Publishing Industry Research Articles

Literature in and through Translation: Literary Translation as a Pedagogical Resource

This article is the revised version of the paper that I presented at the 5th APTIS (Association of Programmes in Translation and Interpreting Studies) 2023 conference (“The teaching and learning that matter today”), whose proceedings were never published. As a result of globalisation, the number of books requiring translation considerably increased. Nevertheless, readers do not always acknowledge translations as such, and literary translators do not generally obtain the recognition they deserve. Academia may be partly responsible for that: on the one side, indeed, literary translation is not as discussed as other topics within the broader field of Translation Studies; on the other, whilst teaching texts in translation is becoming increasingly common, translated literature is not generally considered as an academic discipline on its own. To promote a wider circulation and appreciation of translated literature in and beyond academia, translated literary texts could be systematically introduced into the curricula of courses in literature and literary translation. This could be achieved through the compilation and use of parallel corpora, namely collections of source texts and respective translations. In this light, this paper has two main objectives: explaining how courses in literature and literary translation could be taught using parallel corpora; showcasing the pedagogical advantages that such an approach may have on different levels. As for courses in literature it would provide students with an understanding of the mechanisms behind the production of literary translations and their relevance within the broader literary system. On what concerns courses in literary translation, it may represent a compromise between theory and practice, and between the research-orientated environment of academic settings and the commercially-orientated publishing industry. The study was conducted through the review of pedagogical practices and contexts where literary texts are taught in translation. The paper concludes with the observation that this corpus-based teaching approach may have some positive repercussions outside academia: it would not only contribute to a broader appreciation of translated literary texts among the general public but also foster a broader recognition of the role of the literary translator in shaping and constructing foreign literature.

Transformation and development strategy of digital publishing marketing based on big data and fuzzy control algorithm

Digital publishing is the process of informatizing the content of traditional publishing. It not only involves the processing of information, but also includes the whole process of digital publishing enterprise management and operation. Compared with traditional publishing, digital publishing has a wider distribution channel with the advantages of more diverse forms and marketing aspects, the transition from traditional digital publishing to digital publishing has become an inevitable trend. But there are still many problems in digital publishing in our country. Including the transformation of digital copyright awareness and maintenance of digital copyright, the source and maintenance of digital publishing technology, and the scarcity of compound talent resources. In order to solve these problems, we must combine the digital publishing industry with modern information technology. This paper builds a digital market preference prediction model based on big data and fuzzy control algorithms. By analyzing and predicting each consumer’s usage information, the digital consumer market preference is obtained. This research uses big data and fuzzy control algorithms to build a consumer market preference estimation model for digital publishing transformation. Through the observation of the consumer market, it can promote digital companies to make effective decisions and conduct reasonable organizational analysis, which can further improve The development process of digital publishing transformation promotes the overall development of the enterprise. Through verification, this model has high accuracy and reliability, can support the operation of actual enterprises, and plays an important role in the development of enterprises. Finally, based on the content of the article research, we put forward the following suggestions for the transformation and development of digital enterprises (1) conduct market analysis through big data and fuzzy control technology, and clarify market positioning (2) promote traditional publishing and digital publishing through big data and fuzzy control technology Integrated Development of Publishing (3) Cultivate Excellent Composite Talents for Digital Publishing Transformation.

The Look of the Book

Abstract This paper shows how book design responds to the Nobel’s prestige. Using previously unpublished materials from German publishing archives, I explore how the Nobel Prize is accompanied by the requirement to design iconic books. This unique material documents how different players in the publishing industry exchange ideas about ‘Nobel Prize-appropriate’ book design. This applies, for example, to the illustrations for an essay by Octavio Paz, designed covers for Nadine Gordimer, and the pictorial representation of Günter Grass’s and Tomas Tranströmer’s ‘life and work’.

“How authentic is your curry”? performing curry and diasporic identity in Naben Ruthnum’s Curry: Eating, Reading, and Race

ABSTRACT In this article, I examine Indo-Mauritian-Canadian author Naben Ruthnum’s memoir-essay Curry: Eating, Reading, Race (2017) in order to examine the veracity of the dominant perception of South Asian diasporic identity as a collective designation through its association with the ubiquitous dish of curry which embodies a predominant cultural signifier of an extensively diverse population. Ruthnum’s significant aim is to challenge the existence of a supposedly authentic Indian curry and also to question the risk-averse publishing industry which solicits stories steeped in stereotypically authentic and nostalgic experiences from the second or third generation South Asian diasporic authors. Through an exploration of many ideas of authenticity and multiple ways of cooking the diverse dish of curry, I argue that diasporic authenticity is more appropriately performed not through replication and preservation of the past, but through constant recreation and reinvention of an individual’s present predicaments. Authenticity in diaspora is, therefore, unique and individual, and an embodiment of personal history. As there are many truths to the same story, and many versions of the same story, there are multiple ways of cooking authentic curries and diverse modes of confronting one’s own self as a South Asian diasporic in the world.

