Pace University's MS in Publishing program will celebrate its 40th anniversary when classes begin today, September 2. Just under 100 students are enrolled this year across various degree tracks, from full master's degrees to specialized certificates, with courses offered in-person at the school’s Manhattan campus and online.
Manuela Soares, who has served as director of the program for the past seven years, said it has graduated more than 1,000 students since its inception in 1985 and maintains strong industry connections through its faculty of working professionals and extensive mentoring programs. Soares previously served as managing editor at Scholastic where she oversaw production of the first five Harry Potter books. She also worked as senior editor at Crown Publishers and has written several books.
At 74, she has witnessed firsthand the transformation of publishing from a strictly analog to an increasingly digital business. “To succeed in publishing you need to be able to adapt," she told PW.
Pace's program offers multiple professional pathways designed with accessibility in mind. A 4+1 option allows undergraduates to complete up to 12 credits during their senior year at undergraduate rates before finishing their master's degree in a fifth year. "I think a number of students actually come to Pace because of the 4+1, as it really makes economic sense," Soares said.
At roughly half the cost of New York University's competing MA in Publishing program, Pace positions itself as a more affordable alternative. Soares described the program as particularly "inclusive" and "supportive" for students facing economic challenges, adding "NYU is considered the gold standard and the quality of the education there is really terrific, but I put us up against anybody else."
The program's commitment to practical, immersive education is evident in its faculty roster, which Soares said is "drawn from the industry" to provide up-to-date perspectives. Current faculty include James Perry, VP of finance at Penguin Random House Children's Books; Paul Levitz, former head of DC Comics; Erin Cox, publicist and newsletter publisher teaching marketing and digital issues; and Jessica Napp, publicity director at Rizzoli.
Each semester offers students mentoring and networking opportunities with industry professionals, alumni, and various industry groups, such as the Book Industry Study Group and Women in Media. A dedicated full-time faculty member helps place students in internships and the program sends four students each year to work at the Frankfurt Book Fair and London Book Fairs.
Students can also contribute to The Publishing Lab: An Anthology of Student Creative Work, an annual journal of plays, fiction, and nonfiction where the students handle the entire publishing workflow, from editing and design to marketing, sales, and publicity.
Reality check
Soares acknowledges the financial realities facing publishing graduates who are asked to live on starting salaries around $55,000 in New York City and encourages students to remain open-minded about employment. "A lot of graduates choose to go back to their home state and look for something at a small publisher or magazine, for example," she said. "We have graduates who have found positions at museums, corporations, and government agencies… I always remind them 'publishing is more than just romantasy,' and it’s a huge industry and there are lots of opportunities."
This fall, Soares is teaching a new ethics course that addresses contemporary challenges facing the industry. While conversations about ethics once focused on discrete issues like plagiarism and copyright infringement, she noted that political polarization and technological disruption are raising new questions. "Politicians are lying, alternate facts promoted by malevolent algorithms are the norm, and AI infects everything," Soares said. "We are in a challenging moment."
Despite technological upheaval, Soares maintains that core principles endure. "Fundamentally, for me, publishing success depends on skillful storytelling," she said, adding, "There's a lot of crap published, but there always has been. What it all comes down to is the ability of a storyteller to intrigue someone, to move them emotionally. That is what matters and that is what will last."
