Established educational publishers are beginning - slowly - to adapt to the future of textbooks and the needs of their readers. Note that open textbook initiatives may overtake the entrenched publishers.
HarperCollins announced this morning that it is closing its Collins division and integrating its operations within different businesses in the General Books Group. As a result, Steve Ross, president and publisher of Collins, and Lisa Gallagher, senior v-p, and publisher of William Morrow, are leaving the company. In addition to closing Collins, CEO Brian Murray issued a memo today saying that despite efforts to avoid layoffs, a reduction in the workforce will be necessary.
Apple wanted publishers to discount best sellers, so its $12.99-to-$14.99 range is merely a ceiling, according to people familiar with talks with publishers.
Amazon, maker of the popular Kindle e-reader and one of the biggest book retailers in the country, will have the exclusive rights to sell electronic editions of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” and a later work, “Principle-Centered Leadership.” Mr. Covey also plans to gradually make other e-books available exclusively to Amazon, which will promote them on its Web site.
The move promises to raise the already high anxiety level among publishers about the economics of digital publishing and could offer authors a way to earn more profits from their works than they do under the traditional system.
Many authors and agents say that because the contracts for older books do not explicitly spell out electronic rights, they reside with the author. Big publishing houses argue that clauses like “in book form” or phrases that prohibit “competitive editions” preclude authors from publishing e-books through other parties.
Editor & Publisher has found a new buyer — but its top editorial talent will not stay with the magazine. The magazine, which chronicles the newspaper industry, was set to fold after Nielsen sold many, but not all, of its trade publications to e5 Global Media LLC.
Random House is the only major publisher whose titles cannot be bought directly from Apple's iBooks application, having resisted the new pricing model that Apple offered publishers for the iPad." />
Magazine-and-newspaper publisher Hearst is near a deal to buy digital-marketing firm iCrossing, the latest sign of how publishers are going head to head with Madison Avenue to grab some of the growing revenues from online advertising." />