Overview

• Introduction and a brief history of publishing How technology, law and enterprise shaped the industry and the book
• The modern publishing system How the professional publishing companies move a MS from author to reader
• The modern publishing industry There are three major pathways to publication, each of which is controlled by multiple powerful players.
• Amazon and disrupting the system By solving the distribution and discovery problems, Amazon gained control of the industry
• Technology and monopoly When Google decided to enhance search by digitizing all the books in the world, it raised concerns over ownership and cultural monopoly. If content is capital, is Google a modern robber baron?
• Copy-rights, digital-rights, and ownership Copyright law is grounded in 17th century thinking and 21st market capitalism. Digital rights must differ from copy rights.
• eBook formats The eBook market requires flexible, interchangeable standards like HTML and CSS.
• The book beyond the book Once we perceive a book as an experience instead of an object, publishing, book-selling and writing become service industries.
• Discovery is marketing Digital publishing has increased the number of books produced each year at an astronomical rate; a successful author is one who can be found by his or her readers among the mass of available texts.
• Self-publishing Self-publishing is no longer a question of vanity presses. Individual authors can successfully compete with the major houses now.
• The future of the book

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -(D) Submitted work is adequate and shows an acceptable level of competence as follows:1.Generally accurate but with omissions and errors.2.Assertions are made without clear supporting evidence or reasoning.3.Has structure but is lacking in clarity and therefore relies on the reader to make links and assumptions.4.Draws on a relatively narrow range of material.

-good -(B) Submitted work is competent throughout and may be distinguished by superior style, approach and choice of supporting materials. It:1.Demonstrates good or very good structure and logically developed arguments.2.Draws at least in parts on material that has been sourced and assessed as a result of independent study, or in a way unique to the student.3.Assertions are backed by evidence and sound reasoning.4.Accuracy and presentation in an appropriate academic style.

-excellent -(A) Submitted work is of an outstanding quality and excellent in one or more of the following ways:1.Has originality of exposition with the student’s own thinking being readily apparent.2.Provides clear evidence of extensive and relevant independent study.3.Arguments are laid down with clarity and provide the reader with successive stages of consideration to reach conclusions.

Learning Outcomes

• Analyse the role of technology as both sustaining and disruptive in publishing.

• Evaluate and explain how cultural norms and assumptions influence e-publishing choice, purpose and consumption;

• Identify, select, apply and review key digital publishing technologies.

• Understand and evaluate the standards, practices and technologies that are used in the e-publishing industry;

• Understand and use key terms and terminology relating to electronic publishing and electronically published materials;