Oxford University Press's
Academic Insights for the Thinking World

Getting to know Anna Hernandez-French, Assistant Editor in Journals

What’s it like to work in the publishing industry? From our many offices around the globe, we try to give you a glimpse into our private world, chasing down some of the most interesting personalities that make Oxford University Press…well, Oxford University Press! This week, we are excited to bring you an interview with Anna Hernandez-French, an Assistant Editor in Scientific and Medical Journals. Anna has been working at OUP since September 2012.

When did you start working at OUP?

10 September 2012, so I just passed my three-year anniversary.

What drew you to work for OUP in the first place? What do you think about that now?

I attended the Columbia Publishing Course in 2009 and left with a sense that I was more suited to academic publishing than trade. I admire OUP’s mission—supporting excellence in research, scholarship, and education—and I get a great sense of fulfillment from the small part I play in supporting these goals. What I have found I also enjoy, however, is the day-to-day business aspects of my job. It’s great to build relationships and work one-on-one with some of the best minds in the academic community, and I end up learning a lot of about a number of subjects I might otherwise encounter very little. As an English major, working with scientific and medical journals has been fascinating and definitely expanded my knowledge and interests.

What publication do you read regularly to stay up to date on industry news?

The publication I read most regularly is the Scholarly Kitchen blog, which features posts on key journals publishing topics from a variety of viewpoints (Editors, Librarians, Service Providers, etc.) within the industry and the larger academic community.

What’s the most enjoyable part of your day?

About half an hour after I get into the office in the morning, once I’ve sorted through my inbox and laid out the day’s to-do list. It’s very satisfying.

What’s the least enjoyable part of your day?

The inevitable and constant rearranging and postponing of items on my to-do list as other, more urgent things arise.

Anna Hernandez-French (Assistant Editor, Scientific & Medical Journals)
Photo of Anna Hernandez-French. Used with permission.

What is the strangest thing currently on or in your desk?

A purple nerf gun I got at the team’s 2014 Christmas Yankee Swap. It shoots secret messages in foam capsuls, so it’s obviously a very handy item to have around the office. It was a very sought-after item among my teammates.

What was your first job in publishing?

I interned in the Academic/Trade books division before taking on a permanent role in Journals Editorial.

What’s your favorite book?

This is always a tough one. I have a long list of much-loved books, some of which I reread periodically (and all of which I try to own in print), but I usually come back to Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment as my absolute top favorite.

What will you be doing once you’ve completed this Q&A?

I have a catch-up call with one of my journal’s Production Editors, another call with another journal’s Editor-in-Chief, and then I will be reviewing and following up on logistical details for our team’s Fall conference, Oxford Journals Day, which I am organizing this year.

What is your most obscure talent or hobby?

I like to make handmade cards for birthdays and holidays, collage-style. When I was growing up, my siblings and I were expected to make handmade thank you cards for our friends and relatives who sent us Christmas presents. I found I was much better at cutting and gluing paper than I was at drawing.

What is the longest book you’ve ever read?

I think that would have to be The Wandering Jew, at 887 pages, according to the internet (my copy, which I don’t have on hand, seemed longer). I’ve not yet attempted War and Peace.

What one resource would you recommend to someone trying to get into publishing?

I’ve found that the most important and enduring resource for me has been personal connections within the industry. Whether it be through your alumni network, an internship, or one of the publishing courses like the Columbia Publishing Course that I attended, making contacts in the industry is key not only to landing your first job, but also providing you with a network that will aid and support you throughout your career.

Image Credit: Photo by Kate Donaldson. CC BY NC-SA 2.0 via Flickr.

Recent Comments

There are currently no comments.