Velocity of Content
Velocity of Content
The Velocity of Content podcast is produced by CCC, the global leader in content workflow and rights integration with 40+ years of experience providing solutions and copyright education for businesses and publishers. Featuring breaking news and thoughtful analysis from across the dynamic global content industry, CCC’s Velocity of Content is a platform for thought leaders and industry experts operating at the speed of content to share new ideas, observations, and knowledge and stay on top of emerging industry trends and challenges.
At Princeton University Press, The Mission is “Our Compass”
In a publishing environment buffeted by digital disruption and calls for open access, university presses in 2024 must manage to remain relevant and sustainable even as their audiences grow.
More Good News For Conference Goers
The opening reception for the Public Library Association conference in Columbus was canceled for a tornado warning.
Spanish Language Publishing Serves Many in US
There is growing demand in the US market for Spanish-language books.
SPD Closure Shock
Last week, 400 publishers were shocked to learn that SPD had abruptly closed.
Early Career Professionals in Scholarly Publishing Tell All
Surprising details about career ambitions and the barriers faced to realize them.
100 Years of Simon & Schuster Books and Authors
The publisher – one of the Big 5 – was founded in 1924 by Richard Simon and Max Schuster.
Forging A Future-Looking Supply Chain For Publishing
The next time you sit down to read a book, remember to thank the links in publishing’s supply chain.
NYC School Trashes Controversial Books
While many books are removed from shelves after a lengthy and public review process, accounts are mounting where the titles were surreptitiously withdrawn from collections, says PW’s Andrew Albanese.
At London Book Fair, Publishers Urge Permission for AI Training
Without exaggeration, the entire London Book Fair stood on the intersection of publishing, copyright, and AI.
London Book Fair Returns
London Book Fair welcomed thousands to Olympia Hall this week.
Mental Health Awareness Is An SSP Priority
At SSP, Randy Townsend has led efforts to prioritize mental health awareness and support within the scholarly communications ecosystem.
Class Action Against Amazon Advances
Amazon's dominance in the e-book market, according to litigation, has enabled the e-retailer to "coerce" publishers into anticompetitive deals.
Spanish Audio Is Global Winner
According to the latest report from dosdoce.com on audio publishing in Spanish-language markets, production and consumption is soaring.
Industry Survey Finds Struggle to Diversify
Independent publisher Lee & Low has released a survey on diversity in publishing employment.
Small Press Values
SPD takes risks on books by new or marginalized writers, enabling their works to develop an audience and to gain recognition, says Kent Watson.
Circana BookScan’s McLean Offers 2024 Sales Forecast
US book publishers and readers looking for more diversion, less politics, in 2024.
Beyond Impact, Latest Journal Citation Reports Certify Trust
For nearly half a century, the Journal Citation Reports, or JCR, have been “must reading” in universities around the world. Dr. Nandita Quaderi, a senior vice president and the editor in chief for Web of Science at Clarivate, shares the latest developments in the JCR’s ongoing evolution.
Facing Up to AI at PubWest
At PubWest 2024 in Phoenix, the impact of generative AI on publishing dominated the conference agenda.
Ukrainian Authors and Publishers Fight On
The Russian invasion targeted Ukrainian culture as much as the country’s infrastructure, says Iryna Baturevych, co-founder of Chytomo, an online publishing news platform.
Hell's Hundred Arrives From Soho Press
Soho publisher Bronwen Hruska cited an increased cultural fixation with horror for the move
IPA’s Pansa On Publishing and Responsibility
International Publishers Association President Karine Pansa places special importance on the freedom to publish, which face threats around the world.
Simon & Schuster Marks Centennial
April 10, 1924: Richard Simon and Max Schuster published their first book.
K-Books Are Coming
K-dramas and K-pop have placed the Republic of Korea at the center of the media universe. Are K-books about to join them?
Snowy Baltimore Welcomes ALA’s LibLearnX
ALA winter conference highlights freedom to read, sustainability, and AI.
Gen Z Loves Libraries
If you think that libraries are just for books and that kids today care only about digital media, then you should read a new report from the American Library Association.
Court Rejects Texas Book Rating Law
“HB 900, Texas’s book rating law, is unconstitutional.”
Why High-Quality Content Matters in K-12 Instruction
High-quality, authentic content deepens engagement with students and advance literacy achievement.
Government Policy, Science Research, and Machine Authors
AI tools now conduct systematic review of scientific literature for government officials by searching millions of information sources. And the machines are expected to do much more in years ahead.
