Alumni - Alice Mercanti, MA Publishing Media

I have always considered publishing to be a unique tool to promote culture and knowledge, and what appeals to me the most is its adaptability to different subjects and formats. Many are the reasons why I chose to study Publishing Media at Oxford Brookes University, among which are the well-rounded theoretical and practical preparation offered by the course, in addition to its excellent ranking and relationships with the industry.

Since before starting the Master’s, I knew about the chance to apply for an internship at the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva. As my undergraduate studies focused on modern civilizations and international relations, this opportunity represented the essence of my background and expertise, combined with the relevance to my career aspirations.

I applied for the internship early in 2018 and had an interview with the ILO’s Head of Publishing during the London Book Fair. After a few months I was moving from Oxford to Geneva to start an amazing experience. The internship usually lasts six months and gives the intern a great insight into the varied publishing world. During my stay, I had the chance to develop a comprehensive knowledge of the ILO departmental structure, its publications and websites. I worked on a broad range of tasks, from the management of the ILO Publications Twitter account to research projects on peer review, potential databases for ILO licensed material, citation styles and Open Access policies. Moreover, I developed a proposal for a promotional e-newsletter for ILO Publishing. The ILO Publishing Unit is part of the Communications Department, which represented a great addition to my experiences. Indeed, I was lucky enough to contribute to Communication-led projects for the centenary anniversary of the Organization, gaining new useful skills.

The ILO also gave me the chance to make many new friends thanks to the dynamic and international community of interns. The interns receive a monthly stipend that covers costs and allows the enjoyment of exciting activities. Working at the ILO has been one of the best experiences of my life and I would recommend it to everyone, particularly to those interested in international relations. I promise that you won’t regret it!

Posted on 29 Apr 2019 around 1pm