What the Yale Publishing Course Has in Store for Book & Magazine Publishers

The annual Yale Publishing Course (YPC), an instructional gathering of publishing leaders, is fast approaching. Held on July 12th-17th for magazine professionals and July 19th-24th for book professionals, the course offers two individual five-day tracts of interactive, classroom education for mid- and senior-level publishing professionals.

The goal of YPC is to inspire "new ways of thinking" around innovative business models and strategies. This year the course will explore emerging topics for the book and magazine industries, including video, native advertising, and audience development, as well as social listening, improving ebook experiences, and global expansion. Speakers and instructors hail from Penguin Random House, Condé Nast, Quartz, and more.

In the following Q&A YPC director Tina Weiner shares why the program offers a distinct and valuable experience for publishing leaders and provides insight into some of the most important trends in publishing.

The application deadline for both tracts is June 1st.

Why is the Yale Publishing Course valuable for publishing professionals?
Because the publishing landscape is changing so rapidly, it seems to me to be more imperative than ever to take some time and step away from one's daily routine and think about where the industry is heading and what that means for one's own career. Everyone is scrabbling to keep up with an ever-increasing workload, and this leaves little time to find out what is going on outside one's own silo. The value of gaining a wider perspective on what's changing in the media world and being immersed in thinking about strategic planning and how to be innovative is essential in becoming a more effective leader. Our mission is to provide an environment and curriculum that allows mid- to senior-level professionals to do just that.

What makes the Yale Publishing Course unique among industry gatherings?
The most significant feature that distinguishes YPC from other gatherings is that it is a course, not a conference. We offer a carefully curated curriculum taught by faculty from the Yale School of Management and industry experts, who are selected for their proven leadership and teaching skills. The highly interactive classroom experience is supplemented with ample opportunities to meet in smaller groups and with one-on-one counseling sessions with the speakers. The conversations outside the classroom are as stimulating as the discussions during the sessions I allow a great deal of time for Q and A.