting in so much work and don’t get a lot of breaks,” says Dianne Wade, a marketing assistant at USC Press. “They’re already having to think about financial issues that a lot of other students aren’t thinking about, and they should be compensated for their time and effort.”
USC Press launched the initiative this semester after a successful fundraising campaign through last year’s Give 4 Garnet, the university’s annual giving day. Wade has been a driving force behind organizing another campaign for this year’s Give 4 Garnet on March 26 and 27. Once a first-generation student herself, she understands the challenges of unpaid internships. And because she grew up in Oklahoma, where publishing jobs are scarce, she has a passion for making the industry more accessible.
“There is a need in the publishing field for more opportunities like this,” she says. “As a book lover, as somebody who loves publishing, it's important that this opportunity be open to anyone who has thought about working with books in any way, and I hope that this takes off in other presses and we see a field shift.”
She can already see the program’s impact at USC. One of this semester’s interns almost didn’t apply but changed her mind after finding out she’d be paid.
“This new stipend means she is not going to have to get another job in her last semester,” Wade says. “Without this program, we would have missed the opportunity to work with her, and she would have missed the opportunity to discover and enjoy what we have."
The internship difference
Publishing is a notoriously competitive industry, but internship experience can give job applicants an edge.
Just ask former intern Anna Farr. Farr (English, 2020) is now a project editor for Oxford University Press, and she reflects on her time as a USC Press intern with gratitude.
"The internship really solidified my passion for publishing and set me on the path I wanted to be on after graduation," Farr says. “I've spoken to several [USC] alumni interested in publishing who are just desperate for this opportunity, and I will say my USC Press internship was key in getting my foot in the door.”
Farr's responsibilities as an intern for class credit in 2020 included reading and reporting on book proposals, researching potential authors and preparing manuscripts for the editorial department. These experiences gave her a strong foundation in publishing and helped her build connections in the industry.
“Even though I worked in acquisitions, I also spent a lot of time with marketing and design and other departments, which was a wonderful introduction to that world." Farr says. “I learned a lot of the vocabulary and I felt very confident and ready to step into my current role.”
Courtney Tsakanikas, a senior majoring in English, was an acquisitions intern at USC Press last year. Her experience has been instrumental in shaping her career aspirations.
“Books are artifacts that withstand the test of time,” Tsakanikas says. “I was really enthralled with how books were made, and I knew I would love to be a part of that process and influencing somebody else's life in that way and helping more diverse books to get printed.”
Tsakanikas feels that the unique, practical internship experience offers advantages to students interested in a career with books or marketing.
"They immersed me in the experience, they had building blocks so that I could learn the basics, and they would always explain what we were doing and why it was important," Tsakanikas says. "I learned a lot about what to look for when a proposal comes in and how to pitch it, because you are the book's main advocate.”
She credits the experience and knowledge gained as paving the way for her next opportunity as an editorial intern with Penguin Random House's New Christian Publishing Group this summer.
Publishing dreams
USC Press plans to continue reaching more students aspiring to make their mark in the publishing world by raising funds through Give 4 Garnet. Wade is determined to make sure students know about the support and opportunities available.
“The hard thing about being a first-generation or a low-income student is that it feels like you're by yourself, but that's not the case because there is help here,” Wade says. "Our biggest hope is to grow and continue reaching more of the USC student population.”
USC Press works to fortify South Carolina and Southeast history by publishing around 35 new works each year. The press features critically acclaimed, peer-reviewed books in Southern history, literary studies, African-American studies, civil rights, Jewish studies, and rhetoric and communication. It is one of only a handful of university presses that offers an undergraduate internship.
How you can help
Strengthen what you love at USC! Through March 27, participate in Give 4 Garnet and support the USC Press Internship stipend or any of the 200 vital programs at USC.