Whitireia Publishing 2013 graduates

PANZ News

Three new publishing graduates have been awarded internships through the Publishing Intern Programme, a joint initiative between Whitireia Publishing and PANZ funded by Creative New Zealand.

The interns – selected from a particularly high-achieving group of graduates in 2013 – are strong all-rounders with skills in editorial, marketing and digital production. All three have embraced the digital publishing strand of the course and its technological challenges, which should put them in a great position to contribute to the businesses they’ll be working with next year.

Rachel Nobilo (pictured left) will take up a sales and marketing role at Allen & Unwin. She studied Classics and English Literature at Auckland University, then spent her final semester at Glasgow University and travelled around the UK and Europe. In 2012 she achieved first class honours in English Literature, and completed her dissertation on Anne Brontë’s writing. Rachel said her interest in the publishing course was sparked by a lecture on the evolving covers of Brontë novels.

Barbara Graham (above centre) will be working as an editorial and production assistant at Bridget Williams Books. Her role there includes working on BWB’s digital initiatives along with print publications. Barbara studied music and marine biology at Victoria University, before spending two years working and travelling around Europe and North America. She is an accomplished singer, her most recent achievement performing Christine in WMT’s Phantom of the Opera.

Matariki Williams (above right) will join Gecko Press as a sales, marketing and publicity intern. Having finished a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Cultural Anthropology in 2012, she spent six months working as an editorial/production assistant at Huia Publishers before completing the publishing course this year.

The 2013 Andrew Mason Prize for Most Promising Editor was awarded to Abby Aitcheson who showed the most promise and consistency across the full range of editorial skills, including communication, judgement and attention to detail.
Aitcheson (right) has a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English Literature. After completing her degree, says Aitcheson, ‘I quickly realised I did not want to be a lawyer’, but has ‘found a profession that fits me perfectly’ through undertaking the publishing course.

The Diploma in Publishing at Whitireia is the recommended route to a publishing career in New Zealand, with over 80% of graduates employed in publishing roles within a few months of finishing.

The prize and internships cap a year of celebration for the publishing programme, which had its 20th anniversary in 2013.