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Joe McEntee

It all started back at University - I was doing an MSc at Manchester and my supervisor floated the idea of staying on for another three years to do a PhD. I thought long and hard about it, but eventually realized that some people are cut out for a research career - and others aren't. I'm in the latter category.

Once I'd got that straight, the next step was pretty obvious: finding a job. Shortly after, I saw IOP Publishing's advert for an Assistant Editor and thought I might as well fire off my CV. To be honest, it was more in hope than anything, and I didn't really have a clue what the job involved - but IOP Publishing ended up making me an offer and I ended up accepting.

I started in the journals division, on both peer review and production. I spent about 18 months in the role, building my knowledge of our core business. Soon enough though, I took a step sideways, and started working as a journalist on Physics World - our flagship magazine. It was a big deal for me, because the magazine is read by around 35,000 members worldwide. I was Production Editor there until mid 1994. Since then, I've edited a number of our more applied print and online titles, covering technologies including telecoms, energy and biomedical.

Though I was well supported when I joined, learnt a lot and rose quickly through the company, new starters get more formal help finding their feet these days: there's a journalism training programme in place which combines intensive on-the-job training with a series of external modules supplied by specialist training providers like the Periodical Publishers' Association. It's a good way to pick up the fundamentals, from news and feature writing and interviewing through to subbing and media law. Everyone who joins as a journalist goes through it, and as you progress, there's more tailored training on offer too.

I'd say IOP Publishing is a unique, rewarding place to work: the journalists combine expert knowledge - about science and technology, about their readers and about publishing generally - with a real passion to make their titles number one in their respective communities or markets. That commitment comes across in our retention rate, which stands comparison with any publishing house. And it's definitely inspiring to see just how much energy and passion comes across when you get scientists and engineers talking about fundamental research, technological innovation or "the next big thing".