Writers and Editors

Feb 03, 2019 11:19 AM EST

The Democratization of Publishing(Chip Rossetti, Publishing Perspectives, 5-20-15) Publishing is returning to its pre-industrial models in which everyone was a creator and is transforming into a network where emotions matter most, says Richard Nash. “It’s hard to see large amounts of revenue coming from digital downloads,” he says. “But what I think you’ll start to see is different ways in which the book artifact, the physical item, increases in value and becomes more expensive. Just as you see with certain kinds of clothing, designed objects, and organic foods today.” "Scholars have pointed to the importance of publishing — a.k.a. 'print capitalism' — to the emergence of nationalism in Europe, and to the dissemination of new political and cultural ideas. “Retail was invented in bookstores. Booksellers were the first retailers — in the sense that items on the shelves were available to be browsed, rather than something you had to go in and ask for, or ask them to make for you individually.”The emotional connection between an experience and a consumer gains in importance: “I look at how much more people spend on vacations now, or on their willingness to spend money on a T-shirt because it’s a souvenir of a concert they attended."

- PM