Florida “Freedom to Read” Case Moves Forward
On January 10, Judge T. Kent Wetherell denied a motion by the Escambia County School Board to dismiss the First Amendment case.
Research & The Real World
For researchers, knowing where and how their work matters can determine the direction of future investigations and the trajectory of careers.
Book Business Top Stories for 2023
Last year, publishers debated the impact of AI and fought book bans in US schools and libraries.
Thinking Gets a Rethink
What if machines can be taught to think just as we do?
"Change Because We Have To" – Scholarly Publishing in 2023
Scholarly publishers and service providers are pulling and pushing at traditions, opening doors, and introducing innovations.
In 2023, Voices Carry
We must not take for granted how critical these media activities are to the joy of celebrating our humanity and to the responsibility of sustaining our freedom.
Amazon Urges Judge To Dismiss Antitrust Case
Amazon has asked a federal judge to reject an FTC antitrust suit.
In Praise of the Title Verso
Critically for Richard Charkin, the title verso is where to find who is the copyright holder.
AAP Responds To "Flawed" GenAI Arguments
AAP responded to tech industry assertions that respect for copyright is an obstacle to their innovation by labeling that as, “nonsense."
Wischenbart Report On Global 50 Publishers Arrives
Books remain a dominant format, though reading and discussing stories, as well as the IP generated from books, have become integrated in consumers’ experiences and on publishers’ spreadsheets.
School Book Ban on Sexual Orientation Challenged In Iowa
In Iowa, the ACLU and Lambda Legal are challenging a state law that critics say seeks to silence LGBTQ+ students and bans books with sexual or LGBTQ+ content.
AI, Licensing, and The Path Forward
In the rapidly developing world of AI uses and discussions, copyright issues are key.
Coaching Publishers
“A good coach can change a game,” said UCLA’s John Wooden. “A great coach can change a life.”
Hachette Restructures
Michael Pietsch will retire as Hachette US CEO and has been named chairman.
Digital Hollywood Focus on AI and Copyright
Since 1787, US copyright law has raced to keep up with innovation and change.
In US, Spotify Adds Audiobooks
Authors and agents ask whether streaming audiobooks will devalue reading and harm book buying.
A Look at Hachette v. Internet Archive
Recorded at Copyright & Technology Conference 2023
Kindle Authors To Have AI-Audiobooks
KDP authors can now choose from a selection of AI-generated narrators to create a machine-generated audiobook.
CCC At Frankfurt Book Fair 2023
At the 2023 Frankfurt Book Fair last week, the halls were alive with the sounds of AI.
Scholastic Ends "Share Every Story"
Scholastic’s Ellie Berger pledged to get a greater range of books into the hands of children.
2023 Maddox Prize Winners Announced
Since 2012, the John Maddox Prize has recognized individuals who stand up for science and advance public discussions around challenging topics.
Scholastic Defends "Share Every Story"
Scholastic has found itself on the defensive over an optional collection of diverse titles at its book fairs.
Exploring AI Ethics & Publishing
AI is building a strong presence in the scholarly publishing industry, creating opportunities and dilemmas that pose important ethical questions.
Hall Leaves ALA, Napack Exits Wiley
Tracie D. Hall was a prominent spokesperson for the freedom to read, well-known for her mantra “free people read freely.”
CCC Town Hall Preview With Bruce Rich
In the rapidly developing world of AI uses and discussions, copyright issues are key.
Spotify Turns Up Audiobook Volume
On Tuesday in New York, Spotify announced an ambitious program to add audiobooks to its digital audio platform.
How Publishing Can "Shimmr" With AI
Nadim Sadek entwines the histories of AI and book publishing to make his case that AI technologies can complement, and not necessarily replace, human authors, editors, and publishers.
AI Revolution “Good” for Publishing
Markus Dohle assured the industry that AI will not prove the death of publishing.
Frameworks for Sustainability on Campus
Higher education institutions have led research on sustainability for many decades. Now, they are applying that same academic rigor to understand the environmental and social impact of their own operations and outputs.
Organized Groups Try For Library Book Bans
“The rise in unique titles challenged is indicative of the rise in organized political groups creating and sharing lists of objectionable books,” Andrew Albanese explains.
ChatGPT Goes To School
“We need to work on AI literacy in education,” says Prof. Mairéad Pratschke.
Authors Target OpenAI, Meta With More Suits
Concerns continue to grow over how artificial intelligence may impact authors and creators.
Arcadia Endowment Supports MIT Press Open Access "Experiments"
The six-decade-old MIT Press is a pioneer in open access publishing.
