Penguin Random House Internship

This week I wrapped up my 10-week internship at Penguin Random House as a Publicity Intern at Random House Group! I rotated across five teams (Ballantine Bantam Dell, Del Rey, Random House/Dial/Hogarth, Harmony/Rodale/Convergent, and One World), and I truly loved every second.

As a publicity intern I had the opportunity to...
📚Support publicity campaigns for 50+ books across multiple genres
📚Write and send a wide range of pitches (on-sale day, galley letters, roundups, podcast pitches, and more) — some of which secured national media coverage!!
📚Research and compile tailored media lists for niche audiences and subgenres
📚Coordinate book signings and book tour logistics

This experience confirmed my passion for publishing and gave me skills I’m eager to carry into my career. I’m so proud of the work I did this summer and can’t wait to see these titles thrive as they’re published! I’d like to thank Ayesha Richardson, M.Ed and Emily Isayeff for helping me start my journey at Penguin Random House. I could not have asked for a more welcoming, challenging, and inspiring community.

I’m so grateful to my incredible mentors and managers who taught me so much about publicity and the publishing industry. Chelsea Woodward was my rock throughout this internship. From long calls walking me through the ins and outs of the programs to being the first to cheer me on, her support and kindness inspired me every step of the way. Meghan O'Shaughnessy brought such energy and joy to every call and instantly made me feel at home. Rachel Parker, a former intern herself, is a wealth of knowledge and encouraged me to dream big in the world of publicity. Steven Boriack's expert feedback strengthened my publicity writing skills. Jocelynn Pedro was always generous with her time and insights, making sure every question I had about publicity was answered with care. These mentors, along with the many other AMAZING publicists I worked with throughout my rotations, were central to my growth, and I cannot thank them enough!

I am excited for my next step in my career: pursuing a full time publicity job as I wrap up my year at JMU!