This year’s virtual Frankfurt Conference sets out the big issues, topics and trends shaping our industry right now. In two tracks—academic publishing on Oct. 11 and trade publishing on Oct. 12—leading experts share their insights into how publishing is changing, which developments and trends are most important, and which dynamics they believe will impact the business in the coming year.

Each track is followed by The Hof, a virtual networking event featuring commentary on the conference and breakout rooms where participants can connect with each other.

Academic Publishing Track – October 11

The academic track is programmed by Sven Fund, whose deep knowledge of this industry gives him a broad view of how major issues and trends are impacting academic publishing. He’s gathered an impressive group of speakers from across the academic publishing field who will share brief, clear opinions on a single, focused topic. These topics have been chosen by top experts from around the world, who are executing on these issues every day.

Time (CET)SessionSpeakers
14:30 – 14:45IntroductionSven Fund, General Manager Publishing Solutions, ResearchGate
14:45 – 15:00Has COVID fundamentally transformed the publishing ecosystem?Claudio Aspesi, Independent Consultant
15:00 – 15:15Reimagining Publishing as a Service

Organized in partnership with the Charleston Conference		Todd Toler, Vice President, Product Strategy and Partnerships, Wiley
15:15 – 15:30Will Open Access Save Libraries?

Organized in partnership with the Charleston Conference		Rick Anderson, University Librarian, Brigham Young University
15:30 – 15:45The OA Choir Is Not Singing from the Same SheetDanny Kingsley, Associate Librarian (Content & Digital Library Strategy), Flinders University
15:45 – 16:00Is Publishing Worth Investing In?TBC
16:00 – 16:15Post-Pandemic Editorial Strategy: What Have We Learned?Penelope Lewis, Chief Publishing Office, AIP Publishing
16:15 – 16:30Will Publishers’ Fears Kill Innovation?David Worlock, Co-Chair, Outsell Leadership Community
16:30 – 16:45Are Society Publishers Suited for Open Access?Sara Bosshart, Head of Open Access Journals, Royal Society of Chemistry
16:45 – 17:00Does Research Evaluation Distort Publishing?Sami Benchekroun, Co-Founder and CEO, Morressier
17:00 – 17:15ConclusionSven Fund, General Manager Publishing Solutions, ResearchGate
17:30 – 18:30The Hof: Networking for Academic Conference Attendees

Separate, free-of-charge registration required.		Richard Charkin, Founder, Mensch Publishing (UK);
Sven Fund, General Manager Publishing Solutions, ResearchGate;
Hosted by Felix Zeltner, Co-Founder, Remote Daily

In partnership with:

Trade Publishing Track – October 12

The trade publishing track—covering the consumer publishing market—addresses core publishing issues in the form of mini-keynotes, videos, lightning talks, and fast-moving interviews.

Time (CET)SessionSpeakers
14:30 – 14:40WelcomeHannah Johnson, Publisher, Publishing Perspectives
14:40 – 15:00International Perspective: Book Sales and Bookselling

From temporary bookstore closures and delayed publication dates to accelerating online book sales and out-of-the-box strategies for reaching readers online, the pandemic has changed and disrupted many of the ways books are marketed and sold to readers. Looking at the global book marketplace through the lens of book sales and bookselling, Cyrus Kheradi (Senior Vice President of International Sales and Marketing at Penguin Random House) will share his insights on the past year and a half and explore whether we’ll see these trends continue in the near future.		Cyrus Kheradi, Senior Vice President International Sales and Marketing, Penguin Random House;
Moderator: Hannah Johnson, Publisher, Publishing Perspectives
15:00 – 15:30Editorial Strategies: Quantities and Qualities

Two editorial experts look at two specific trends today in publishing’s development—each with elements intensified by the pandemic. Siv Bublitz talks about her title output strategy, and Marco Garcia addresses the necessity of diversity in the acquisitions process. A spirited and insightful look at values now enriching the international publishing landscape, more as imperatives than as options.		Siv Bublitz, President and Publisher, S. Fischer;
Marco Garcia, Editorial Director, V&R Editoras;
Moderator: Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief, Publishing Perspectives
15:30 – 16:00Scholastic: What’s Ahead for Children’s Book Publishing

Scholastic’s global footprint and engagement across publishing, education, literacy, and accessibility puts the company in a prime position to influence and observe the direction of children’s book publishing in many countries. In this session, world publishing leaders share memories and tributes to Scholastic’s late CEO, Dick Robinson, and his enormous contributions to the book community. Then, Scholastic’s newly appointed CEO Peter Warwick shares his top-level views on what’s ahead for children’s book publishing and for Scholastic, in an interview with Publishing Perspectives editor-in-chief Porter Anderson.		Peter Warwick, President and CEO, Scholastic;
Moderator: Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief, Publishing Perspectives
16:00 – 16:30Film Market Insights for Publishers: Lightning Talks

Three film industry experts present key insights on how their regional markets operate, which important trends are emerging, and how book publishers can make connections in the film business. This session is co-organized by Frankfurter Buchmesse and Berlinale Co-Production Market, as part of the “Books at Berlinale” cooperation project.		Henning Adam, Curator of Books at Berlinale, Berlinale Co-Production Market;
Noemi Ferrer Schwenk, Executive Director of DR Sales, Danmarks Radio (DR);
Raymond Phathanavirangoon, Film producer, Executive Director, Southeast Asia Fiction Film Lab;
Jeffrey Sharp, film producer, Executive Director, The Gotham Film & Media Institute;
Moderator: Syd Atlas
16:30 – 17:00What Rights Buyers Want: Lightning Talks

Five experts from five markets offer quick insights into what’s selling in translation their countries, which book trends are coming and going, and what types of titles they’re looking for from foreign publishers.		Anna Soler-Pont, Founder, Pontas Agency;
Banu Ünal, Vice General Manager, Günışığı Kitaplığı;
Ciccy Yuqi Shang, Rights Manager, Phoenix Juvenile and Children’s Publishing;
François von Hurter, Co-founder, Bitter Lemon Press;
Thomas Tebbe, Editorial Director for Literary Fiction, Piper Verlag;
Moderator: Emma House, international publishing consultant
17:00 – 17:10ConclusionHannah Johnson, Publisher, Publishing Perspectives
17:30 – 18:30The Hof: Networking for Trade Conference Attendees

Separate, free-of-charge registration required.		Simon de Jocas, President and owner, Les Éditions 400 Coups;
Hosted by Felix Zeltner, Co-Founder, Remote Daily

In partnership with: