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Reading Log Assignment Form

Source 1

1. Full reference:
McGuire, H. and OLeary, B. (2012) Book: A futurists manifesto: A collection of essays from the bleeding edge
of publishing. Boston, MA: OReilly Media, Inc, USA.

2. Why did you decide to select this particular source as being one of the most relevant/useful?
I am planning to research about something relevant to online books such as E-Books or online books
and paper books. This book mentioned about the present position and the future of online books
and the different points between online books and paper books (McGuire and OLeary, 2012,
pp.110-118). This book was a quite good starting point for me because I did not have knowledge the
strategy of publishing.

3. What was the author trying to achieve in writing this source?


The authors tried to distinguish between books on the web and online books and paper books and
showed some comparisons such as the E-books business might look like a print books business for
publishers, retailers, and readers, but the steps of making E-books are totally different when
compared with that of printed books (McGuire and OLeary, 2012, pp.110-118, pp133-139). In
addition, the authors predicted what online books could do that e-book cannot do (It may be useful
to show some differences between online books and E-books.), and the authors predicted that books
will disappear due to the Internet (pp.110-118, pp.138-139).

4. What is the author saying that you think will be particularly relevant to your research?
According to the authors, publishers already launched to pay attention to digital workflows, because
they consider that contextual inquiry and usability for digital publishing is crucial to survive in the
market of online publishing (McGuire and OLeary, 2012, pp.178-182). The two points which were
mentioned by the authors were specific view because I will research how publishers will survive or
competitive with major companies such as Amazon in the online publishing market.

5. Does the author present a balanced and well-supported account of the topic?
The authors frequently used their experiences or newspaper articles to support their claims. When
they mentioned E-books are built in HTML; they showed the figure of HTML from a HuffPo article about
Britney Spears, and it is easy to understand what is HTML. The authors also showed the website or apps
(Goodreads, Readmill and Fanfiction.com ) which are providing online books (McGuire and OLeary,
2012, p.119).

6. In reading the source, what specific research questions are raised for you that might be worth
exploring further?
The Internet already spread in the world, and if people have smart phones, they can read online
books and E-books via the Internet. Will people go to buy a book in a bookshop in the future? On the
other hand, is it possible that every paper book which was already published transform to E-books? If
printed books would disappear completely, would printing offices and libraries disappear or left?
Source 2

1. Full reference:
Bhaskar, M. (2013) The content machine: Towards a theory of publishing from the printing press to the digital
network. London: Anthem Press.

2. Why did you decide to select this particular source as being one of the most relevant/useful?
I am interested in the changes of publishing, and this author explained the historical developments of
publishing and compares different between past changes and present changes (Bhaskar, 2013,
p.33). The author mentioned about the "Centralisation" and "Fragmentation" due to the development
of Internat. (pp.38-42). Both of them are the trend throughout the development of digital contents. I
would like to use this opinion when I explain about the background of development of online books
because I consider that the two points are the key of development of online publishing.

3. What was the author trying to achieve in writing this source?


The author explained the differences between the different between printed books and digital
books (Bhaskar, 2013, p.32). In addition, Amazon succeeded to get hegemony in online bookselling
today, and the author pointed out some points why Amazon can dominate there (pp.43-44). At the
end of the chapter, new methods of protecting copyright for digital publishing were also explained
(p.49).

4. What is the author saying that you think will be particularly relevant to your research?
The author explained the process of development of publishing from improvement to printing
machines before the invention of online publishing (Bhaskar, 2013, p.33). Before I thought that the
only major change of publishing was the shift to online. However, from this book I learned there were
other developments prior to this. I thought that only online publishing was the advancement of
publishing, but publishing already advanced a lot. This information might be useful and comparison
when I explain why it is a challenge to survive in the era of digital publishing for publishers.

5. Does the author present a balanced and well-supported account of the topic?
This author gave supporting evidence from books, journal articles, newspapers, magazines and
statistical figures, and the author was using many footnotes, but the book is mainly focused on
America and European Countries. However, almost all references were published after 2005, so it
could be said that the references were update information.
6. In reading the source, what specific research questions are raised for you that might be worth
exploring further?
After finish reading the chapter, I would like to expect that publishers who publish only online books
will appear or not in the future. In addition, what if Amazon will continue to share a big part of online
publishing, what will happen to medium-sized publishing companies in different countries and how
will they survive? How protect copyrights of online publishing, and is it possible. Because it is difficult to
prevent illegal download of online contents today.

