"Beyond Bin Laden" — A Hint at a New Way Forward for Long-form Journalism
A new “instabook” about Bin Laden hit the Kindle store about a week after the events. What might this mean for that space between books and magazines?
Stick to Your Ribs: Can the Creativity of Social Persuasion Cure "Corporate Asperger's Syndrome"?
This week, we revisit the power of persuasion, and wonder out loud if perhaps publishers suffer from traits that hold back engagement.
Brand, Context, and Containers: Publishing Into and Across the Digital Network
Established publishers don’t have the luxury of start-ups of ignoring existing operations, which makes it harder to fully engage with the Web. But an established brand can help create an extended marketing network.
Digital Texts in Education — E-Readers Still Have Limitations, But the Path Forward Is Clearer
While e-readers continue to fail crucial tests for academic utility, the alternative hints at more robust devices, not a return to print.
A Parable of Innovation in Publishing — A Mostly True Story
This is a parable of the role in innovation in publishing and makes the case that we should not criticize companies that try and fail to do new things.
Reflections on Google Book Search: You Can't Put the Google Back Into the Bottle
Despite the fact that the Google Books settlement was not approved, Google’s mass digitization has forever transformed the landscape of publishing, libraries, and the way we think about information.
Publishing Through the Wormhole: A New Format for the Born-digital Publisher
Digital media makes it possible to work in new formats. The medium-length work, between a book and an article, promises to open up a new variety of scholarly communications.
Amazon Continues to Push Book Innovation With Library Lending and Ad-Supported Kindles
Amazon continues to leverage its platform advantages into the e-reading space — this time, with a smart library-oriented move and an equally smart move toward advertising and sponsorship.
Algorithmic Pricing on Amazon — Is a Book About Flies Worth $23,698,655.93 (plus shipping)?
Algorithmic pricing on Amazon creates a book worth millions, and the problem seems to be repeating itself.
Disintermediation and Its Discontents: Publishers, Libraries, and the Value Chain
The disintermediation of publishers and libraries is more difficult than many suppose, as each link in the value chain does in fact add value to the process of scholarly communications.
Truth Trumps Fiction: Amazon Unveils Its Latest Kindle Innovation — Signed E-Books
An April Fool’s post is bested by reality — but that doesn’t mean the idea isn’t silly anyhow.
Librarian Caught in Bed with Book
Scandal sends shockwaves through library community. Publishers, meanwhile, see business in counter-culture books aimed at naughty librarians.
Traditional Publishing and Self-Publishing — Authors Now Call the Shots
A best-selling author turns down a $500,000 advance in order to self-publish, while a self-published author who has earned $2 million takes a book contract. What’s going on here?
Inkling: Another Digital Textbook Approacheth, But This Time, It Has Friends
A new app for textbooks on the iPad has a lot of backers, and there’s a lot at stake.
The Google Books Settlement: Where Things Stand, and Some Suggestions for What's Next
The Google Books Settlement actually hit its second roadblock this week. Here’s why, and where matter might go from here.