Comments on: Whither Publishing In The Twenty Teens? http://greenlampmedia.com/2010/01/19/whither-publishing-in-the-twenty-teens/ Consultancy & Publishing Services For Publishers & Authors Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:10:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Seizing the Means of Production – Part 3 » Oisín McGann's Blog http://greenlampmedia.com/2010/01/19/whither-publishing-in-the-twenty-teens/#comment-10 Seizing the Means of Production – Part 3 » Oisín McGann's Blog Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:20:09 +0000 http://greenlampmedia.com/?p=179#comment-10 [...] Charlie Stross, Eoin Purcell talks about the race to the bottom in the world of digital publishing. He questions whether there [...] [...] Charlie Stross, Eoin Purcell talks about the race to the bottom in the world of digital publishing. He questions whether there [...]

]]> By: eoinpurcell http://greenlampmedia.com/2010/01/19/whither-publishing-in-the-twenty-teens/#comment-9 eoinpurcell Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:41:30 +0000 http://greenlampmedia.com/?p=179#comment-9 Oisin, Thanks for the comment. Love Stross' point of view, mainly because totally agree. The real advantage news orgs still have is that they have brands and reputation. If they'd only reduce their exposure to legacy distribution and employ more journalists doing real work, they might justify their pay-walls and the value of their content. In publishing terms, I agree that they need to move online with gusto and more than likely around vertical communities of interest that engage the audience and their attention. Tor.com is doing a good job of showing how that might work. In terms of brand there was an excellent keynote at the Digital book World conference by <a href="http://www.shivsingh.com/" rel="nofollow">Shiv Singh</a> on the topic of branding. Eoin Oisin,

Thanks for the comment.

Love Stross’ point of view, mainly because totally agree. The real advantage news orgs still have is that they have brands and reputation. If they’d only reduce their exposure to legacy distribution and employ more journalists doing real work, they might justify their pay-walls and the value of their content.

In publishing terms, I agree that they need to move online with gusto and more than likely around vertical communities of interest that engage the audience and their attention. Tor.com is doing a good job of showing how that might work.

In terms of brand there was an excellent keynote at the Digital book World conference by Shiv Singh on the topic of branding.

Eoin

]]> By: Oisin McGann http://greenlampmedia.com/2010/01/19/whither-publishing-in-the-twenty-teens/#comment-8 Oisin McGann Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:18:38 +0000 http://greenlampmedia.com/?p=179#comment-8 Hi Eoin, Sci-fi writer and tech journalist, Charlie Stross, has some interesting points to make about the problems of making money from digital publishing, and ensuring quality. He isn't a great believer in Murdoch's model, because of the way Google is creating a completely different model of spreading information. One that doesn't automatically create an environment that demands quality (http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2010/01/the-monetization-paradox-or-wh.html). And I don't necessarily agree that an iTunes for stories wouldn't work. Given that iTunes is looking at a subscription model, I could see that being the way publishers need to go - though it could mean we all end up writing serials. First though, publishers would have to give their brands a proper online profile so that people recognize them as filters of quality and come to them looking for the good stuff. This is still the main reason writers need publishers in the real world, but the recognition of the publisher's brand, to date, has only needed to extend as far as the reviewers and booksellers. Now that consumers are starting to bypass traditional retail outlets, that brand recognition - that of a provider of quality material - has to reach all the way to the reader. Otherwise, the publishing industry will merely become a service provider to writers who can afford to use it, and we'll be swamped with gigabytes of free-of-charge, stream-of-consciousness 'reality' writing, following in the wake of television. I think there's a danger that the publishing industry could be shunted aside because the readers are busy writing for each other. So there HAS to be a place to go for people who want something more. Oisin. Hi Eoin,
Sci-fi writer and tech journalist, Charlie Stross, has some interesting points to make about the problems of making money from digital publishing, and ensuring quality. He isn’t a great believer in Murdoch’s model, because of the way Google is creating a completely different model of spreading information. One that doesn’t automatically create an environment that demands quality (http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2010/01/the-monetization-paradox-or-wh.html). And I don’t necessarily agree that an iTunes for stories wouldn’t work. Given that iTunes is looking at a subscription model, I could see that being the way publishers need to go – though it could mean we all end up writing serials.
First though, publishers would have to give their brands a proper online profile so that people recognize them as filters of quality and come to them looking for the good stuff. This is still the main reason writers need publishers in the real world, but the recognition of the publisher’s brand, to date, has only needed to extend as far as the reviewers and booksellers. Now that consumers are starting to bypass traditional retail outlets, that brand recognition – that of a provider of quality material – has to reach all the way to the reader. Otherwise, the publishing industry will merely become a service provider to writers who can afford to use it, and we’ll be swamped with gigabytes of free-of-charge, stream-of-consciousness ‘reality’ writing, following in the wake of television.
I think there’s a danger that the publishing industry could be shunted aside because the readers are busy writing for each other. So there HAS to be a place to go for people who want something more.
Oisin.

