Publicity Intern (6 month contract) (Toronto Hybrid)

Company: Harlequin Trade Publishing

Date: September-March (6 months)

Job Title: Publicity Intern

Department: Publicity

Reporting To: Publicity Manager

Office Location: 22 Adelaide Street West, Toronto (hybrid model)

Publicity Team Location: 195 Broadway, NY, NY

Job Vacancy Status: Vacant and actively accepting applications     

Reporting to the Publicity Manager, the Publicity Intern will work on a variety of fiction and non-fiction publicity campaigns for Harlequin Trade Publishing’s Hanover Square Press, Park Row Books, and MIRA imprints. The Publicity Team works closely with the editorial, marketing, and sales departments, and works directly with authors to gain key exposure for our books and imprints through earned media promotion and placement on broadcast/podcasts, in print, and online, as well as bookstore and other industry events like conferences, trade shows, and meetings with media (in-person and virtual). This could include coordinating and creating bookstore tours/events, escorting authors to media appearances and events, networking with media and industry, and booking and confirming travel for authors.

In this role, you will be responsible for creating press materials, media and bookseller pitching, researching bylines and media outlets, helping book author tours and special events, and being an ambassador for our books and authors. You will also support the NY-based publicity team.

The Publicity Intern will complete this internship with a strong understanding of how to create and execute a publicity campaign from start to finish, how to craft a topical pitch for various media (TV/radio/podcasts, print, and digital), how to research and pitch media, and how to build a bookstore tour/event, among other key publicity duties.

• Help research, organize and execute media campaigns, online reviews and features, and television and radio interviews.
• Implement review copy mailings, including sending both digital and physical galleys/books, create and manage media lists, and log media hits and interest.
• Create innovative press materials for a variety of fiction and non-fiction, across genres, and for seasonal media meetings
• Research media contacts and trends, and pitch journalists, top book reviewers/producers and trade industry reporters.
• Assist publicists and work with bookstores to coordinate author events
• Staff support includes organizing mailings, creating shipping labels, sending orders to print shop, ordering books from warehouse and coordinating mailings with our off-site warehouse.
• Opportunity to attend and pitch titles in meetings with media contacts, as well as assist with preparing pitch materials and packets for these meetings.
• Submit authors and titles for book awards and book festivals.
• Opportunity to attend and shadow in-person media and event appearances in Toronto.

Specific training or job experience required includes:

• Ability to successfully manage multiple projects with strong prioritization skills.
• Proven ability to deliver timely, accurate work product, manage multiple deadlines, and demonstrate solid follow through.
• Ability to pay close attention to detail in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• High level of organization and record-keeping.

Competencies/Skills:

Competencies and skills required to perform this job include:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; interpersonal, persuasion and problem-solving skills, with the aptitude to communicate effectively in both individual and group settings.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including a basic understanding of Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Creativity, enthusiasm, and a love of books are a must, especially for commercial and genre fiction.

About HarperCollins Canada and Harlequin

Harlequin is a leading publisher of commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction. We publish more than 100 titles a month that reach audiences globally. Encompassing highly recognizable imprints that span a broad number of genres, we are home to many award-winning New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling authors. Harlequin is a division of HarperCollins Publishers, the second-largest consumer book publisher

in the world. Through HarperCollins’s global publishing program, Harlequin titles are published in 17 countries and 16 languages.

The pay rate for this position is $20 per hour. We recognize that attracting the best talent is key to our strategy and success as a company. As a result, we aim for flexibility in structuring competitive compensation offers to ensure we are able to attract the best candidates. The quoted salary range represents our good faith estimate as to what our ideal candidates are likely to expect, and we tailor our offers within the range based on the selected candidate's experience, industry knowledge, technical and communication skills, and other factors that may prove relevant during the interview process.  

Known worldwide for the quality of its list, HarperCollins Canada is the proud home of many bestselling and award-winning authors, including Esi Edugyan, Heather O’Neill, and Lawrence Hill. It is our vision to publish the best books of our generation and to work with authors over the length and breadth of their careers. Our authors are at the centre of everything we do. In addition to the Canadian publishing program, HarperCollins Canada is responsible for the sales, marketing, and publicity of HarperCollins titles from around the globe.

HarperCollins Canada and Harlequin are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to equal employment opportunities. Employment decisions are based on job requirements and the skills, knowledge, and experience of the candidate, regardless of any other factors unrelated to job performance.

HarperCollins Publishers is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities, in our job application and/or interview process. If you need assistance or accommodation in completing your application, due to a disability, email us at [email protected]. Note: we will only respond to accommodation requests. 

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.