Oxford Brookes UniversityAlumni
Alumni Reunion launch Event
Thank you to all our alumni who attended the launch event at the London Book Fair, April 2011. To keep up to date with our network and news, please join the fast-growing Publishing Alumni group on LinkedIn.
Our alumni from the Publishing undergraduate and postgraduate programmes are working in a range of jobs in the publishing and creative industries all over the world. Do get in touch and let us know what you are doing, and whether you would be willing to advise our present students on their future career.
To get in touch with us, please email: Angus Phillips .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
You can also join our Oxford Brookes Alumni group on LinkedIn
Here is what our alumni say:
Laura Gibbons, MA Publishing
Like many other students, I had as my main motivation for taking the MA Publishing course at Oxford Brookes the aim of landing my first job in publishing. Oxford Brookes has excellent connections with the publishing industry and has such a brilliant reputation that a lot of publishers, such as Pearson Education, actively recruit students from the course.
Posted on 17 Feb 2012 around 11am •
Marije de Bie, MA Publishing
Marije de Bie
Eight years after I finished my MA in Publishing at Oxford Brookes, I’m exactly where I dreamed of arriving when I started the course. The year after I returned to the Netherlands I started my career in publishing as a desk editor for a Dutch literary publishing house in Amsterdam. After three years I moved over to one of the most distinguished Dutch literary publishing houses, The Busy Bee (De Bezige Bij), and started working as a junior acquiring editor. In my present role, I take care of the translated fiction for our house together with another editor. As I read English, German, French and Italian, I try to acquire Dutch translation rights to the best novels published originally in those languages.
My year at Brookes was of great value, giving me an overview of the international publishing world, giving me insight into the daily work of all the departments in a publishing house, and teaching me practical skills for jobs in all these departments. One of the special aspects of the MA at Brookes is its international character. I’m still in touch with a lot of my fellow students all over the world, and some of them have become friends for life.
Posted on 26 Jan 2012 around 4pm •
Femke Posthumus, BA Publishing
Before I came to Oxford as an exchange student on the BA programme, I had never been away from home for a long time. I had no idea what to expect, and it turned out to be incredible. My classmates and lecturers were incredibly welcoming and made me feel at ease from day one.
Posted on 17 May 2011 around 4pm •
Kay Peddle - MA Publishing 2006 - wins Kim Scott Walwyn Prize 2011
Kay Peddle
Kay Peddle, the woman behind Bodley Head’s innovative Brain Shots audiobooks, was last week named the winner of the Kim Scott Walwyn Prize 2011. The accolade, which recognises the professional achievements of women in publishing, was announced by Prize Committee member Kate Jury at a ceremony at the Free Word Centre in Farringdon. Helen Fraser, former Managing Director of Penguin UK, delivered the keynote speech on women and success.
Born and raised in South Africa, Kay Peddle came to Britain in 2006 and studied for an MA in International Publishing at Oxford Brookes University. She graduated with Distinction and started her publishing career as a Marketing Assistant at Random House. In 2008, she moved into editorial and, as Assistant Editor at Vintage, conceived and produced the Bodley Head Brain Shots, which launched to great acclaim in 2009. The success of this industry-first series shows her ability to explore new formats and to respond to the fast-changing market with great agility and flair.
Posted on 12 May 2011 around 10am •
Brianna Corbett - MA Publishing
Sally Hughes and Brianna Corbett
I decided to be part of the inaugural World Book Night in November 2010 when I saw a few friends posting the link on Facebook (yes, social media marketing works). I filled out the application and browsed the selection of 25 books chosen by a spectacular committee led by James Naughtie. The authors included Margaret Atwood, Kate Atkinson, Toni Morrison, Sarah Waters, David Mitchell, Yann Martel, Mark Haddon and more. It was hard to choose! I wrote my Major Project book for the Brookes MA on how marketing and design work together to add to and create a cultural landscape. During the research phase of this project, I was lucky enough to attend The Bookseller's Book Cover Design Conference at the British Library in June, where I got to hear from professional cover designers, marketers and editors on the subject of design, from practicalities to social understanding. One title stood out that summer and its cover was praised. That book was One Day by David Nicholls.