Translingualism 2.0

This article examines recent technological and cultural developments that have transformed the publishing industry in the past two decades—the rise of social media platforms for writing and reading genre fiction as well as the translingual practices they enable. My focus on the digital aims to update earlier studies of translingualism in a world literary space (Stephen G. Kellman, Pascale Casanova). In particular, I examine a French-language platform (Fyctia) and a multilingual one (Wattpad) to argue that digital platforms’ affordances and constraints shape the translingual strategies of their writers and readers.

More than Just a Business: Recasting Literary Publishing in Postwar Germany, 1945–1949

Like other creative industries emerging in mid-1945 from 12 years of Nazi rule, including six years of war, German publishing was ideologically suspect, internationally isolated, and insular. By the 1950s, however, the book trade in the two German successor states was once again varied and vibrant. And it was also tightly integrated into the international publishing business, within which it had become an increasingly active and important presence. This article analyzes the development of the German book publishing industry during the Allied occupation, 1945-1949, through the lens of knowledge transfer. It was a time during which capital-starved German publishers harnessed the political and ideological objectives of the occupiers and their prewar contacts to achieve their own commercial and cultural ambitions, including taking initial steps toward internationalization. The focus is on literary fiction, a genre that constituted a minority of all published output in the postwar period, but which also included all top bestsellers. Literature in translation, moreover, accounted for a substantial proportion of those bestselling books, and at the same time represented a key vehicle for internationalization. Two case studies, one drawn from the Soviet zone of occupation, the later East Germany, and one from the western zones that came to be dominated by the Americans, the later West Germany, illustrate two different, yet remarkably similar paths through which this interplay of ideological alignment and commerce played out among a range of actors and laid the basis for the subsequent development of the industry.

A bi-objective optimization mathematical model integrated with bulk arrival Markovian queueing system and machine learning in publishing industries

ABSTRACT In the publishing industry, it is vital to comprehend customers’ needs and take their pleasure into account. Thus, publishing houses (PHs) must effectively address the necessity to increase profitability as well as minimize the waiting time of the printing requests in the queue. Although some researchers have studied publishing industries’ management, there is still a lack of research modeling PHs as a practical queueing system that reflects their performance precisely. Moreover, most models have not considered the machine learning technique for predicting the circulation of books integrated with a queueing model and mathematical programming. Furthermore, no study has modeled the PH as a M[X]/M/1 queueing system to practically improve the system. To fill these gaps, this paper develops a novel bi-objective mathematical model with a bulk arrival queueing system and a machine learning technique to minimize the total cost and maximize the resource utilization rate. Also, different machine learning classifier algorithms are implemented to estimate the circulation for each publishing product. Owing to the model’s bi-objective character, an enhanced LP-metrics method is presented. We have also examined a real-world case study to validate our approach and demonstrate its applicability to real-world issues. A 25% increase in profitability served as proof of the model’s effectiveness.

DIGITALIZATION OF INFORMATION ON ARDAN BANDUNG RADIO BROADCASTING

Broadcasting media, namely radio and television, is a form of mass media that is efficient in reaching a very large audience. Therefore broadcast media plays a very important role in communication science in general and mass communication science in particular. The publishing industry in Indonesia shows its rapid development. One of the radio stations is Ardan Radio. This research uses a qualitative approach using the case study method. This research was carried out through an interview process, in this research an interview process was carried out with Muhamad Faisal as producer of Ardan Radio & Broadcaster in 2021 in the Ardan School school bus program. Ardan Radio Bandung has a broadcast format that prioritizes pop music, both local and international. Apart from that, they also present news, updates, and interesting segments such as talk shows, games, and interactions with listeners via telephone or social media. This radio has succeeded in building a strong image among young people and the people of Bandung. Ardan Radio has the tagline "Radio Anak Muda Bandung" which reflects its identity as a radio that presents programs that are liked by the younger generation. With the presence of Ardan Radio, listeners can enjoy their favorite music, get the latest information, and be involved in various activities and events hosted by this radio station. Ardan Radio continues to innovate and adapt to technological developments and listener preferences. They are also active in various social activities and support community events in Bandung.

