Moving from publishing to a comms role - with Jo Butler episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 22, 2026 · 37 MIN

Moving from publishing to a comms role - with Jo Butler

from The Content Byte · host Lynne Testoni and Rachel Smith

This week, Rachel and Lynne chat with Jo Butler about switching careers from book publishing to marketing and communications at the University of Sydney. Jo shares her journey of nearly 30 years as a book editor, publisher and literary agent, and explains why she wanted a new challenge, as well as the appeal of more stable income and working with colleagues again.  She discusses: • how publishing has changed over the decades  • what she misses about editing  • what she wishes authors understood about publishing  • why comms still feels like storytelling, and how her skills feel more appreciated in a university environment • how she mapped her transferable skills for the move  • key skills for comms roles  • what her week looks like in internal communications  • the learning curve in university comms  • her ongoing connection to publishing through teaching in the Masters of Publishing program, and what she covers  • the 'hard truths' she shares with students  • AI in publishing  Connect with Jo via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-butler-bishops/  Read her blog on Rachel's List about book editing here: https://rachelslist.com.au/so-you-think-you-can-be-a-book-editor/ Find Lynne www.lynnetestoni.com Find Rachel www.rachelsmith.com.au Rachel's List www.rachelslist.com.au Thanks (as always) to our sponsors Rounded (www.rounded.com.au), an easy invoicing and accounting solution that helps freelancers run their businesses with confidence. Looking to take advantage of the discount for Rachel's List Gold Members? Email us at: [email protected] for the details. Episode edited by Marker Creative Co www.markercreative.co 

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Feb 22, 2026

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Moving from publishing to a comms role - with Jo Butler

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