Source 3

1. Full reference:
Ronning, H. and Slaatta, T. (2011) Marketers, publishers, editors: Trends in international publishing, Media,
Culture & Society, 33(7), pp. 11091120. doi: 10.1177/0163443711416068.

2. Why did you decide to select this particular source as being one of the most relevant/useful?
The authors mentioned about niche publishers in the era of online publishing and gave reasons why
niche publishers succeed in there (Rnning and Slaatta, 2011, pp.1110-1113). I would like to use this
opinion when I consider what kind of publishers will remain and appear anew in the future. In
addition, their predictions or opinions about publishing were mainly supported by their interviews to
publishers, and it might be useful because the publishers might answer what they really think in the
development of online publishing.

3. What was the author trying to achieve in writing this source?


The authors explained about the publishing industries from different points and described that the
changes of niche publishers in the development of Technology and publishing market, and they also
mentioned that existing publishers have been absorbed by large multimedia companies (Rnning
and Slaatta, 2011, pp.1110-1112). In addition, the authors mentioned that the profits of online books
are increasing, but only major bookshops will remain in the US (Bosman, 2010b cited in Rnning and
Slaatta, 2011, p.1113). However, the author also pointed out about that the trends of bookshops in
Europe are different with America (Rnning and Slaatta, 2011, pp.1113-1112).

4. What is the author saying that you think will be particularly relevant to your research?
The authors thought that the role of editor become more important, though the opinion which
decline of a publisher is generally popular (Rnning and Slaatta, 2011, p.1117). However, it is a quite
rare and different with my opinion, because major companies such as Amazon or Apple help writers
to publish their work as an E-book. It means that if writers desire to publish their work, they can publish
without a publisher. Therefore, it is difficult to say that editors role will be more important in the future
in my opinion.
5. Does the author present a balanced and well-supported account of the topic?
Though there were some interesting opinions about publishers future, they do not have enough
references. However, when they mention about Booksellers present situation and problems, they use
a real example and journal article (Rnning and Slaatta, 2011, p.1114). In addition, almost all of the
authors references were published around 2010, and so the source was update, and the authors
used some interviews to refer and develop their ideas (p.1111, p.1114)

6. In reading the source, what specific research questions are raised for you that might be worth
exploring further?
What kind of niche publishers can find their space in the market? Main domestic publishers will be
absorbed by global companies such as Amazon? In addition, how will the relation between writers
and publishers change in the future?

Source 4

1. Full reference:
Carreiro, E. (2010) Electronic books: How digital devices and supplementary new technologies are changing the
face of the publishing industry, Publishing Research Quarterly, 26(4), pp. 219235. doi: 10.1007/s12109-
010-9178-z.

2. Why did you decide to select this particular source as being one of the most relevant/useful?
The author wrote the changes of the book industry by technology (Carreiro, 2010, p.223). I would like
to refer the opinion to develop my opinion how publishers and writers will change in the future. In
addition, the advantages of technological advance for readers, editors, and publishers were pointed
out (pp.226-227). I unconsciously considered that technological developments just bring negative
impact, but this opinion made me realize that I have to think about the benefits of technology and
online publishing from different points of view.

3. What was the author trying to achieve in writing this source?


The author concerned that the digital books or E-books are the greatest transformation in the
historical changes of publishing, and e-books are not a replacement of printed book but a
supplementary option. In addition, The author showed some advantages of electronic books and
different points between E-books and printed books (Carreiro, 2010, p.220).
4. What is the author saying that you think will be particularly relevant to your research?
According to the author, online books will spread more and more due to the improvements of online
books applications or e-readers (Carreiro, 2010, pp.231-232). I also predict the number of online
books will increase, and I will use the authors point as supporting the idea in my essay. In addition,
the author said that the creating of e-books standard format is important (p.227). I also think that the
certain standard format is crucial because every consumer uses a different e-book reader, and if
every publisher does not use the same format, some people may not be able to read some online
books. I would like to use the authors opinion as supporting reference when I mention that.

