Why DPI
At the Denver Publishing Institute, we introduce you to the process of book publishing, from editing, marketing and production, to the bigger picture of digital publishing in a constantly changing world. Each summer, we bring students together with industry leaders who represent all aspects of book publishing. You'll meet people working in small independent trade houses and large global media companies, located in the New York City book publishing hub and across the country.
Throughout the program, you will find opportunities for career guidance from industry professionals, alumni and human resource specialists who are there to answer questions and provide tips on developing résumés and cover letters, completing interviews, using LinkedIn and making job connections. Job notifications and postings are also sent out to students throughout the Institute and continue after graduation. Workshop leaders and Publishing Institute staff provide ongoing programming after the Institute geared toward offering extra assistance, support and community as you look for your first (or next) job in publishing.
The Denver Publishing Institute program can be taken for 6 graduate level quarter hours of credit, and will be listed on a transcript as ENGL 4851 Publishing Institute. Additionally, beginning in 2023, students will have the opportunity to earn a micro-credential for completion of the course, which will enable them to share their achievement through a virtual badge on social media such as LinkedIn.
For students interested in additional exploration into what makes a book successful in today’s world, we have partnered with University College at DU to create the Literary Genres in Book Publishing graduate certificate. Through additional coursework, you will study works of fiction and creative nonfiction and then select electives that allow you to pursue your passions.
4,000+ graduates from our program
250+ executives from every area of the business have presented
1976 first cohort of students completed the program
Career Guidance
There are many opportunities for you to interact with the many publishing executives who come to the Denver Publishing Institute from all over the country. Faculty members join students at lunch, providing a chance to talk one-on-one, and the Institute keeps a database of DPI alumni who are happy to help connect you to job opportunities and build your network in the publishing world. Learn more about alumni experiences at the Institute and how they can help you in your publishing career.
Workshops
Not only do students learn what editing and marketing involve, but they also have a chance to practice the tasks they learn about in class. During the workshops, lecturers and leaders provide explicit feedback and professional guidance so students can develop a clear sense of their strengths and possible career directions.
Lectures
Supporting the hands-on workshops are lectures and teaching sessions that give students exposure to diverse types of publishing. Leading executives, acknowledged as industry experts, explore a broad range of publishing issues through the lectures, including sessions on becoming a literary agent, copyediting and proofreading, children's publishing and much more.
Micro-Workshops
Short micro-workshops provide additional interactive experiences with targeted acquisitions and formulating the book concept. Specific micro-workshops include university presses, children's books, book packaging and independent publishing.
Special Sessions
DPI introduces students to a wide view of the publishing world. Through our workshops on editing and marketing, students learn editorial skills such as preparation of a reader's report and gain practical experience in writing sales copy, including publicity releases and advertisements.
Students take part in special sessions and field trips designed to give an insider's view of the world of publishing. These events round out the intensive course of instruction, including a field trip to Boulder with stops at the offices of Hachette Book Group, Shambhala Publications and Boulder Book Store.
Special sessions also cover networking and, during the final week, each student will have an opportunity for a one-on-one mock interview with a seasoned publisher to further prepare them for a career in publishing.
Past Speakers and Sessions
"The Role of the Editor / Acquisition of the Manuscript/ Making the Publishing Decision" with Ben Loehnen, vice president and editor-in-chief, Avid Reader Press, Simon & Schuster, New York, NY
"A Day with Independent Publishers" with Jack Jensen, president, Chronicle Books, San Francisco, CA; Sanj Kharbanda, director of sales and marketing, Beacon Press, Boston, MA; Kirsty Melville, president and publisher, Andrews McMeel, Kansas City, MO; Meg Reid, director of Hub City Press, Spartanburg, SC, & Marina Tristán, assistant director, Arte Público Press, Houston, TX
"Birth of the Book" with Karl Weber, director, Editing Workshop, and Ladee Hubbard, author of The Rib King, Amistad/HarperCollins, 2021.
"Children's Books" with Virginia Duncan, vice president and publisher, Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins, New York, NY
"The Role of the Wholesaler" with Shawn Everson, chief commercial officer, Ingram Content Group, Nashville, TN
"Digital Innovations in Publishing" with Todd Stocke, senior vice president and editorial director of Sourcebooks, Naperville, IL
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"Diversity in Publishing" with Jalissa Corrie, marketing associate, Lee & Low Books Inc., New York, NY
"Book Design" with Laura Drew, creative director, Quarto Publishing Group, Minneapolis, MN
