Trends in Information & Reference Publishing
Online publishing is growing at a phenomenal rate. That has upsides and downsides for everyone involved. Whether you are a creator of information, publisher, educator or end user of information, changing distribution means changing access, availability and costs.
The segments of REFERENCE hit hardest by the increasing availability of information online are the core staples of reference.
Multi-volume encyclopedias, such as Encyclopedia Americana, have largely seen their day.
Online distribution and volumen also are changing players: Wikipedia dwarfs its competition. The English-language Wikipedia surpassed 2.3 million entries last month; Britannica Online claims 120,000 articles.
The National Geographic Society reports that cartography is another category hit hard by the Internet. Maps and pocket atlases have been severely hurt. But big atlases haven't been dramatically affected in the same way.
Online dictionaries and thesauruses are displacing print predecessors.
Some observers believe that online upstarts can't compete with the depth, context and authority that traditional publishers can offer.
“Wikipedia, or any free information resources, challenge reference publishers to be better than free,” says Random House's Russell. “It isn't enough for a publisher to simply provide information, we have to add value. Yes, you can find free information anywhere online, but reference publishers still have plenty to add to the conversation.”
“Some things Wikipedia doesn't do. It's not a 'how to'; it doesn't offer judgment. By and large, it can't have image-heavy articles. It's an overview,” he explains.
Recently questions have bubbled up from the L.A. Times and others about whether an operation the size of Wikipedia as a nonprofit with no advertising can sustain itself mainly on donations. For the moment, though, it remains just that.
“Wikipedia has no interest in keeping people on the site. It has no need to be sticky,” Broughton says, referencing the fact that Wikipedia often functions as a gateway to other sources of information—such as newspapers—in the form of the citations used to document articles. “To the extent that publishers commit resources to content online, a link may actually drive users there. There is a synergy with some traditional media in that way.”
The Solution?
Traditonal publishers are increasingly promoting their reference efforts online and incorporating multimedia elements.
For National Geographic, that can mean elaborate online book trailers for upcoming titles, showcasing the beautiful photographs and video the brand is famous for.
Editorial synthesis is also adding value to traditional publishing. Reference books that actively add context and commentary, like offerings from Barron's that provide ranked lists in various categories, are continuing to be strong sellers.
SOURCE: Publishers Weekly
The segments of REFERENCE hit hardest by the increasing availability of information online are the core staples of reference.
Multi-volume encyclopedias, such as Encyclopedia Americana, have largely seen their day.
Online distribution and volumen also are changing players: Wikipedia dwarfs its competition. The English-language Wikipedia surpassed 2.3 million entries last month; Britannica Online claims 120,000 articles.
The National Geographic Society reports that cartography is another category hit hard by the Internet. Maps and pocket atlases have been severely hurt. But big atlases haven't been dramatically affected in the same way.
Online dictionaries and thesauruses are displacing print predecessors.
Some observers believe that online upstarts can't compete with the depth, context and authority that traditional publishers can offer.
“Wikipedia, or any free information resources, challenge reference publishers to be better than free,” says Random House's Russell. “It isn't enough for a publisher to simply provide information, we have to add value. Yes, you can find free information anywhere online, but reference publishers still have plenty to add to the conversation.”
“Some things Wikipedia doesn't do. It's not a 'how to'; it doesn't offer judgment. By and large, it can't have image-heavy articles. It's an overview,” he explains.
Recently questions have bubbled up from the L.A. Times and others about whether an operation the size of Wikipedia as a nonprofit with no advertising can sustain itself mainly on donations. For the moment, though, it remains just that.
“Wikipedia has no interest in keeping people on the site. It has no need to be sticky,” Broughton says, referencing the fact that Wikipedia often functions as a gateway to other sources of information—such as newspapers—in the form of the citations used to document articles. “To the extent that publishers commit resources to content online, a link may actually drive users there. There is a synergy with some traditional media in that way.”
The Solution?
Traditonal publishers are increasingly promoting their reference efforts online and incorporating multimedia elements.
For National Geographic, that can mean elaborate online book trailers for upcoming titles, showcasing the beautiful photographs and video the brand is famous for.
Editorial synthesis is also adding value to traditional publishing. Reference books that actively add context and commentary, like offerings from Barron's that provide ranked lists in various categories, are continuing to be strong sellers.
SOURCE: Publishers Weekly
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