Press Intern - Cato Press

To be considered for this role, you must apply directly through our online application. 

About the Role

This paid, in-person internship in Washington, DC (25–40 hours per week over 12 weeks) joins Cato Press, where you’ll work closely with the managing editor and acquiring editor on upcoming books. You’ll support the full publishing process—focusing on copyediting and proofreading using the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS), cleaning up references and bibliographies, standardizing house style, and fact-checking.

Daily tasks include reviewing manuscripts and audiobooks for accuracy; researching comparable titles, keywords, and BISAC category codes; assisting with marketing and outreach mailings; and helping prepare clean, production-ready files.

The work is detail-oriented and deadline-driven, and advances Cato’s mission of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace.

Responsibilities

• Copyedit references and bibliographies for punctuation, spelling, and formatting according to the Chicago Manual of Style.
• Fact-check quotations, data, names, and cited claims against primary sources.
• Research comp titles, keywords, and category codes for new titles.
• Help with mailing books and managing outreach lists.
• Review audiobook recordings to verify accuracy against the text and identify issues.
• Participate in team meetings and assist at events promoting Cato Press books.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated interest in book publishing and copyediting/proofreading; alignment with Cato’s mission and audience.
• Strong writing and editorial judgment; consistent application of the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS).
• Strong background in social science or humanities research; fluent with online and university library databases.
• Proficient with Microsoft Word Track Changes and PDF markup; disciplined file/version control.
• Knowledge of publishing metadata and discoverability (comp titles, keywords, BISAC); formats clean, production-ready files.
• Professionalism and reliability—can meet deadlines, communicate clearly, and incorporate editorial feedback efficiently.

Finalists may be asked to complete a brief copyediting test.

The Cato Internship Program

Cato’s paid internships are available for undergraduates, recent graduates, graduate students, law students, and early-career professionals who are strongly committed to individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace—principles that together form libertarianism, also known as “classical liberalism,” “market liberalism,” or, to many of our international friends, simply “liberalism.” 

All Cato interns participate in the same intensive seminar series, which covers a wide range of history, philosophy, policy, and professional development topics. Interns also assist with events and occasionally support Cato staff with other daily tasks. 

Interns receive competitive pay. Part-time roles are adjusted accordingly and require a minimum of 25 hours per week. Program participants must be able to attend in person in Washington, DC. 

For more information about the internship program and experience, we encourage you to explore our website. If you have any questions, email studentprograms@cato.org.