By John Konczal, Global Industry Executive, Sterling Commerce, an IBM Company When the mere act of delivering content digitally isn’t enough, textbook publishers are coming up with new sales models for digital content. Thanks to the emergence of the Kindle and other electronic reading devices, today’s consumer can choose from a multitude of ways to consume content with multiple delivery …
Gamification: The New Marketing Buzzword
Using games to promote brands is increasingly commonplace. Learning some gaming “best practices” can help you avoid amateurish pitfalls and will reward you accordingly. By Hannah Johnson Over the past year or so, gamification (also called game mechanics, serious games, and funware) has become a mainstream technique that marketers rely on to drive more traffic to their websites, to increase …
Brazilian Book Market Grows to Nearly $2bn, Led by Growth in Trade and STM
For expanded coverage of the Brazilian book market, visit our new site and newsletter — PublishNews Brazil — powered by Publishing Perspectives. By Maria Fernanda Rodrigues, PublishNew Brazil The Brazilian publishing market continues to exhibit modest growth. According to the most recent figures released by the Brazilian Book Chamber (CBL) and the Brazilian Publishers Union (SNEL), the total market was …
With 150,000 Daily Print Subscribers, France’s Children’s Newspapers Remain Popular Despite “Digital Distractions”
By Olivia Snaije At least French kids are reading newspapers. There is always a business model that works against the odds. France’s book publisher Play Bac presse, which also publishes three newspapers for children, is simultaneously celebrating its 25th anniversary, and its founding paper, Mon Quotidien’s (My Daily) 15th birthday. At a time when newspapers worldwide are struggling, and in …
What Can Schools Do to Inspire More Literary Creativity in Children?
By Edward Nawotka Over the last several years literary entrepreneurs, supported by A-list authors, have opened several imaginative creative writing centers and bookshops aimed a children and teens. Arguably, these institutions — from Dave Egger’s 826 Valencia in San Francisco, Roddy Doyle’s Fighting Words in Dublin, to Nick Hornby’s Ministry of Stories in London (as discussed in today’s lead story) …
“The Kids Get It, Even If You Don’t”: Transmedia Storytelling in the Classroom
Editorial by Ian Harper MINNEAPOLIS: The National Education Technology Plan in the US has prescribed a wholesale technological transformation for education. Yet, adults — parents and teachers alike — often fear what’s “out there” on the Internet, whether “they” are bullies, predatory stalkers or pornography. This has made educators reluctant to embrace sharing technologies in the classroom. As a result, open …
The Ereader Market in China (And Its Unique Business Models)
By Emma House Emma House attended the Shanghai Exclusive Publishers Trip organized by the Frankfurt Book Fair and Creative Publishing Consulting. There are around 40 to 50 hardware manufacturers of ebook readers here in China. Unlike the Western markets, the Chinese market is very hardware-driven. Content however is a different matter. Apart from the publishing houses who have developed their …
Is Reading a Graphic Novel Adaptation of a Classic “Cheating?”
By Edward Nawotka Today’s lead story looks at the publishing program of Campfire Books, an Indian graphic novel company that is exporting comic book versions of Western classics around the world. The books are proving especially popular with teachers and schools, as a result of both their high quality and low cost, not to mention their appeal to younger readers. …
Flat World Knowledge’s “Freemium” Textbooks Gain 140,000 Users, Average $34 Per Sale
• Flat World Knowledge, a three-year-old textbook publisher, has released 24 titles which are now in use by 140,000 students at over 800 universities in the United States and another 50 abroad. • The company allows students to read the textbook for free online, while selling them POD, e-book and other editions. Over half of users opt for these additional …
Getting NOOKy: B&N Encourages Students to Study with E-textbooks
By Helen Gregg Just in time for back-to-college, Barnes & Noble announced today the August 2010 release of NOOKstudy, a free software application designed to help students use and manage all of their electronic resources and study aids. Despite the name, the application is for computers -– no Nook required. The new NOOKstudy will allow students to organize their class …