Posted on 06 May 2011 around 9am •
Marrisa Joseph, MA International Publishing
Marrisa completed the MA in International Publishing in 2009, and now works at Osprey as a Rights Assistant.
I came to Oxford because Brookes had the most relevant course to the career I wanted to go into; I knew the course would help me get a job in this tough climate and I knew that I wanted to work in Publishing.
The best thing about the course was the knowledge and wealth of experience of the lecturers, alongside a great range of industry professionals who were fantastic guest lecturers throughout the course.
I was attracted to the MA programme by the course content and being able to study the fundamentals needed to prepare for the industry. I also enjoyed doing Business Studies at A Level and the course had elements of this subject.
One tutor I found particularly inspiring was Angus Phillips; he is the course director and is a knowledgeable and helpful person. He was always on hand to help and his experience could answer every question I had.
Posted on 23 Mar 2011 around 1pm •
Aaron O’Dowling-Keane- MA in Publishing and internship at the International Labour Organization
I did my interview for the Brooke’s MA in Publishing whilst sitting under a mosquito net in a remote village in Tanzania where I’d been working as a teacher in a local school. Evidently, from the outset the international element of the MA was important to me. And the publishing department didn’t let me down, from the diverse make-up of the students, to international book fairs, to the courses I chose for the second semester - International Publishing Management and Publishing and Language - my passion for the global world of publishing was more than satisfied. One of the biggest international opportunities that came my way via Brookes was the chance to intern in the publishing department of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN specialized agency for labour. The ILO is based in Geneva.
Posted on 14 Mar 2011 around 6pm •
Heather Benn – MA Publishing
I have absolutely no regrets about my decision to undertake the Oxford Brookes MA in Publishing in 2010. Despite having previous experience in marketing, and as a children’s bookseller, I was finding it difficult to progress my career forward into the publishing industry, and was concerned I would have to take a step back in order to land a role in publishing. Not content to shoot for an admin or assistant job as a foot in the door, I decided on the Brookes MA as it offered a really comprehensive overview of the industry as a whole, had a focus on cultivating relevant, specialized skills and knowledge – like InDesign and XML – and offered concrete opportunities for work experience at a number of renowned publishers.
Posted on 26 Feb 2011 around 11am •
Jessica Gilfillan, BA Publishing
Jessica Gilfillan
Working in Sales
If I’m honest, I had no idea what I wanted to do when I completed the Brookes publishing BA. With a lack of knowledge about which area of publishing would suit me best but a great enthusiasm to get my foot in the door, I started applying for a wide array of positions. After around 20 interviews I managed to land a job as a Sales Administrator at Macmillan due to some experience I had previously gained in customer service.
It was a good starting job but I eventually moved on and have now been with Oxford University Press for nearly 18 months. Although I am still a Sales Administrator (working with our professional law and medical lists) I have now been able to take on my own customer accounts, attend a few sales conferences and this year I am looking forward to meeting up with one of my own customers at the London Book Fair.
Posted on 18 Feb 2011 around 12pm •
Miriam Johnson and Victoria Harben, MA Publishing
News from Jargon Media
We just wanted to update you and Brookes on the newest venture that Jargon Media (Miriam Johnson and Victoria Harben) are working on. We are putting together an international literary magazine that we will publish on 1 November 2011.
The Istanbul Review creates a platform for dialogue between authors, new and established, and readers. It gives writers an opportunity to talk about their craft, showcase new work and discuss the philosophical implications of literature and its place in modern society.
Founded by Miriam Johnson, Hande Zapsu Watt and Victoria Harben in 2010, the Istanbul Review began with a simple wish: to bring together writers, critics and those influential people from other walks of life whose lives have been changed by literature and who in turn change the world.
