The New Yorker’s Ken Auletta on iPad v. Kindle

In Erin's Perspective by Erin L. Cox

By Erin L. Coxtny

In this week’s issue of The New Yorker, Media Reporter Ken Auletta reports on the digital publishing questions, such as publisher and bookseller opinions on the agency model, windowing, branding to readers instead of bookstores, whether Apple will be a better partner to publishers than Amazon, and featuring some of the usual suspects in digital publishing stories.

Much of the story wasn’t new to those who have been following this battle in the publishing trade news, but Auletta was able to get an Apple insider to provide a little insight into Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ mindset, “‘Ultimately, Apple is in the device—not the content—business,’ the Apple insider said. ‘Steve Jobs wants to make sure content people are his partner. Steve is in the I win/you win school. Jeff Bezos is in the I win/you lose school.'”

But, as Auletta mentions in the article, Jobs has a history of fighting for reduced prices, as he did with the music and television industries, so, while he’s a partner to publishers now, how long will it last? 

Read the article and make your decision.  Or, listen to the podcast interview with Ken Auletta on Thursday at 3pm ET on newyorker.com.

About the Author

Erin L. Cox

Erin L. Cox has worked as Business Development Director for Publishing Perspectives. She is a Senior Associate at Rob Weisbach Creative Management, where she represents writers and handles publicity and advertising clients.