5. Does the author present a balanced and well-supported account of the topic?
The author usually used some references to support own opinions or define topics or explain the
various backgrounds. Almost all of references were written after 2005, and the references showed a
wide variety such as academic journals, interviews of editors of major publishers, website or books.

6. In reading the source, what specific research questions are raised for you that might be worth
exploring further?
In the future, will single online bookshop appear, and people purchase an E-book from there? The
author considered that writers need to think digitally, but what is exactly digitally thinking (Carreiro,
2010, p.228)? The author also said that not famous writers can get more readers to read their work
on the Internet, but is there the possibility of decline of quality of books because every book can be
contributed easily regardless the quality. In addition, what type of printed book will continue to be
purchased?

Source 5

1. Full reference:
Chi, Y. (2014) The E-volution of publishing: Challenges and opportunities in the digital age, Publishing
Research Quarterly, 30(4), pp. 344351. doi: 10.1007/s12109-014-9384-1.

2. Why did you decide to select this particular source as being one of the most relevant/useful?
The author is a Chairman of Elsevier, and this publisher makes academic literature, and I have read
some academic journals from there. Therefore, the authors opinion or suggestions must come from
his experiences or knowledge which he gained during working. I considered that opinions from the
person in the publisher can broaden or deepen my opinion about online publishing.
3. What was the author trying to achieve in writing this source?
The author showed four points called e-approaches which publishers can keep a good position in
the electronic development (Chi, 2014, pp.347-351). In addition, the author predicted that the value
of printed books will not decline, and e-books will be fixed in the publishing market, and he also
explained the definition of present publishers is changing to uncertain (p.345). The number of
academic publications tends to increase, and it is getting be difficult to find an article which people
seek (p.346).

4. What is the author saying that you think will be particularly relevant to your research?
At the end of the article, the author mentioned that publishers would continue to exist while they
provide high-quality products, and publishers can develop abilities by much contents and high-
quality technology in next stage of publishing (Chi, 2014, p.351). This thinking may be persuasive
because the author faces to the development of publishing in his work. In addition, the opinion can
be used as s reference when I mention about the future position of publishers in the online publishing
market. Furthermore, I would like to use the authors thinking about the development of technology
and online publishing, when I explain what publishers are thinking about online publishing now as an
example (p.351).

5. Does the author present a balanced and well-supported account of the topic?
This articles main point was e-approaches, and this point mainly came from the authors thinking,
but some articles and persons idea were used as supporting. In addition, when the author
mentioned about e-books unit sale in 2013, the figure came from the reference, and every reference
was update information because these were published after 2013.

6. In reading the source, what specific research questions are raised for you that might be worth
exploring further?
The author reported that tablets and smartphones took the place of digital radars such as Kindle,
does it mean that publishers need to cooperate with companies which sell smartphone or tablets in
the future instead of bookshops?

Now you have completed your Reading Log you should have a clearer idea of the sort of
research question(s) you are going to try and address in your Independent Research project.
With this in mind you must come up with a working title. Your supervisor will be allocated on
the basis on the working title you provide here. You should answer questions 1-3 as fully as
possible.

Write your working title in the box below:


How publishers find their place in the online publishing market dominated by major IT
companies?

Your working title

1. Why have you chosen this specific working title after your initial reading?
After reading the article and the books, I decided to research about how publishers change and
find their place in the online publishing market. Before I read, I did not think that publishers need to
change themselves. However, the almost all the author mentioned about Amazon or Apple. They will
have a strong impact on the online publishing market, and publishers need to change to survive in
there. Therefore, I would like to know what publishers need to do to survive there.

2. What evidence will you need to find in order to address your working title? What further research
will you need to do?
I would like to collect more information from publishers such as the fifth reference because I need to
know what publishers are doing to find their place in the online publishing market today. In addition, I
also need to know about self-publishing and how Amazon promote self-publishing to people.

3. What possible conclusions might a project with this working title reach?
If publishers can find their advantages or distinguish themselves from self-publishing, they will survive
in the future, and some publishers may cooperate with Amazon or Apple to help writers to publish
their work as online books. In addition, publishers will promote their products on the Internet, and the
Internet will bring different promotion method to publishers, and publishers have to use the online
advertisements effectively because people who use the Internet can be potential consumers.

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