Who’s the scariest of them all? Depictions of evil women in Greek folktales

This study aims to investigate the portrayal of demonic women in Greek folktales and their significance in reflecting societal perceptions of femininity. We selected 17 editions of folktales in the Greek publishing industry as our primary source material and utilized content analysis as our method of analysis. Negative values such as ferocity, malice, brutality, wickedness, and ugliness were used as criteria to study the demonic woman's external appearance and personality. Vladimir Propp’s Morphologie du conte (1970) served as a reference for examining the demonic woman's qualities such as name, origin, social position, age, external characteristics, and peculiarity of her appearance. We also focused on the demonic woman's actions and relationship with the hero/heroine to highlight the terrifying aspects of her inner world. The study sheds light on how the representation of demonic femininity in Greek folktales reveals societal and traditional assumptions about female gender. Our findings aim to demonstrate the different faces of the diabolical women in Greek folktales and present a collective representation of the demonic.

Macao's academic book publishing industry: A SWOT and PEST analysis

AbstractMacao's academic book publishing industry has a rich history and has grown significantly over the past two decades. This study employs a semi‐structured in‐depth interview to evaluate the current and prospective state of Macao's academic book publishing industry. The SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis and the PEST (Political, Economic, Social, and Technological) analysis are used in this study. The strengths of Macao's academic book publishing industry include that requesting an ISBN in Macao is easy and quick under the principle of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ and financial support from the Macao SAR government. However, the industry faces several weaknesses, including an underdeveloped cultural industry, a small seller market and a talent shortage, and less copyright output. Opportunities for the industry exist through constructing a Culture‐based Bay Area in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area and developing an international hub for digital trade in the Guangdong–Macao In‐Depth Cooperation Zone–Hengqin. However, Macao's academic book publishing industry is threatened by emerging Internet technologies, such as augmented reality, the metaverse, and ChatGPT. This paper also proposes strategies for future practice, such as taking the initiative to encourage a group of top‐tier publishers to establish branches in Macao and improve publications’ cultural elements. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the strategic management of Macao's academic book publishing industry and will be of interest to publishers, academic researchers, and policymakers.

Black British love matters: Asserting the transformative power of love in Bolu Babalola’s Love in Colour: Mythical Tales Around the World Retold

ABSTRACT The genre of romance has until fairly recently predominantly depicted white protagonists and presented readers with limited representations of ethnic and racial diversity. This paper provides an overview of the ever-increasing number of Black British authors who are currently addressing this significant gap in the British publishing industry and analyse Bolu Babalola’s debut Love in Colour: Mythical Tales Around the World Retold (2020) as a case in point. Love in Colour is a collection of short stories which questions the universality of western tales of love and celebrates Black love and heritage. My contention is that Babalola’s collection, for its innovative elements, not only evinces that contemporary Black British women’s writing, characterized by aesthetic and formal innovations, continues to “test simple generic categories”, but, in its celebration of the transformative power of love, also demonstrates that Black love matters.

Product digitization and differentiation strategy change: Evidence from the book publishing industry

AbstractResearch SummaryWe study product digitization as an impetus for firm strategy change. Product digitization can erode a firm's ability to differentiate through physical product attributes and prompts them to increase emphasis on nonphysical product attributes to sustain their competitive advantage. We expect this effect is pronounced among firms that have pursued a physical differentiation strategy prior to the digital age. However, we expect that countervailing forces exist such that the internal supply cost of and the external market demand for the nonphysical differentiator mitigate this effect. Evidence from publishers in the Amazon Kindle e‐book ecosystem supports our hypotheses. This study bridges the growing digital strategy literature and the classical competitive strategy literature. We discuss how our findings are relevant to a range of industries.Managerial SummaryMany companies invest in superior physical product attributes to increase a customer's willingness‐to‐pay and entice purchase. However, when products become digitized—such as music streaming displacing CDs or e‐books replacing printed books—the effectiveness of physical product differentiation is diminished. We examine how book publishers manage this challenge at the advent of Amazon's Kindle e‐book technology. We find that publishers that have emphasized physical product attributes turn to emphasizing nonphysical product differentiation, namely, through offering more content. Yet, the extent of the strategy change is limited by the internal development cost of and the external demand for the nonphysical differentiator. We discuss how our findings are relevant to a range of settings, including both product and service companies.

