A bit of a contretemps over a leaked document at Digital Book World illustrates the divide between what publishers think they offer -- support, backing, quality assurance, marketing -- and what self-publishers think traditional publishers bring to the table. Prepared by Hachette as part of a … [Read more...] about Hachette’s Leaked “Manifesto” at Digital Book World
How Products (And Ideas) Find Users
Every campaign is unique, from a new product launch to a membership drive -- but wouldn't it be great if there were some general principles that govern success or failure? Maybe there are. They come from a fifty-year-old textbook called "The Diffusion of Innovations," by Everett M. Rogers. Rogers … [Read more...] about How Products (And Ideas) Find Users
Why Mainstream Media Is Being Eaten Alive (And What to Do About It)
The current state of the media business was roughly predicted fifteen years ago by a Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen. In an article entitled "Disruptive Technologies: Catching the Wave," Christensen described how small companies, even those with laughably bad products, were … [Read more...] about Why Mainstream Media Is Being Eaten Alive (And What to Do About It)
The Five Traits of Successful Digital Products
Everett M. Rogers, author of "The Diffusion of Innovations," studied the adoption of new technologies and attempted to identify why people choose to use new products. According to Rogers, any product that lacks all of the traits will find significant difficulty in attracting users. Advantage: Your … [Read more...] about The Five Traits of Successful Digital Products
CJR’s Explanation of Why High-Quality Journalism is (Nearly) Doomed
In May's "The Story So Far" (also available as a downloadable pdf), the Columbia School of Journalism's Bill Grueskin, Ava Seave and Lucas Graves all but conclude there is not a sustainable business model to support top-quality journalism at current levels. They see at least three main factors … [Read more...] about CJR’s Explanation of Why High-Quality Journalism is (Nearly) Doomed
Definition: “Opportunity Cost”
The thing that you team didn't do with the time they spent on Project X. Or the thing your company didn't buy with the money they spent on Project X. … [Read more...] about Definition: “Opportunity Cost”
How to Write for Gawker
Stumbled across an old but interesting memo from Gawker Media writer Paul Boutin to managing editor Noah Robischon (which was immediately leaked to New York Magazine's Vulture site). Valleywag (a Gawker sister site) then reported on the leak, linking to NYMag and running the piece themselves. Here … [Read more...] about How to Write for Gawker
Bloggers in History: Georges Simenon
Paris, 1927. For 100,000 francs, author Georges Simenon agrees to write a novel while suspended in a glass cage outside the Moulin Rouge. Passersby would contribute subject, characters and title. A newspaper backs the stunt and pays Simenon a 25,000 franc advance. For a moment, it was the talk … [Read more...] about Bloggers in History: Georges Simenon