]]> By: eoinpurcell http://greenlampmedia.com/2010/01/19/whither-publishing-in-the-twenty-teens/#comment-7 eoinpurcell Fri, 22 Jan 2010 10:16:35 +0000 http://greenlampmedia.com/?p=179#comment-7 I find this a huge worry. I don't know how we ensure it. Answers welcome! I find this a huge worry.

I don’t know how we ensure it. Answers welcome!

]]> By: Lee http://greenlampmedia.com/2010/01/19/whither-publishing-in-the-twenty-teens/#comment-6 Lee Fri, 22 Jan 2010 10:01:48 +0000 http://greenlampmedia.com/?p=179#comment-6 One thing which concerns me about the future of digital publishing is the nature of the archives. Today, we can always go back to printed and even handwritten texts. What happens if a publisher or magazine goes under, i.e. how do we guarantee that future generations have access to a writer's work? One thing which concerns me about the future of digital publishing is the nature of the archives. Today, we can always go back to printed and even handwritten texts. What happens if a publisher or magazine goes under, i.e. how do we guarantee that future generations have access to a writer’s work?

]]> By: eoinpurcell http://greenlampmedia.com/2010/01/19/whither-publishing-in-the-twenty-teens/#comment-5 eoinpurcell Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:24:47 +0000 http://greenlampmedia.com/?p=179#comment-5 Agree Guy! Quality is the scarcity in the era of easy content creation! Eoin Agree Guy!
Quality is the scarcity in the era of easy content creation!
Eoin

]]> By: Guy L. Gonzalez http://greenlampmedia.com/2010/01/19/whither-publishing-in-the-twenty-teens/#comment-4 Guy L. Gonzalez Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:12:38 +0000 http://greenlampmedia.com/?p=179#comment-4 I don't see these as being gloomy at all. Realistic, yes, and thankfully so. Your third point is the most critical, IMO, as the decision publishers have made there over the past couple of years (and continue to make) will have serious long-term effects on their ability to be competitive in the future. Tech evolves, devices and retailers come and go, but at the end of the day, if the quality declines, it's game over. I don’t see these as being gloomy at all. Realistic, yes, and thankfully so.

Your third point is the most critical, IMO, as the decision publishers have made there over the past couple of years (and continue to make) will have serious long-term effects on their ability to be competitive in the future. Tech evolves, devices and retailers come and go, but at the end of the day, if the quality declines, it’s game over.

]]> By: eoinpurcell http://greenlampmedia.com/2010/01/19/whither-publishing-in-the-twenty-teens/#comment-3 eoinpurcell Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:45:50 +0000 http://greenlampmedia.com/?p=179#comment-3 Thanks Colm, I've never understood people who bet against Murdoch! On the ISP point, the free model is unsustainable given the growing demand for capacity. There'll need to be new investment in capacity soon enough to meet that demand, especially as the speed of access demanded goes up. Eoin Thanks Colm,

I’ve never understood people who bet against Murdoch!

On the ISP point, the free model is unsustainable given the growing demand for capacity. There’ll need to be new investment in capacity soon enough to meet that demand, especially as the speed of access demanded goes up.

Eoin

]]> By: Colm http://greenlampmedia.com/2010/01/19/whither-publishing-in-the-twenty-teens/#comment-2 Colm Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:39:19 +0000 http://greenlampmedia.com/?p=179#comment-2 like some of the ideas and the whole ISP thing is something I missed. I can't see it happening though as more and more providers are moving to a free model. I think free access to the internet is the future and how you charge within that is the future.. surprise surprise Murdoch may be right again. like some of the ideas and the whole ISP thing is something I missed. I can’t see it happening though as more and more providers are moving to a free model. I think free access to the internet is the future and how you charge within that is the future.. surprise surprise Murdoch may be right again.

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