Pelican’s new browser-based reading website takes flight with grace

With subtle interactive features and simple, bold design, Penguin’s resurrected non-fiction imprint places the focus on the reading experienceAfter reading Economics: The User’s Guide by Ha-Joon Chang, published by Pelican Books, I feel confident enough to explain the word “disintermediation”. This catchy term means cutting out the middlemen from a supply chain, and it’s crucial to an understanding of modern publishing. Amazon has been trying to cut out publishers for two decades, in the hope of achieving a more efficient ecosystem. Publishers, once they got wind of this, started thinking of clever ways they could turn the tables: that is, cutting out Amazon and going direct to consumers.A new front in this literary conflict has opened at pelicanbooks.com, although it looks less like a battlefield than a boutique in an online Marylebone High Street. Penguin’s original non-fiction imprint relaunched earlier this year, its predictably covetable paperbacks glowing with turquoise nostalgia for the days when people bettered themselves rather than slumping in front of Gogglebox. Pelican’s digital incarnation is stunning, its flat design bold yet understated, with a studied simplicity reflected in the intuitive user experience. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-11-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #supply chain #modern publishing #started thinking

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How Facebook Could End Up Controlling Everything You Watch and Read Online

Given that links appear to be more clickable when shared on Facebook, online publishers have scrambled to become savvy gamers of Facebook’s News Feed, seeking to divine the secret rules that push some stories higher than others. But all this genuflection at the altar of Facebook’s algorithms may... Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2014-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #read online #online publishers #fundamental shift #consumed online


Rakuten launches new UK website

Rakuten has today (27th October) launched a new UK website selling physical and audiobooks via third party retailers. The Japanese e-commerce company said it plans to “focus on empowering more independent retailers to sell online in the UK.” Rakuten, which also owns Canada-based ebook retailer... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uk website #independent retailers #sell online


A Stellar New Fantasy Novel and 4 Other Books We’re Reading This Month

This month, we’re balancing some quick reads---a Jonathan Franzen-blessed debut and a slim companion volume from one of our favorite new(-ish) fantasy writers---with Walter Isaacson’s latest blockbuster on the history of technological innovation, along with a few other selections. Attention,... Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2014-10-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #month appeared #walter isaacson


Consider the Ebook Format: Books in Browsers V

How do authors create their digital book files and what influence does that process have on the final content? Speakers at Books in Browsers 2014 address this topic. The post Consider the Ebook Format: Books in Browsers V appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-10-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook format


Standards a Top Priority at Books in Browsers V

At this year's Books in Browsers conference, many speakers addressed the importance and relevance of standards for ebooks and web content. The post Standards a Top Priority at Books in Browsers V appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #browsers conference #top priority #web content


Taking Stock of the Big Screen Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook

Samsung and Barnes & Noble unveiled a new 10.1-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 NOOK yesterday. Early word from the tech press on the $300 tablet was mixed. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #taking stock


Books in Browsers V: Live Stream Video

Watch the live stream video from Books in Browsers 2014, a summit for developers and designers working in the book publishing industry. The post Books in Browsers V: Live Stream Video appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-10-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post books


Survey: 80% of Premium Publishers Want to Sell Ads Based on Time

Just weeks after the Financial Times said it would begin selling digital ads based on the time for which they're exposed to readers, a new survey shows other digital publishers are growing bullish about the tactic. The survey, from Digital Content Next, found that 80% of "premium" publishers are... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-10-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital content #time-based metrics


Short Takes: Religion Publishing News Briefs, October 22, 2014

The 2015 International Christian Retail Show has opened booth registration, debuting a new exhibitor platform. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #short takes


Italian Writing Festival Takes Women, Self-Publishing Seriously

The Women's Writing Festival in Matera, Italy was a showcase for the growing importance of women's fiction and self-publishing in Europe. The post Italian Writing Festival Takes Women, Self-Publishing Seriously appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-10-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #writing festival #growing importance


Tamblyn takes to Twitter to give his views on Amazon

Kobo’s president has launched a Twitter tirade about why indie authors should beware of Amazon’s supplier negotiation tactics. Michael Tamblyn, president and chief content officer of the Canada-based ebook company, took to social media today (17th October) to warn self-published authors in 32... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #indie authors #michael tamblyn


Richard Flanagan takes the Man Booker Prize, National Book Awards finalists are announced

Flanagan took the Man Booker Prize for his book 'The Narrow Road to the Deep North,' while works such as 'All the Light We Cannot See,' by Anthony Doerr and 'Age of Ambition,' by Evan Osnos made the cut for the National Book Award shortlists. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #narrow road #deep north #anthony doerr


How News UK Digs Into Data to Build its Subscriber Base

News UK, the British publishing arm of News Corp, is digging deep into its data to drive readership. To do so, it’s looking outside of the publishing business to maximize the base of digital subscribers for its news properties, wh ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2014-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #subscriber base #news uk #drive readership #digital subscribers


It's Time to Take a Responsive Approach to Content Marketing

Lots of companies are grouping a few writers and designers together and proclaiming themselves "brand newsrooms," but most of the messaging that comes out of newsrooms like these feels stale and awkward. The culprit? Process. Most brands won't let a single Tweet, Facebook image, or banner ad out... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #content producers #banner ad


In Afghanistan, Fledgling Publishing Industry Takes First Steps

Post-Taliban, a nascent publishing industry has emerged in Afghanistan, with hundreds of titles being published in Dari, Pashto, Uzbek and English. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-10-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New York-based EPS Acquired by MPS

MPS North America, a wholly owned subsidiary of Delhi-based MPS Limited, has completed the acquisition of EPS (Electronic Publishing Services). Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook's location-based ads can pitch you on the store you just walked by

If you’re like me, you might stroll past a local coffee shop or book store numerous times before you notice it’s there or go inside. Facebook thinks an ad might give that extra nudge.On Tuesday, the company began rolling out a new feature for local advertising that lets businesses target users... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2014-10-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #local advertising #smaller businesses #revenue stream


Short Takes: Religion Publishing News Briefs, October 8, 2014

Wanda Brunstetter tops 8 million; publishers partner to provide resources to churches. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #short takes #publishers partner


Should publishers take Web design cues from print?

Bloomberg may be building its digital footprint, but it's still taking some design cues from print. The post Should publishers take Web design cues from print? appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2014-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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NYT Public Editor Takes on Amazon-HBG Coverage

Coverage of the dispute between Amazon and the Hachette Book Group by the 'New York Times' made its way into the Sunday column of Margaret Sullivan, the paper's public editor. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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