Guided dually by the high-quality development of publishing and the construction of new liberal arts, the talent cultivation model in editing and publishing science has been continuously optimized. Adopting the perspective of value recognition of professionalism, this paper uses an empirical approach to investigate the participants who choose to study the editing and publishing science, and to explore their basic psychological needs, learning motivations, and willingness to learn, as well as the relationship among these factors. Moreover, it explores the optimization paths of talent cultivation for the editing and publishing science. Interviews and a survey are conducted among college students. The questionnaire is designed based on the scales related to self-determination theory and the results of student interviews. During the period of May 15th to June 22nd, 2022, the questionnaires were distributed to freshmen at a university in Shanghai, who did not chosen their disciplines with the options including "editing and publishing science". A total of 234 valid questionnaires were collected. Afterwards, the sample data were analyzed using SPSS and Amos, and the relationships among students' basic psychological needs, learning motivations and willingness to learn were tested, confirming that the sample data met the requirements of path analysis. The results revealed that the autonomous needs, competence needs, and relational needs of the respondents were associated with learning motivation and willingness to learn. The respondents’ value recognition of professionalism of editing and publishing science was significantly related to their self-assessment of suitability for this discipline and their willingness to learn. However, the recognition of the usefulness of editing and publishing science did not show a significant correlation with the willingness to learn, which may reflect the current deficiencies in the content and system of knowledge of this discipline. Based on these findings, optimizing the talent cultivation paths for editing and publishing science should focus on the value recognition of professionalism. Since the value recognition of professionalism is a key factor influencing the willingness to learn, the talent cultivation for editing and publishing science should be oriented toward enhancing the trainees’ value recognition of professionalism. On the basis of meeting their basic psychological needs, their willingness to learn can be fostered and sustained by enhancing the value recognition of professionalism. Therefore, optimizing the talent cultivation model for editing and publishing science should first clarify the connotation of value of professionalism, strengthen the value-oriented guidance, and enhance the professional identity and sense of mission of trainees. Second, it essential to satisfy the trainees’ independent learning needs, deepen their understanding of and interest in editing and publishing science, and promote the internalization of value of professionalism into their personal value orientation. Finally, the practical teaching system should be improved and a professional relational field should be established to meet the competence and relationship needs of trainees, thereby providing a diversified practice platform and learning environment to enhance their value recognition of professionalism.