How Amazon puts misinformation on your reading list | John Naughton

Algorithms routinely come up with ‘recommendations’ for anti-vax ‘bestsellers’ or juices that cure cancerIt’s a truism that we live in a “digital age”. It would be more accurate to say that we live in an algorithmically curated era – that is, a period when many of our choices and perceptions are shaped by machine-learning algorithms that nudge us in directions favoured by those who employ the programmers who write the necessary code.A good way of describing them would be as recommender engines. They monitor your digital trail and note what interests you – as evidenced by what you’ve browsed or purchased online. Amazon, for example, regularly offers me suggestions for items that are “based on your browsing history”. It also shows me a list of what people who purchased the item I’m considering also bought. YouTube’s engine notes what kinds of videos I have watched – and logs how much of each I have watched before clicking onwards – and then presents on the right-hand side of the screen an endlessly-scrolling list of videos that might interest me based on what I’ve just watched. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2020-08-08 16:00:12 UTC ]
News tagged with: #digital age #browsing history

Other Publishing stories related to: 'How Amazon puts misinformation on your reading list | John Naughton'


Brodie joins The Reading Agency

Karen Brodie is joining literacy charity The Reading Agency as head of publisher partnerships.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-08-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #reading agency #publisher partnerships


HC launches Killer Reads imprint with open submission

HarperCollins is launching a new digital-first crime and thriller list, which will begin... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-08-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #open submission #thriller list


Business Adventures why Bill Gates's favourite book is back at the top of the bestseller lists

It is 43 years old and was out of print for ages, but the Microsoft mogul's approval has caused a brand new surge in salesName: Business AdventuresAge: 43 Continue reading... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #business adventures #bill gates #favourite book #bestseller lists


Roald Dahl book award put on hold

A children's book prize inspired by Matilda author Roald Dahl is put on hold for two years. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2014-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Hachette ebook sales fall in wake of dispute with Amazon over pricing

Hachette finance chief plays down effect of Amazon tactics as parent Lagardère reports 1% overall dip in salesThe Hachette publishing group has reported a fall in ebook sales as it continues its battle with Amazon over pricing.The publisher of Ian Rankin and Booker prize nominee Joshua Ferris... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook sales #ian rankin #online retailer #bestselling authors


Amazon Explains Why It Thinks $9.99 is the Right Price for Ebooks

On the Kindle forum, Amazon said it wants to price most eBooks at $9.99, claiming lower prices will sell more books and return more money to authors. Many disagree. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


John Green's novels will stay in Wisconsin, Florida schools

Parents complained about Green's books 'Looking for Alaska' and 'Paper Towns,' but a school committee in Wisconsin decided not to remove 'Alaska' and 'Towns' was taken off a reading list in Florida, then restored.  Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-07-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #john green #paper towns


Amazon to Hachette: Lower ebook prices and we won't ask for more of the revenues

Amazon recently extended a public challenge to Hachette, saying that if the publisher will lower ebook prices to $9.99, the company won't ask for a larger share of the revenues. This is the first time Amazon has publicly shared details of the dispute between the two companies. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-07-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #time amazon


HBG Sales Rise 5.6% Despite Amazon’s 'Punitive' Actions

Despite its dispute with Amazon, in the first six months of 2014 Hachette Book Group revenue rose 5.6% over sales in the first half of 2013. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Amazon says $9.99 ebooks will boost revenue, including for Hachette

Amazon.com believes that pricing ebooks at US$9.99 will boost sales by over 74 percent as the books are highly price-elastic.If customers would buy 100,000 copies of a particular ebook at $14.99, then they would buy 174,000 copies of the same ebook at $9.99, boosting total revenue to $1.7... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2014-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pricing ebooks #boost revenue #boost sales #post tuesday


Amazon Is Experimenting With A New Homepage Design

The newer, flatter design puts Kindle, Fire, and Prime categories front and center.Amazon has unveiled a new homepage design to select users, placing a new emphasis on the retail giant's biggest brands: the Kindle ebook platform, its Fire lineup of tablets and smartphones, and the Prime... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2014-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #retail giant #biggest brands #huge library #digital content #yearly fee


Amazon Claims $9.99 E-books Create 'Bigger Pie'

Amazon claims a "key objective" in its ongoing dispute with Hachette is to keep ebook prices low and competitive with other other media. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon claims #ongoing dispute


Bill Hybels: To-Do List as a ‘Holy Endeavor’

Technology and modern conveniences have made life easier, right? Not so much. The mental flotsam and frenzied busyness have actually made life more stressful and demanding, according to Willow Creek founding pastor Bill Hybels, whose new book offers practices to find freedom from “soul clutter.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bill hybels #made life


Preston: authors 'feel betrayed' by Amazon dispute

Books “should not be treated as if they’re boxes of cereal occupying grocery store... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon dispute


Amazon: 'Hachette paying authors too little on ebooks'

Hachette Book Group is “sharing too small a portion” of the revenue from ebooks with... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Amazon runs the numbers to convince you that ebooks should be cheaper

After unsuccessfully trying to charm authors, Amazon is now appealing to its customers during the ongoing war with Hachette. The retailer has revealed the reasons behind the spat, i.e. cheaper ebook prices, and the noble intentions behind it. Using... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon runs #ongoing war


Amazon partners with Alloy for YA digital-first imprint

Amazon Publishing in the US has partnered with Alloy Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros, to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #alloy entertainment #amazon partners #amazon publishing #warner bros


Spain's newspaper publishers put their faith in 'Google tax' law

Traditional mainstream publishers in Spain believe they have found a way to extract payment for the appropriation of their online content.It follows the Spanish congress's passing of a law last week nicknamed tasa Google ("Google tax") which gives newspaper publishers the right to seek payment... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-07-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #online content #exclusive content #newspaper publishers


Amazon, Alloy Team for Digital Imprint

Amazon Publishing and Alloy Entertainment have partnered on a new digital-first imprint called Alloy Entertainment. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon publishing #digital imprint #alloy entertainment


Roads Publishing to Launch First U.S. List

Roads Publishing, a division of the Dublin-based luxury brand, Roads, is bringing its list of illustrated books to the U.S. and Canada for the first time this fall. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #illustrated books