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In News by Hannah Johnson

By Hannah Johnson The Frankfurt Book Fair officially opened yesterday evening, ringing in the 2011 Fair with Iceland as the Guest of Honor this year. Speakers also discussed this year’s cooperation with car-maker Audi, whose pavillion in the Fair has become a hive of activity — it is home to the Press Centre, the StoryDrive conference and other events this …

From Frankfurt: OR Books Preaches Elegant, Direct Model

In What's the Buzz by Chad W. Post

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 …

From Frankfurt 2010: Paradoxes Abound at TOC Frankfurt

In What's the Buzz by Hannah Johnson

By Todd Sattersten Everyone knows the past year has been one of great change for the publishing industry, but at the same time there is a growing sense of comfort. It feels like things are starting to work themselves out. Distribution of electronic books now has an ecosystem of devices and distribution points. Readers have actively adopted to new technologies. …

TOC Frankfurt Preview: Douglas Rushkoff on Upstart Publishing, Staying Human in a Digital World

In Growth Markets by Chad W. Post

• In advance of his keynote speech at today’s Tools of Change Frankfurt conference, Douglass Rushkoff discusses his new book Program or Be Programmed and the advantages of working with a small, digital publisher instead of a traditional corporate one. • “People accept the tools and interfaces that they’re presented with as if they were pre-existing conditions of the universe,” says …

Has Publishing’s Digital Obsession Undermined Fundamental Business Practices?

In Discussion by Hannah Johnson

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 …