Posted on 02 Feb 2011 around 10am •
Tiziana Zaino, MA Publishing
The MA in Publishing at Oxford Brookes has definitely represented a turning point in my life and I am very grateful for all that I have learnt in my year on the programme, for the role that this year has played in helping me focus and clarify my career objectives, and for providing me with the skills and knowledge I needed to start a career in publishing.
Posted on 10 Jan 2011 around 5pm •
Antonia Eraud, MA Publishing
Although I knew I wanted to work in publishing and I liked my job at Hachette in France, I wished for two further things for my career: to work abroad and to have a fuller view of the industry. I had previous experience in publishing especially in marketing, PR and sales. However, I did not hesitate to sign up for the publishing course at Oxford Brookes and I have never regretted my choice. In fact, I have been able to discover more about editorial, production, design, digital and of course about the UK industry. Even the subjects I already knew about were very interesting because I could compare the industry in France with the UK and develop my knowledge. ...
Posted on 15 Nov 2010 around 5pm •
Emma Hawes, BA Publishing
Studying publishing at Oxford Brookes University has been one of the most rewarding, yet fun experiences of my life, and in some ways, the most life changing. Through the variety of lectures and seminars, I was able to develop and build on skills I already had, whilst discovering talents that I never knew I had. In Magazine Publishing, I was able to make the most of my creativity and have the freedom to express myself. Yet it was in Production and Project Management that I was finally able to make good use of my ability to organize and apply it to a publishing environment. ...
Posted on 10 Nov 2010 around 8pm •
Alexa Banks-Lyon, MA Publishing
The best ‘life’ decision I have ever made was to complete my MA in Publishing at Oxford Brookes. Having studied Media Technology at Brookes at undergraduate level I was quite design/technically minded and although the course wasn’t design based at all, there were so many opportunities throughout the course where I got to put these skills into practice. The structure of the course is great: demanding at times but incredibly rewarding. The staff are brilliant, enthusiastic and incredibly friendly. The course has well and truly prepared me for working life and the business environment, and I am now working for a Digital Advertising company as a Campaign Manager, delivering advertising campaigns to online publishers. ...
Posted on 29 Oct 2010 around 1am •
PMT walk the Thames (MA Publishing 2008-09)
At the Head of the River Pub, Oxford, 100 miles, seven days later
Jonathan Davis and Gareth Watkins (MA Publishing 2008-09) write about their charity walk along the Thames in the summer of 2010.
On 17 July 2010, four members of publishing Men Together (PMT) - established on a crisp autumnal induction day at Oxford Brookes in 2007 - set off on a 100-mile, 7-day walk along the Thames Path. Journeying from London to Oxford, they raised money for and awareness of Booktrust UK (http://www.booktrust.org.uk) and their programmes to support literacy at all levels of development. It also helped that their charitable activities are vaguely publishing-related, as there’s nothing better than helping support the readers of the future! As publishers we all believe in the importance of higher levels of literacy: not just to sell books, but because it is a lifelong skill that some children (and adults) never get to experience fully.
Posted on 02 Sep 2010 around 1pm •
Amanda Lastoria, MA Publishing
My MA in Publishing from Oxford Brookes (2003/04) gave me the skills and knowledge necessary to break into publishing. Originally from Vancouver, I went to Brookes to gain international experience. On day one of Adrian Bullock's production and project management module, I knew that was the area of publishing for me. Before I even finished my dissertation, I started a production job at an academic book publisher in Oxford (Taylor & Francis/Routledge). I went on to produce new media (Macmillan English Campus) and high-end books (The Folio Society) in London. I then moved to Toronto and started a freelance career, working for a local non-profit arts magazine and various UK-based publishers as a business manager, producer, copy-editor and general jack of all publishing. Now back in Vancouver, I continue to freelance and am starting a PhD at Simon Fraser University. In a tailor-made, faculty-wide programme in Communications, Arts and Technology, I am building on my MA roots and focusing on production. Brookes is a brilliant place to discover your niche in publishing.
