It's that time of year to review your growth plans, see what's working, and get rid of what's not working. So take a few cues (or words of warning) from Tina Brown, who recently shut down the print edition of Newsweek and moved to an all-digital format.
If e-books are the future, are libraries the past? Brick and mortar book-lenders haven’t gotten on the e-book bandwagon because publishers make digital rights too expensive. Maybe we can help them out.
When I dipped my toe in the world of digital publishing, I expected the tech to be puzzling, the marketing untested, and the devices shiny but confusing. What I didn't count on was the crowd of people we used to call "readers" to turn into a chorus of critics demanding to be engaged. The journey to creating this app involved a whole new way of thinking and a unique workflow.
Paywalls may be working for the New York Times, but other publishers looking for a digital lifeline may not want to rely on them. Still, what's the alternative? Google has quietly cooked one up that asks online readers to answer one market-research question as a "toll" for accessing content. Nieman Journalism Lab is calling it a "survey wall" model. It's like a micropayment, but with attention and data instead of cash out of your pocket.
Will digital distribution revitalize the comics industry or kill it? DC Comics brings judgment day nearer with a big move to "day and date" digital release for its "New 52" launch.
Harry Potter will apparate as an e-text exclusively on new Sony e-readers. It's a clever move that could give Sony some room to maneuver against Amazon and Apple.
In a move that'll help some digital magazine publishers and possibly streaming content providers, Apple has adjusted the terms and conditions for its subscriptions service. But how much help will it provide the struggling industry?
Your backpack is about to get (much) lighter. Heavy paper textbooks are about to become collectors' items thanks to the instant popularity of tablets, and a number of other e-book market trends.
