Publisher
Liaises with media and publishing houses to get an author's work published, and may edit it too.
Overview
A Publisher or a Publishing Professional is a person who is employed at a capacity to liaison with several media or publishing houses and ensuring that the work of their client (an author) gets published. A Publisher can be a person or a company. A Publisher might also personally edit, proofread and present the work of their client to the general audience.
Where they work
- Large and Small Publishing Houses
- Newspapers
- Magazines
- Consultancies
Work environment
You are likely to work in an office environment. To attend meetings, conferences and media appearances, you may be expected to travel. Working on weekends and late evenings is also expected by a publisher. Entrepreneurship: you can start your own publishing house.
Opportunities for differently abled exist in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You have good planning and organisational skills
- You have excellent English and/or vernacular language skills
- You have strong leadership skills
- You have a creative bent of mind
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10+2 in any stream, preferably in Humanities.
- 2Complete Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication followed by Master's degree in the same.
Forms, exams and applications
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
This course is offered by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication. This list of institutes is indicative only.
Government institutes
- Lady Shri Ram College for Women, New Delhi
- Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat
- University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
- Calcutta University, Kolkata, West Bengal
- Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra
- Farook College, Kozhikode, Kerala
- Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana
- Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, Odisha
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Symbiosis Institute of Media & Communication, Pune, Maharashtra
- Department of Media Studies, Christ University, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Times School of Journalism, New Delhi
- Manipal Institute of Communications, Manipal, Karnataka
- Madras Christian College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Pearl Academy, New Delhi
- NIMS University, Jaipur, Rajasthan
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Associate Editor
- 2Senior Editor
- 3Chief Editor
- 4Publisher
- 5Associate Publishing Director
- 6Publishing Director
Expected income
₹17,482 – ₹91,500 per month and more with experience
The figures are indicative and subject to change.
SourceRelated careers to explore
Commissioning Editor
Advises a publishing house on which books to publish and manages authors under contract.
Editor
Scrutinises written material for a book or newspaper and shapes it into its best possible version.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Any Stream, Languages, Arts.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to leading.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Gita Wolf — An Indian publisher as well as author. She is one of the founders of Tara Books. Tara Books is an independent publishing house started in 1994 by Gita Wolf. An integral part of the publishing is a pioneering engagement with the rich diversity of Indian folk and tribal art. Over a period of 20 years, they have brought a range of such artists into the book form for the first time.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 1, printed page 149 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/publisher-salary
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.