Job Description

Overview
Company: Harlequin Trade Publishing
Date: January-June 2026 (6 months)
Job Title: Publicity Intern
Department: Publicity
Reporting To: Justine Sha, Publicity Manager
Status: Intern
Location: 22 Adelaide Street West, Toronto (hybrid model) -must be able to commute to Toronto Downtown office 2 days per week
Job Summary:
Reporting to the Publicity Manager, the Publicity Intern will work on a variety of fiction and non-fiction publicity campaigns for Harlequin Trade Publishing's Hanover Square Press, Park Row Books, and MIRA imprints. The Publicity Team works closely with the editorial, marketing, and sales departments, and works directly with authors to gain key exposure for our books and imprints through earned media promotion and placement on broadcast, in print, and online, as well as bookstore and other industry events like conferences, trade shows, and meetings with media (in-person and virtual). This could include coordinating and creating bookstore tours/events, escorting authors to media appearances and events, networking with media and industry, and booking and confirming travel for authors.
In this role, you will be responsible for creating press materials, media and bookseller pitching, researching bylines and media outlets, helping book author tours and special events, and being an ambassador for our books and authors.
The Publicity Intern will complete this internship with a strong understanding of how to create and execute a publicity campaign from start to finish, how to craft a topical pitch for various media (TV/radio/podcasts, print, and digital), how to research and pitch media, and how to build a bookstore tour/event, among other key publicity duties.
Responsibilities

• Help research, organize and execute media campaigns, online reviews and features, and television and radio interviews.
• Implement review copy mailings, including sending both digital and physical galleys/books, create and manage media lists, and log media hits and interest.
• Create innovative press materials for a variety of fiction and non-fiction, across genres, and for seasonal media meetings
• Research media contacts and trends, and pitch journalists, top book reviewers/producers and trade industry reporters.
• Assist publicists and work with bookstores to coordinate author events
• Staff support includes organizing mailings, creating shipping labels, sending orders to print shop, ordering books from warehouse and coordinating mailings with our off-site warehouse.
• Opportunity to attend and pitch titles in meetings with media contacts, as well as assist with preparing pitch materials and packets for these meetings.
• Submit authors and titles for book awards and book festivals.
• Opportunity to attend and shadow in-person media and event appearances in Toronto.

Qualifications

• Completion of university or college education, or possess equivalent/relevant work experience
• Ability to successfully manage multiple projects with strong prioritization skills.
• Proven ability to deliver timely, accurate work product, manage multiple deadlines, and demonstrate solid follow through.
• Ability to pay close attention to detail in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• High level of organization and record-keeping.

Competencies/Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; interpersonal, persuasion and problem-solving skills, with the aptitude to communicate effectively in both individual and group settings.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including a basic understanding of Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

• Creativity, enthusiasm, and a love of books are a must, especially for commercial and genre fiction.

About HarperCollins Canada and Harlequin
Harlequin is a leading publisher of commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction. We publish more than 100 titles a month that reach audiences globally. Encompassing highly recognizable imprints that span a broad number of genres, we are home to many award-winning New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling authors. Harlequin is a division of HarperCollins Publishers, the second-largest consumer book publisher
in the world. Through HarperCollins's global publishing program, Harlequin titles are published in 17 countries and 16 languages.
Known worldwide for the quality of its list, HarperCollins Canada is the proud home of many bestselling and award-winning authors, including Esi Edugyan, Heather O'Neill, and Lawrence Hill. It is our vision to publish the best books of our generation and to work with authors over the length and breadth of their careers. Our authors are at the centre of everything we do. In addition to the Canadian publishing program, HarperCollins Canada is responsible for the sales, marketing, and publicity of HarperCollins titles from around the globe
HarperCollins Canada and Harlequin are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to equal employment opportunities. Employment decisions are based on job requirements and the skills,
knowledge, and experience of the candidate, regardless of any other factors unrelated to job performance.
We are also committed to ensuring that the accessibility needs of candidates and employees are considered and accommodated during the recruitment process.
We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Skills Required