Aligning Print and Digital Content --- And the Publishing Industry

Aligning Print and Digital

There's been tons and tons of talk lately about digital versus print in the publishing industry. I know because this topic has also rented space on my two blogs. And by extension, their associated business models.

Which is the dominant format: print or digital?

Which brings in the most revenue: print or digital?

Which is growing at the fastest rate: print or digital?

Which produces the best quality books (stories): print or digital?

Which provides the best distribution: print or digital?

Which grants the author more control: print or digital?

Which pays the author the best royalties: print or digital?

And so on and so on and so on!

Although many writers, as well as other publishing professionals, enjoy the back and forth debate on this topic (I'm one that has had fun with it) I feel it's time, at least for tonight, to move beyond it and consider what needs to happen to align print and digital in the industry's mind's-eye.

By the way, in my opinion, there is no definitive right or wrong answer or position on this subject debate ---Mainly because it's irrelevant. The eventual end games will happen regardless of current biases or prejudices.

The publishing industry IS the publishing industry and will encapsulate all that has to do with publishing - no matter what the media or format. It is this melding process that is dynamic and the continuous and ever changing outcomes that are so interesting --- and will continue to be, ad infinitum.

The publishing industry also consists of many more sectors than just books. The book industry just might learn a thing or two about acceptance and integration from these other sectors, some of which are moving ahead at a more rapid rate.

One example is The National Geographic which is taking steps to sync their award-winning multimedia content across all channels by integrating their print and digital content teams.

Michael Rondon writes this for FOLIO magazine:

National Geographic Aligns Print, Digital Content Teams

The latest in a line of integrations at Nat Geo.

Lauded for its digital content recently, National Geographic is taking steps to sync that award-winning multimedia content across all channels. 

The magazine has named Chris Johns executive vice president and group editorial director, in addition to continuing his role as editor in chief-a position he's held since 2005. Johns will assume editorial management of Nat Geo print, digital and video content across distribution channels. He'll continue to report directly to Declan Moore, president of Publishing and Travel for National Geographic.

"This is the latest iteration of an integration move we started maybe 6 months ago," Moore says. "We did have a completely separate digital media group, but as we create digital assets and stories across many platforms, it's become necessary to put all of it under one leadership."

Moore says the ultimate goal of the change is to increase publication frequency.

Read and learn more

The Writers Welcome Blog is available on your Kindle :)))

   

National Geographic Kills Print Edition of Adventure

Oooh no! When they start messing with my old standard the National Geographic the volatile times in the publishing industry hits home even harder!

I received a Folio Magazine Alert yesterday announcing that the National Geographic "Adventure" series will be taken out of print version.

Jason Fell of Folio magazine gives this account:

After quietly exploring options for a sale, the National Geographic Society has decided to shutter the print edition of its Adventure spinoff title. The announcement was made today to staff.

“We’re tremendously proud of what [editor-in-chief] John Rasmus and his team have accomplished over the last 10 years,” National Geographic Magazine Group president John Griffin said in statement e-mailed to FOLIO:. “They have consistently delivered award winning editorial to an enthusiastic audience of readers and advertisers. But given the current advertising environment and the opportunities we see in emerging digital platforms, we think the time is right to transition the Adventure brand.”

Seventeen layoffs were associated with the closing, a spokesperson said. The majority of the cuts came from editorial and production.

The Adventure brand will live on, the group said, in a “multi-platform model,” including books, e-magazines, mobile applications and a Web site. It will continue to produce the National Geographic Adventure Awards.

Launched in March 1999, National Geographic Adventure carried a circulation of 625,000 and published eight times annually. Through the first nine months, the magazine saw ad pages fall 44 percent, according to PIB figures.

UPDATE: Not far behind Adventure in terms of ad page losses is National Geographic Traveler, which saw a nearly 40 percent decrease through the third quarter. Despite those losses, a spokesperson said National Geographic is "fully committed to Traveler, saying the magazine is still part of the group's "DNA."

The flagship National Geographic is down 21 percent in pages while Kids has held steady, growing roughly 1 percent, according to PIB.

RELATED LINKS
National Geographic Quietly Puts Adventure on the Block