Conclusion

The second decade of the twenty-first century is an exciting time to develop a career in publishing. In this book, we have explored how publishing is adapting to the digital culture and the frenetic pace of change that has recently engulfed the industry. When choosing a career in publishing, it is important to develop professional skills and industry knowledge, and to retain a strong desire to learn about what is happening in the world of books. It is also vital to keep abreast of the industries with which publishing works, and to be aware of the technological developments that may have an impact in the near and mid-term. Developing your career will mean continuing to explore, to analyse and to learn. Important though technology is, people are at the core of publishing. Without the creative talents of authors, illustrators and designers, there will be no new, thought-provoking and innovative ideas expressed through words and images – the content of successful publishing. The agents and editors who provide the vision, support, sensitivity and attention to detail necessary to transform the creative content for the reader need a professionalism that is founded on a deep and sensitive knowledge of human nature. The same goes for all aspects of the publisher’s communication with readers, booksellers, reviewers and all the many parts of the network that needs to function efficiently for publishing to be successful. At the technical level of information processing, production and the logistics of storage and supply, personal relationships, clear and unambiguous communication, and a trustworthy business ethic are required. Production methods in publishing (as in any industry that converts raw materials into saleable goods) can have very negative environmental effects. Some publishers are now much more aware of their responsibility and are applying sustainability criteria when purchasing paper, printing, transportation and server farm facilities. High ethical standards are unlikely to be sustained in any enterprise without leadership from senior management, who take responsibility for a transparent and equitable financial regime. The roles and responsibilities of people in publishing will adapt and change, but they will still be doing what humans can do best – exploring, adapting, interacting, cooperating and taking joint responsibility for their actions. The importance of publishing, whatever the medium or technology employed, remains rooted in the importance of communication in our personal, social, cultural and economic lives. The digital culture has given more people the opportunity to express themselves in public, to use social media and to contribute to an explosion of visual and textual material available on the internet. Where publishers make a difference is in the choices that they make about what to publish and promote, how they engender debate and analysis of important issues, and suggest structures in the way that knowledge and understanding are presented. With so many more words and images available to the reader and viewer, this publishing role becomes even more vital.

However, if publishers are to undertake this role in the future, they must retain and constantly reinforce their commitment to another of the pillars of good publishing. They must check facts rigorously to ensure the accuracy of any information presented; monitor the use of language and design elements for clarity of expression and meaning; and focus on delivering a publication to readers that satisfies (and even raises) their expectations. Publishers are a vital part of society. They are often among the first to speak out for human rights and social justice, to insist that information is not suppressed and that a wide variety of opinion is heard. This responsibility is one that remains important in a world affected by political and social upheaval, climate change and ecological crisis. It is vital that publishers continue and enhance this role, while balancing the tension that sometimes exists between protecting human rights and preserving the right to freedom of expression. No one knows what publishing will be like by 2050, but it will still be there in some form. What it looks like and how it contributes to the human experience will largely depend on the people who are now just starting their careers in publishing.

‘Books will evolve online and off, and the definition of what counts as one will expand; the sense of the book as a fundamental channel of culture, flowing from past to future, will endure. People may no longer try to pass on wisdom to their sons and daughters through slave-written scrolls, as Cicero did in de Officiis, or even in print. It may even be that Voltaire was right, and that none of them will ever write anything more wise than what was set down 2,000 years ago. But it will not be for want effort, or of opportunity, or of an audience of future readers ready to seek out wisdom in the books that they leave behind.’ Essay: The Future of the Book, The Economist