Ebooks: False Sense of Security for Publishers?

Peter Brantley
June 23, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Listen

Michael Cairns says ebooks as we largely understand them may be a short-term fading generational segment. From PersonaNonData:

Today's publishers for the first time in their history have no confidence that their child's generation will be (or are) interested in their published output. It is not that publishers aren't making an effort; however, I have a disturbing belief that there is an preponderance of focus on forcing existing content into a format and delivery mechanism (e-books and e-readers) that is not ideal only to have that e-book content used by a market -- my and my parents' generation -- that is in long term decline.

In other words, migrating content so that it is available on an e-book may provide a false sense of security for publishers who believe this is enough to 're-launch' their content to the newest generations.

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1 Comments

Adam Engst said:
June 23, 2008 4:34 PM

This is of course correct - we're in a time of great change, and just making a PDF version of a print book is necessary but not sufficient. However, I'd argue that it's necessary not just for the sake of having a digital version of a book for readers who want and expect such things, but because it helps change a publisher's mindset to where they can understand where the audience is going and what the audience will want in the future. Baby steps, folks, and that's largely because everything other than what we understand as an ebook is a complete experiment and not something upon which the business can be bet.

cheers... -Adam

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