Posted on 13 May 2010 around 8am •
Kay Peddle, MA International Publishing
Publishing graduate Kay Peddle was featured in the Bookseller (19 February 2010) in the careers section. Kay graduated from the MA in International Publishing at Oxford Brookes in 2007, and whilst at Brookes did an internship at the World Bank in Washington. Originally from South Africa, where she studied at the University of Pretoria, Kay has worked at Random House in London since graduation. She is now an Assistant Editor at the Bodley Head and has been long listed for the British Council Young Publisher of the Year award.
Posted on 05 Mar 2010 around 10am •
Jonathan Davis, MA Publishing
My time on the MA Publishing course at Oxford Brookes was spent in a perpetual balance of work and study. Studying part time over two years and working to support myself during the course gave me a real grounding which helped me to get to know the publishing industry, make new friends, and find my first job within a month of submitting my dissertation. ...
Posted on 27 Jan 2010 around 3pm •
Marrisa Joseph, MA International Publishing
I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to learn about and work in the publishing industry, whilst making friends and having a great time whilst doing it.
I managed to go from being a complete novice to knowing so many different aspects of the international industry in just a year thanks to the MA in International Publishing. Each module was informative and enjoyable, and the range of modules in the second semester was extensive, which allowed me to tailor my learning to my interests. Also, the Brookes MA has significant credibility in the publishing industry. I was told by my present employer that I was considered for the position just because I had completed the Brookes MA, and I now work at Osprey Publishing, with three other people who did the course. ...
Posted on 18 Jan 2010 around 6pm •
Chris Kinsey, BA Publishing
As a graduate of the Oxford International Centre for Publishing Studies (OICPS), I am happy to say that it was the stepping-stone which helped me to develop a career in publishing. I enjoyed several successful years in the field of print-on-demand with Lightning Source, and I’m currently working at 4edge Ltd which is a specialist in high quality digital printing of books and journals. ...
Posted on 07 Dec 2009 around 2pm •
Leon Terner, MA Publishing
As my major project, I chose to found a small Indie press and publish an anthology of European creative writing. Contacting Creative Writing MAs and other artistic forums around Europe, I then solicited creative works of nearly any kind, as long as it was somehow connected to Europe. My mission statement, if I can call it that, was - and is still - to give everyone an equal opportunity to be published, given that creative zeal and literary brilliance were evidenced. Both previously undiscovered authors and well-established ones were welcome to submit their work, and before long I had received tons of great short stories and poems.
To cut a long story short, in August of 2009, Lion Lounge Press, as I dubbed my publishing venture, published its very first book, The Lounge Companion: A Collection of European Creative Writing.
Posted on 23 Nov 2009 around 4pm •
Publishing internship in Geneva
Helen Swain, a student on the master’s in publishing programme, writes about her internship in Geneva in the publications department of the International Labour Office …
Posted on 27 Oct 2009 around 3pm •
Margaret Burke, BA Publishing
I would recommend the course to anyone interested in entering the publishing industry. The BA Publishing at Oxford Brookes definitely opens doors to jobs on graduation as well as work placements in the industry. The department has excellent networks across the industry and worldwide with lecturers who work in the industry alongside teaching. It is a great practical course that gives an overview of the whole business of publishing and helped me decide which areas interested me the most. ...
Posted on 11 Jun 2009 around 2pm •
Arash Hejazi - Oxford International Centre for Publishing Studies Scholarship
Arash Hejazi was awarded this OICPS scholarship, open to international students, in 2008. He writes below about his experiences as an MA Publishing student at Oxford Brookes.
Posted on 02 Jun 2009 around 11am •
Aimée Walker - Cambridge Publishing Scholarship.
Aimée Walker - a student on the MA Publishing course 2008-09
Aimée Walker was awarded the Cambridge Publishing Scholarship in 2008. She writes about her experience on the Master's in Publishing at Oxford Brookes. To find out how to enter for this year's scholarship, please visit our scholarships page here.
Posted on 26 May 2009 around 9am •
Page 1 of 3 pages
1 2 3 >