As Apple and Google take aim at ads, publishers tremble – So with Google now planning to monetize digital advertising to whatever extent possible, and Apple claiming that it will block autoplay (THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU) and stop (some) consumer tracking, digital publishers ranging from The New York Times to Vox Media are challenged anew ... more >
Samhain was never closing? – So, we’ve always been rooting for Samhain, and for readers it was good news to hear recently that the publisher wasn’t going to have to complete its “wind-down to close” detailed in this letter from Christina Brashear. Understandably, that apparent turnaround frustrated some authors who had books ... more >
Samhain tells its authors that the doors will stay open: Chris Brashear informed Samhain authors that expense cutting strategies are keeping the publisher afloat, and they hope to re-open submissions (internally at first) by fall. They’ve also enlisted a PR service to market and promote their titles, so hopefully they ... more >
Jet And Ebony Sold, Ending A 71-Year Run Under Johnson Publishing – The sale of these two publications is being spun as a new opportunity to move Ebony and Jet in new directions. Linda Johnson Rice will remain in her current position as chair of Johnson and also serve on the BOD ... more >
Confessions of a newspaper publishing exec: ‘We’ve screwed up by pursuing scale’ – I think almost every Q&A from this interview could begin with “Dear Twitter,” because the platform has become so twisted by the pursuit of NEW USERS and MORE CLICKS. For the sake of NEW USERS and MORE CLICKS. ... more >
Book publishing is a resilient business: Kobo CEO – An interview with Kobo’s CEO Michael Tambyln, who argues that “every year [the publishing industry] finds a new driver for growth,” and this year it is the dynamic between print and digital books. Despite the digital slowdown, Tambyln notes the continuing growth ... more >