Print News: Seeking the Future of Publishing

A pair of posts from across the net discuss how publishing can flourish in a digital landscape.

--

A pair of articles published recently speculate as to possible futures for the printing industry, at a time when conditions appear unfortunately gloomy for publishers. The first – posted by Evan Karp on 2nd December at Examiner.com – adopts a ‘long view’ of the shift to digital media and its implications for society. Pertaining to a discussion entitled ‘Is the Book Dead?’ among The Mechanics Institute Library, what the post lacks in solutions it makes up with thoughtfulness. The second – posted by Tom Clavin at 27east.com – suggests that ‘printing on demand’ may be a plausible and practical future for artists and publishers.

At the discussion at The Mechanics Institute Library, ‘the book’ finds a fierce advocate in Alan Kaufman. Responsible for putting the panel together, which included figures from online publishing, Kaufman nonetheless uses the debate to suggest the printed word is essential to society’s well-being. His essay – ‘Protecting the Printed Word’ – paints Google as a dictator of past and future literature, with the authority to determine what is and is not acceptable for reading. In other words, Kaufman’s key objection to digital publishing is the removal of autonomy from the individual in deciding what they read. He cites Amazon’s recent removal of George Orwell’s 1984 from their Kindle e-readers, as example.

Tom Clavin’s post at 27.com offers a less reactionary tone. It is also less concerned with the philosophical implications of Google, and more the economic reality for printers. His article ‘Printing on Demand’ suggests that the era of publishers printing thousands of books in the hope they sell has come to a conclusion. Instead, publishers may depend on ‘digital printing technology that allows a complete book to be printed and bound in minutes,’ meeting demand as it arises. Here – the printed book is not obsolete but a sensory alternative to digital content. The ‘book’ is a form of packaging wherein the content remains identical.

In the meantime, the printed document remains an essential part of daily life. Businesses are always seeking ways to reduce costs without cutting on important printing. On 8 December, Joseph F. Kovar at Crn.com reported on the trend among companies for multi-function printers, prompted by ‘concern about the cost of hardware, paper and consumables.’ The relatively low price of multi-function printers enables firms to purchase high-quality equipment without breaking the bank. Yet the high price of ink – especially official brand cartridges – means companies must adopt a managed approach to documents, for themselves and the environment.