Publishing Evolution
The world of book publishing is going through a highly significant evolution at present born out by the research for this coursework on internet publishing, lads’ mags and the Booker Prize. The rise of the personal computer and sophistication of the human mind are reflected clearly in the publishing industry.
Whereas before publishing consisted of writing, printing and selling its product through retail shops the computer and, most significantly, the internet have opened up boundaries in our world to allow the free and easy access of information un-thought of as little as twenty years ago. The rise of Amazon.com is already threatening traditional booksellers with its “no mess – no fuss” attitude to selling that does not rely on demographics such as the educated and upper classes for its customer base. Rather it chooses to focus on making the purchase of a book more convenient so that anybody given five minutes break and access to a PC can order from an incredibly diverse and vast collection of books unlike anywhere else. Couple this in with price promotions un-tenable to high street retailers due to bulk buying it seems the rapid development of this means of bookselling can only set to continue.
In conjunction with the rise of the computer and internet is the growing sophistication of the human mind away from understood basic pleasures such as sex, recreational drugs and other surface distractions. The internet has allowed humans easy access to information that has direct and constructive relevance to their lives which the local bookseller or TV news can only offer by chance. This is reflected in the slow decline of sales in monthly lads’ mags due to throwaway weekly titles taking their place. Although there is always room for titillation and silly fun as shown by the success of these weekly titles they are forcing the highly-influential-to-youth monthlies to adapt or die into something more “reflective and indulgent and deep”.
Traditional elements of the publishing industry do still hold sway however with the Booker Prize maintaining its position as the leading guide to the most significant literary works of each year. The effect on sales for the author, publisher and bookseller of a short-listed title, or more significantly a winner, proves that although we are certainly going through some major changes to the way the industry works it is by no means certain that stronger elements of the existing system will die out.
This research shows without a doubt that times are changing and with it a lot more. As we start to understand the capabilities of the microchip, technology is being increasingly employed in as many different disciplines as possible. In publishing we see the rise not only of internet bookselling but print-on-demand allowing tiny runs of titles made economically possible and also online publishing such as ‘blogging’ where the costs of publishing information to a world-wide audience are virtually nil. The music industry has already suffered from the internet’s easy accessibility and low cost but has responded by embracing the previously illegal download culture and hence reaping the rewards. The publishing industry with its tradition and pleasure of owning a physical book may not suffer quite so badly and seems far more willing to adapt than the music industry did with its initial aggressive and confrontational display upon discovery of its changed situation. As the internet takes over as our primary source of information it is up to publishers to put in place direct sales websites and similar in order to maintain their viability and ultimately the free and uncensored passing of knowledge which organisations such as Amazon.com could threaten.
Whereas before publishing consisted of writing, printing and selling its product through retail shops the computer and, most significantly, the internet have opened up boundaries in our world to allow the free and easy access of information un-thought of as little as twenty years ago. The rise of Amazon.com is already threatening traditional booksellers with its “no mess – no fuss” attitude to selling that does not rely on demographics such as the educated and upper classes for its customer base. Rather it chooses to focus on making the purchase of a book more convenient so that anybody given five minutes break and access to a PC can order from an incredibly diverse and vast collection of books unlike anywhere else. Couple this in with price promotions un-tenable to high street retailers due to bulk buying it seems the rapid development of this means of bookselling can only set to continue.
In conjunction with the rise of the computer and internet is the growing sophistication of the human mind away from understood basic pleasures such as sex, recreational drugs and other surface distractions. The internet has allowed humans easy access to information that has direct and constructive relevance to their lives which the local bookseller or TV news can only offer by chance. This is reflected in the slow decline of sales in monthly lads’ mags due to throwaway weekly titles taking their place. Although there is always room for titillation and silly fun as shown by the success of these weekly titles they are forcing the highly-influential-to-youth monthlies to adapt or die into something more “reflective and indulgent and deep”.
Traditional elements of the publishing industry do still hold sway however with the Booker Prize maintaining its position as the leading guide to the most significant literary works of each year. The effect on sales for the author, publisher and bookseller of a short-listed title, or more significantly a winner, proves that although we are certainly going through some major changes to the way the industry works it is by no means certain that stronger elements of the existing system will die out.
This research shows without a doubt that times are changing and with it a lot more. As we start to understand the capabilities of the microchip, technology is being increasingly employed in as many different disciplines as possible. In publishing we see the rise not only of internet bookselling but print-on-demand allowing tiny runs of titles made economically possible and also online publishing such as ‘blogging’ where the costs of publishing information to a world-wide audience are virtually nil. The music industry has already suffered from the internet’s easy accessibility and low cost but has responded by embracing the previously illegal download culture and hence reaping the rewards. The publishing industry with its tradition and pleasure of owning a physical book may not suffer quite so badly and seems far more willing to adapt than the music industry did with its initial aggressive and confrontational display upon discovery of its changed situation. As the internet takes over as our primary source of information it is up to publishers to put in place direct sales websites and similar in order to maintain their viability and ultimately the free and uncensored passing of knowledge which organisations such as Amazon.com could threaten.
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