Publishing Studies
Our courses address the field of publishing studies and the role of information intermediaries. Publishers are tasked with packaging content for South African and international readers in a variety of contexts.
We offer BA Honours, MA by coursework and research report and MA by dissertation and PhD courses on a full-time or part-time basis at Wits. Coursework is done as a hybrid mix of in-person and online lectures and supported by an extensive guest speaker seminar program and in-person activities twice a year.
Publishing course units may be combined with units from other departments in SLLM for joint degrees (currently available in Translation studies and African Literature, also Creative Writing by approval), in consultation with both heads of department. Students may apply for admission to the programmes in February or July. July admission only if the courses are not full.
Research areas in Publishing Studies include:
- African book and reading cultures
- Reading and book buying in South Africa
- Literacy in the global south
- Indigenous knowledge and languages
- Distribution and circulation of information
- Book and literary histories in Africa
- Market and readership analysis
- Publishing in South Africa and issues of accessibility
- Editing and production of local materials
- Content creation and distribution
- Financial management and commissioning of books
- Strategic sales management