Commentary] To Publish Scientific Journals: For Some, the Big Business of the Century

This brief commentary addresses the escalating issues within the scientific publishing industry. The author highlights the proliferation of predatory journals and the adoption of similar profit-driven models by established publishers. He points out the ethical dilemma posed by Gold Open Access (OA) journals, which charge significant Article Publishing Charges (APC) to authors while not compensating peer reviewers. The commentary underscores the resulting strain on the peer-review process, with a decline in the availability and quality of reviewers. The author observes a shift from the traditional reciprocal peer-review system to one burdened by challenges, including shortened review deadlines, reliance on less experienced reviewers, and instances of manuscripts being unreviewed. He advocates for compensating reviewers if authors are charged for publication, warning that the current system risks the integrity of peer-reviewed research. Finally, the commentary applauds initiatives like the resignation of editorial board members from Elsevier journals to start non-profit journals, urging scientific communities to regain control of scholarly publishing.

Impact of Customer Loyalty on Organizational Performance in Some Selected Publishing Companies in South-Western Nigeria

In the dynamic realm of publishing enterprises, the intricate interplay between customer loyalty and organizational performance stands as the fundamental cornerstone for long-term prosperity, exerting a pivotal influence on driving notable commercial achievements. This research delved into the nexus of customer loyalty and organizational performance within publishing companies situated in South-Western Nigeria. The research population encompassed employees of publishing companies randomly selected from 40 establishments in both the bustling metropolises of Lagos and Ibadan. Employing a survey design method, the study enlisted four hundred and one (401) respondents as subjects. Primary data collection occurred through a meticulously structured questionnaire, designed to capture a comprehensive range of information, including demographic characteristics, independent variables such as customer loyalty, and the dependent variable of organizational performance. The gathered data underwent analysis using Pearson's Correlation. The study's findings revealed a significant correlation between customer loyalty and the organizational performance of publishing companies in South-Western Nigeria, as evidenced by a Pearson's Correlation coefficient (r) of 0.715, significant at p < 0.01. In light of these results, it is recommended that publishing companies tailor marketing strategies that align with customer expectations, prioritizing transparency in pricing and delivering exceptional customer service. Additionally, strategic investments in programs fostering customer retention, repeat patronage, and resistance to switching to competitors are advised. This study contributes valuable insights to businesses aiming to optimize customer relationships and elevate organizational success within the ever-evolving landscape of the publishing industry.

Press Subsidies and Business Performance of Newspaper Publishing in Three Nordic Media Welfare States

The Nordic countries have been regarded as so-called “media welfare states.” Despite the large amount of public money used on press subsidies over the decades in the Nordic countries, there is not much academic research on the financial performance of the newspaper publishing industry in these countries. This study examines the “media welfare state” approach to public support for newspapers and the financial performance of newspaper companies in three Nordic countries: Finland, Sweden, and Norway. Our data consists of the key financial figures of newspaper publishing companies in the aforementioned countries from 2005 to 2019. Based on our analysis, we argue that direct press subsidies in Sweden and Norway have not been able to prevent a decrease in the number of titles and, importantly, have resulted in a number of subsidy-dependent news outlets unable to survive on their own income. By contrast, the Finnish newspaper publishing industry has been in a better financial situation in terms of almost all indicators and throughout the review period, despite Finland abandoning direct press subsidies in the 1990s.

THE VIRUS IN THE BOOKSHOP: HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED ISTANBUL'S PUBLISHING INDUSTRY?

Based on semi-structured interviews conducted within the publishing sector, this qualitative case study research examines the impact of the global pandemic on Istanbul's publishing industry. The research spanned seven months and involved thirteen interviews. The aim was to gain an understanding of the industry's response to the pandemic. In a nutshell, the pandemic can be seen as accelerating the digitalisation and monopolisation processes already taking place in the industry. Nevertheless, stakeholders have affected in different ways, depending on their financial and technological capabilities and their main areas of business. For instance, during closures, publishers experienced an increase in demand for digital and printed books, while bookshops lost almost all sources of income. Similarly, publishing cartels with their own printing, distribution and sales channels and online booksellers many of whom operate in conjunction with these publishing conglomerates were able to gain significant advantages over small publishers seriously affected by the closures.

