For our final new issue of the year, we wanted to reflect a little on the year and share what each of us thought was the most radical publishing event of 2010 and gaze into our crystal ball for 2011. Look for five days of our best stories from 2010. We’ll be back in 2011 with fresh reporting, insight, interviews and …
Does Size Matter?
Editorial by Edward Nawotka One of the most popular panels yesterday at the fair and sparked a lot of discussion concerned the release of the list ranking the largest publishers in the world (see our story in today’s issue). Are you shocked to hear that the biggest is Pearson? Size is important, but perhaps not quite as much as it …
From Frankfurt: OR Books Preaches Elegant, Direct Model
By Chad W. Post Speaking at both Tools of Change and the International Digital Rights Symposium, John Oakes of the newly launched OR Books elucidated his business model. Compared to traditional publishing structures, its simplicity is quite revolutionary. Launching last fall, OR Books has a few specific strategies: it offers its authors relatively low advances (and high royalties), edits the …
Has Publishing’s Digital Obsession Undermined Fundamental Business Practices?
By Edward Nawotka In today’s lead article, Shelia Bounford of NBN International encourages publishers to pay more attention to customer service. Bounford believes publishers need to reverse a nearly 100-year trend of moving away from their customers, a distancing that came as retail removed the direct connection to the book-buying public. It seems like a simple concept — cater to …