Judge Blocks Texas "Book Rating" Law
A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking HB 900, the controversial “book rating” law from taking effect in Texas.
Best of VOC: And The Oscar Goes To… ChatGPT?
Writers in Hollywood are the latest to declare concerns that technology based in powerful artificial intelligence tools may jeopardize their livelihoods.
A Good Name On Bad Books
“Good name in man and woman,” wrote Shakespeare, “is the immediate jewel of their souls.”
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In July, according to BookScan, sales for roughly 180 BookTok authors fell 4.5 percent over 2022.
FAIR Forum To Address "Evolving Role of Data in the AI Era"
With new AI services introduced on an almost daily basis, adoption of FAIR Data Principles in research-intensive organizations is more important than ever.
Publishers, Internet Archive Agree to Consented Judgment
A stipulated permanent injunction prevents the Internet Archive from offering unauthorized copies of books to the global public.
Jeff Jarvis on "The Gutenberg Parenthesis"
Printed books engendered a culture of communication that endured for centuries. In his new book, The Gutenberg Parenthesis, media analyst Jeff Jarvis places us outside the era of print and beyond the world that print created.
KKR To Acquire Simon & Schuster for $1.62B
The Big Five will stay the Big Five for now.
Challenging Racism in Scholarly Publishing
Three years since the tumultuous summer of 2020, how have we changed? In publishing especially, what is different about our jobs, our professional relationships, and our attitudes?
Court Limits Arkansas “Harmful” Book Law
In Arkansas, freedom to read advocates have a court victory to celebrate.
The State of Scholarly Metadata
When it comes to successful Open Access initiatives, a critical element is high-quality metadata.
The Challenges of AI-Generated Content
While AI isn't a new concept in copyright or technology, it's the top draw for the 2023 Copyright and Technology conference.
Federal Lawsuit Aims At Texas Reader Act
The Texas “Reader Act” requires book vendors to review any book that could be sold into a school.
A TikTok Challenge for Publishing
Mark Gottlieb with Trident Media Group explores what authors and publishers should know about TikTok’s move into publishing, and how they may want to respond.
Layoffs, Closures Hit Big 5
PRH CEO Nihar Malaviya said that any growth the industry has seen has been offset by increased costs.
A Book Festival That Matters in Kyiv
It’s difficult to imagine more challenging circumstances for a book festival than to be held during war.
AI Faces Multiple Creator Lawsuits
Copyright infringement lawsuits from authors and artists against creators of Generative AI software are mounting.
Plain Language Summaries "Go Beyond Language"
Creating effective plain-language summaries requires looking beyond the language, says Dr. Catherine Richards Golini.
Libraries, Publishers Together in Chicago
According to PW’s Andrew Albanese, the ALA conference highlighted an organized response from the library and publishing communities to politicized attacks on the freedom to read.
Best of VOC: Beyond Publishers
Publishing industry analyst Rüdiger Wischenbart wants your help to map the new uncharted territories of the book business.
Best of VOC: Freeing Research From Ukraine
The war in Ukraine grinds on one year after the Russian invasion. Ukrainians have so far deterred President Vladimir Putin’s special operation with help from friends and allies around the world.
EveryLibrary Reports Tracks "Freedom to Read" Legislation
“This is going to require a new kind of advocacy work,” says PW’s Andrew Albanese.
Advice for Publishers on AI
“AI may not replace you, but a person who uses AI could,” says Martin Delahunty.
Illinois Tackles Library Book Bans
“The hope is the risk of losing critical state funds will dissuade cities and towns from the kind of bans we’ve seen,” says PW’s Andrew Albanese.
Make AI Your Writing Tutor
What if a machine could lighten the burden of writing for researchers?
What AI Will Mean To Book Publishing
Trade book publishing industry as we know it will soon be obsolete, asserts Thad McIlroy.
Making Research Data FAIR
A May 10, 2023, CCC Town Hall panel shared best practices for developing research data that is FAIR through culture, training, and technology.
US Book Sales Drop 2.6% in 2022
Across all sectors, US publishing sales in 2022 totaled $28.1 billion, according to the Association of American Publishers.
Best of VOC: ChatGPT & Information Integrity
Launched in November 2022, ChatGPT-3 received its language training from 300 billion words on the internet, all written in books, journal articles, and Wikipedia.
2023 Prix Voltaire Special Award To Volodymyr Vakulenko
As an author, publisher, and organizer of festivals and reading, the late Volodymyr Vakulenko had many roles in Ukrainian publishing, Ukrainian novelist Victoria Amelina explains.