Wilkie Collins: The Complete Fiction, by Stephen Knight

Stephen Knight’s monograph, Wilkie Collins: The Complete Fiction (2023, Routledge) is a detailed study of Wilkie Collins’ life and career as a complex and accomplished author; ultimately, it presents a call for more scholarly attention and interest in his works. The study engages Collins’ complete fiction by grounding his texts in historical and biographical context. Knight offers extensive background about events, politics, anecdotes, and interactions as Collins built his writing career. Moreover, the study presents details about Collins’ life, his engagement with the publishing industry, and his interaction with other authors at the time. By this approach, the book explores Collins’ literary production considering the influence of consumption, and the criticism of his works to better understand and position him as a complex and successful author. Knight’s monograph also offers historical context and recent scholarly criticism of Collins studies. While this exploration sheds light on Collins’ development as a successful author, producer of novelty, and a political voice, the study repeats the argument that Collins’ works have not received the scholarly attention they deserve.

Retracted: Information Fusion Algorithm for Big Data in Digital Publishing Industry Chain

Retracted: Information Fusion Algorithm for Big Data in Digital Publishing Industry Chain

БІЗНЕС-МОДЕЛІ ОСНОВНИХ ГРАВЦІВ НА ПОЛІ ЦИФРОВОЇ ДИСТРИБУЦІЇ ЕЛЕКТРОННИХ КНИЖОК В УКРАЇНІ. 2011–2023

<p><em>A new field of e-book distribution has emerged and developed in Ukraine due to the impact of digital technology on the publishing industry.</em></p><p><strong><em>This research aims to</em></strong><em>: Identify the key players in the field of digital distribution of e-books by Ukrainian publishers from 2011 to 2023. Analyse and describe the value propositions and business models of digital book distribution start-ups in Ukraine.</em></p><p><strong><em>Research methodology. </em></strong><em>The study analyses the value propositions and business models of various companies operating in e-book distribution in Ukraine, using the case study method and mystery shopping. The generalisation of the data obtained as a result of the case study was achieved by using historical, analytical, synthetic and comparative methods, classification methods and a systematic approach.</em></p><p><strong><em>Results. </em></strong><em>Thirteen players were found to be active in e-book distribution between 2011 and 2023 (seven entered the market in 2011</em><em>–</em><em>2018 and another six in 2019</em><em>–</em><em>2023), with three platforms closing in the last five years. Of the ten active players, six specialise in e-book sales with a «digital only» business model (Booxters, Booknet, Chytanka, Librarius, Pocketbook) and four are online bookstores with an omnichannel business model, selling both print books and e-books (Yakaboo, KnigoLand, Knygarnya «E», Nash format). The main business model for all players in e-book distribution is direct sales, although distributors are increasingly adopting combined business models (direct sales plus subscription). A positive trend is the implementation in the field of digital distribution of e-books in Ukraine of business models that are popular in foreign digital publishing, in particular, self-publishing (Booknet) and e-book lending (Librarius). Important for the development of Ukrainian digital book production and sales is the focus of distributors on ensuring closed access and strict protection of book content against piracy sharing.</em></p><p><strong><em>The novelty </em></strong><em>lies in the development of a chronological list of the main players who have worked (or are working) in the field of digital distribution of Ukrainian e-books; identifying their business models and analysing their value propositions: e-book formats, types of access to content and ways of protecting content.</em></p><p><strong><em>Practical significant</em></strong><em>. The results of this research will be used in lectures for students of the educational program «Publishing and editing» in Ukrainian universities, and will also draw the attention of the publishing community to the problems of the development of digital book publishing.</em></p><p><strong><em>Key words</em></strong><em>: bookselling, business models, digital distribution, digital book publishing, e-book, field of digital distribution, omnichannel.</em></p>

Digital curation and long-term digital preservation in libraries

For over twenty years public institutions and foundations committed in cultural heritage curation and preservation worked up methodologies, strategies and techniques for long-term digital preservation of digital resources. Thanks to a relevant number of initiatives and services carried on by international institutions and specialized agencies, public and private libraries reached a high level of awareness in this field which requires continuous adaptation due to the constant evolution of publishing industry and the rapid emergence of Open Science. After a quick review of digital preservation milestones, this article looks at some emerging trends and issues which characterize the constant transformation of digital preservation landscape. Dynamic generated digital contents and Open Science to fulfil findability, accessibility, interoperability and reuse (FAIR) of digital assets are engaging new challenges for existing digital preservation services. Digital curation and digital preservation are deeply merged and proceed in parallel to assure long-term usage of digital resources and data. How to select and deploy digital preservation platforms is another complex area where Cloud services can offer the opportunity to reduce the costs of technical infrastructures maintenance and management. Policy and decision making institutional levels need more awareness to draw up digital preservation strategies and to activate services to assure digital contents and data long-term access and reuse. Finally the paper suggests to promote “digital preservation by design” as a new base rule to be applied since the conception of every project and initiative in the cultural heritage, scientific and academic contexts.