Run by School of Arts, Culture and Language

10.000 Credits or 5.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 1

Organiser: Dr Eben Muse

During this one-week module you will work to define what it means to work in the publishing indusry in the 21st century. We will review the shape of the industry today and investigate the various professional roles within it. During the week you will discover and document your own relationship to the book trade and identify the focus of your interests and potential career paths. A blended learning approach will reflect the increasingly digital nature of the publishing workplace. On-site and on-line sessions will include lectures, seminars, workshops and talks by industry professionals. The class will meet again twice during the semester to reflect on the material and prepare for the assessment work.

Course content will include Introduction to course, the shape of the book trade and the professional roles it offers, the business practices and industrial forces that shape the book trade, the impact of the book trade on society, culture, innovation and commerce in the UK and internationally, copyright law and regulation the various models of the publishing circuit. Class lectures and seminars will include the shape of the publishing industry as it has evolved, including the major publishing houses and their imprints, the role of independent publishers, and the rise of the author-as-publisher. The book trade will be studied as a business working in a cultural and commercial environment and bounded by legislation and copyright regulation. In addition to the first week, the module will meet twice during the semester to reflect on the material and prepare for the assessment work.

excellent

70% and above Typically (A), the work of a candidate reaching Distinction will show many of the following qualities: • Thorough knowledge and understanding of relevant theories and types of analysis. • Thorough knowledge of a range of sources and the capacity to engage these critically. • Introduction and discussion of original ideas. • Relevant, well-organised and sophisticated argument. • High ratio of analysis to exposition. • Maturity, clarity and cogency of expression. • Excellent handling of quotation and references.

good

60-69% A (B) candidate’s work reaching Merit will show many of the following qualities: • An advanced level of factual knowledge. • Significant [substantial] knowledge of relevant theories and types of analysis. • Some evidence of original thought. • The ability to organise and argue effectively, make balanced judgements, and demonstrate critical thought. • Fluent and accurate expression. • Competent use of quotation and references.

threshold

50-59% A Pass (C) candidate’s work will show many of the following qualities: • A satisfactory level of knowledge, analysis and expression. • Some familiarity with, and understanding of, relevant theoretical issues. • Generally sound organisation of argument, with some critical ability. • Accurate expression. • Competent use of quotation and references.

1. Identify and evaluate the skills, knowledge and understanding required for a range of publishing professions

2. Evaluate the business practices and industrial forces that shape the book trade

3. Analyse and evaluate the relationships between the elements of the publishing circuit

Type	Name	Description	Weight
INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATION	Specification & Advert for a post in a publishing firm	Create and present (for 10 minutes followed by questions) an advertisement for a post in a fictional publishing firm. The advertisement should include roles and responsibilities as well as the person specification.	20.00
CASE STUDY	Publishing case study	Provide a case study of an existing publishing firm or imprint's position within the book trade and its role within the publishing circuit.	80.00

		Hours
Lecture	Two 2-hour online lecture/discussion slots. Lectures will be made available on-line at the start of a morning slot with asynchronous discussion running for 24 hours. Lecture sessions will include video presentations from industry professionals.	4
Seminar	Three 3-hour workshop sessions are held on separate days during which students engage with the content in discussion and practical activities. Sessions will include visits from industry speakers. Sessions will be live-streamed if needed to meet the requirements of students.	9
Practical classes and workshops	A 2-hour workshop will be held during the semester to coincide with the assessment due date.	2
Private study	Preparation for contributions to lecture and seminar sessions and research and production of presentation and case study.	85

• Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
• Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
• Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
• Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
• Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
• Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
• Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
• Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others

• Extract and synthesise key information from written and/or spoken sources in English / Welsh and/or the target language. (Benchmark statement 5.14)
• The ability to organise and present ideas within the framework of a structured and reasoned argument in written and/or oral assignments and class discussions. (Benchmark statement 5.14)
• Critical skills in the close reading, description, reasoning and analysis of primary and secondary sources in the target language and/or English or Welsh (incl. filmic, literary and other sources). (Benchmark statement 5.13, 5.14, 5.15)
• Competence in the planning and execution of essays, presentations and other written and project work; bibliographic skills, including the accurate citation of sources and consistent use of conventions and appropriate style in the presentation of scholarly work. (Benchmark statement 5.10, 5.14, 5.15)
• The ability to gather information, analyse, interpret and discuss different viewpoints and to place these in a wider socio-cultural and/or geo-historical and political and/or socio-linguistic context and to revise and re-evaluate judgements in light of those of the course leader, certain individuals or groups studied and/or fellow students. (Benchmark statement 5.13, 5.15 and 5.16)
• The ability to write and think under pressure and meet deadlines. (Benchmark statement 5.15)
• The ability to write effective notes and access and manage course materials including electronic resources / information provided on online learning platforms and library resources. (Benchmark statement 5.15, 5.16)
• The ability to work creatively and flexibly both independently and/or as part of a team. (Benchmark statement 5.15).
• The ability and willingness to engage with and appreciate other cultures and to articulate to others (in written and verbal form) the contribution that the culture has made at a regional and global level. (Benchmark statement 5.7)
• The ability to comprehend, critically engage with and apply relevant theoretical concepts to materials being studied. (Benchmark statement 5.10)
• The ability to engage in analytical, evaluative and original thinking. (Benchmark statement 5.14)
• The ability to organise and present ideas and arguments in presentations, classroom discussions and debates. (Benchmark statement 5.14, 5.16)
• The ability to develop and manage an independent research project in English/Welsh. (Benchmark statement 5.10, 5.15, 5.16)

Resource implications for students

There are no additional resource implications for students, though they are encouraged to purchase core texts

Talis Reading list

http://readinglists.bangor.ac.uk/modules/qxe-4052.html

Reading list

Core text

Clark, G., & Phillips, A. (2019). Inside Book Publishing. London ; New York: Routledge.

Wider reading

Greco, A. N. (2015). The Economics of the Publishing and Information Industries: The Search for Yield in a Disintermediated World. London: Routledge.

Bhaskar, M. (2013). The Content Machine: Towards a Theory of Publishing from the Printing Press to the Digital Network. London, New York: Anthem Press.

Brown, A., Kheria, S., Cornwell, J., & Iljadica, M. (2019). Contemporary Intellectual Property: Law and Policy. Oxford, United Kingdom; New York, NY: OUP Oxford.

Compulsory in courses:

• Q3RS: MA Publishing and Book Culture year 1 (MA/PBC)