PW E-Book Report Blog on hold
Just posted at PW…
Publishers Weekly is rethinking its Web strategy, and at least for now, the E-Book Report guy will go fishin’—as will some other PW bloggers.
Sara Nelson, editor in chief, tells me she was happy with my work and readership numbers but wanted to open up the space. The upshot is that E-Book Report, which I named, will be on hold—I may or may be back. Sara says this would have happened even without the planned sale of PW and dozens of other Reed Business Information publications.
I’ve cherished the chance to write on topics ranging from e-book formats to the anti-piracy technology known as digital rights management, aka DRM. PW is to the publishing world what the New York Times is to the political one. Sara and crew help set the agenda. If any E-related item is at the top of my own personal list, it is the need to make e-books easier to buy, use and own for keeps–the reason why I’ve been in favor of format standards, and why I’m delighted that Random House is backing off on DRM for most audio books, given the availability of better alternatives. May the same happen soon for e-books, about which I’ve been writing since the early ’90s.
During my time as a PW blogger—my first post appeared on Oct. 5, 2007—I’ve had to balance the needs of different readers. I got a well-deserved chewing-out from novices and others for not explaining the initials DRM. Other readers were and are comfortable enough with E to be reading manuscripts on their cell phones and maybe even designing Web sites. I can write posts at any level. Again, I don’t know if I’ll be back or not, but regardless, why not speak up in the comment area about what you’d like to see in the future—in terms of topics, general approaches or anything else?
Happiest of e-reading, and whether you’re an E novice or an old pro, I hope you’ll keep reading PW and also read and contribute your comments to the TeleRead Blog (http://www.teleread.org/blog) devoted to e-books and related topics. Meanwhile, many thanks to PW for the opportunity, and best of luck to Sara and the others!
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March 3rd, 2008 at 3:48 pm
[…] is up on the auction block and its causing some internal turmoil. David Rothman of Teleread.org got the notice that the ebook blog will be put on hold. A few months ago, PW blogger, Barbara Vey mentioned that […]
March 3rd, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Sorry to hear your news, David. Fingers crossed that they’ll reconsider.
As an old high-tech worker, I’m way familiar with the whole layoff and change of strategic directions thing. Never was fun, though.
Rob Preece
Publisher, http://www.BooksForABuck.com
March 4th, 2008 at 3:59 am
Thanks, Rob. Meanwhile we’ll hope that PW quickly finds an appreciative new owner. - David