PRH, PEN America Fight “Unconstitutional” School Book Bans
The PEN America suit seeks to have banned books returned to school library shelves.
Info Pros in a Data-Driven Enterprise
Data scientists often work closely with librarians. The two roles are complementary, and organizations can benefit from aligning the positions strategically, says Mary Ellen Bates.
2023 Pulitzers To Kingsolver, Diaz, others
Pulitzer winners represent the best that the publishing industry has to offer.
And The Oscar Goes To… ChatGPT?
Writers in Hollywood are the latest to declare concerns that technology based in powerful artificial intelligence tools may jeopardize their livelihoods.
ChatGPT Chops Chegg Stock
This week, the possible impact of AI, and ChatGPT in particular, on publishing and related educational businesses came into sharper focus.
Reading the Data Compass
A watch is handy for meeting trains and catching planes, but a compass will get you where you’re going.
Publishing Opens Its Salary Wallet
Publishing industry salaries became an important issue during the pandemic.
Dollars or Democracy?
The traditional reliance of media on advertising revenue is a broken business model that needs a re-boot, says Prof. Victor Pickard.
In London, Publishing Confronts AI
At London Book Fair, worries over machine-written content and any related threats to copyright and creativity.
London Book Fair Takes Climate Action
London Book Fair returns this week to the historic Olympia exhibition venue on Hammersmith Road.
London Book Fair Expects Strong Showing
Brian Murray, HarperCollins CEO, joins Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and bestselling novelist Colson Whitehead for London Book Fair programming.
Reading the Data Compass
The guiding role of metadata in an increasingly complex scholarly research ecosystem
On Capitol Hill, Humans Battle AI Over Authorship
As chatbots rise, US Authors Guild lobbies for incentives for human creators to continue working.
ChatGPT & Information Integrity
Launched in November 2022, ChatGPT-3 received its language training from 300 billion words on the internet, all written in books, journal articles, and Wikipedia.
Swift, Emphatic Decision in Internet Archive Infringement Case
After three years of contentious legal wrangling by publishers and the Internet Archive, the copyright infringement case wasn’t even close, reports Andrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly.
Beyond Publishers
Publishing industry analyst Rüdiger Wischenbart wants your help to map the new uncharted territories of the book business.
At London Book Fair, Spotlight on Ukraine
The London Book Fair returns in April with Ukrainian authors and publishers in a special role.
Freeing Research From Ukraine
The war in Ukraine grinds on one year after the Russian invasion. Ukrainians have so far deterred President Vladimir Putin’s special operation with help from friends and allies around the world.
Free Expression Champion Christopher Finan To Retire
A legendary defender of free speech is retiring.
Mind The Gender Gap in Wikipedia
The Wikipedia gender gap arises not only from the predominance of male contributors but also from the challenge presented by Wikipedia’s principle of notability.
Buyouts at Hachette, HarperCollins
Voluntary resignation packages come in response to negative trends.
Invitation to a CDP Data Party
For publishers, the perfect data party is where you can remember everyone’s name – what they do, what they like, and what content they engage with.
PRH Restructures, Readies for Future Competition
PRH officials say the addition of a new adult publishing group is intended to revive competition among its imprints.
Spanish Audiobooks Making Noise Around the World
The spoken-word industry is making noise in Spanish-language markets around the globe.
Un-Googling The News
Justice’s decision to make an antitrust example of Google may release the tech company’s tight grip on ad spend and give publishers, especially news publishers, a chance at online survival.
Tentative Agreement With HarperCollins Ends UAW Strike
HC and UAW Local 2110 have agreed to unspecified increases to the minimum entry-level salary from a $45k baseline.
A Calling in Comics
Over a generation, Calvin Reid covered the artists and their audiences, the comic books, and the comics business.
Big 5 Starting Salaries Set to Rise
Hachette Book Group and Macmillan are raising entry-level starting salaries.
The Book of Publishing Start-Ups
Publishing startup. No, that’s not an oxymoron.
Executive Departures at Penguin Random House
While PRH is resetting after its merger plans failed, the trade book publisher is not alone among the Big 5 in facing stormy times.
What's New at Oxford University Press Is Everything
At Oxford University Press, Niko Pfund faces challenges from the marketplace of ideas and from colleagues keen to redefine publishing and publishers.
Legal Warning for "People Vs. Trump" Book
Donald Trump is back on the campaign trail, and back in the book world news