Publishing Next conference in Goa

The annual Publishing Next conference brings together a diverse and engaging group of professionals from the publishing industry and its allied fields. The third edition of the conference will take place between 20–21 September 2013 in Panaji, and it will bring over 40 speakers together. Publishing Next has positioned itself as a unique conference-platform, focusing on all aspects of the publishing process in India: be it editorial, marketing, distribution, readership, retail, e-publishing

14 Sep 2013 | By Rahul Kumar

The last two editions, held in 2011 and 2012 respectively, were intensive, and pitched for the first time a diverse set of voices together. Through a combination of formats – panel discussions, workshops and insightful talks – the conference has aimed to bring a balance in perspectives on the industry’s vision, its current practice and views of the future.

The third edition focuses on issues that continue to affect the publishing sector – such as, book distribution and retail and the difficulties faced by Indian language publishing – and lead the discussions on them. This year, the conference will also seek to address new trends and concerns, such as diminishing readership trends in some segments, the need to create “purely Indian content”, and the growth of self-publishing. The workshops will focus on concerns of small and independent publishers, and of authors, while insight talks will encourage and foster entrepreneurship within the publishing sector.

Besides bringing to fore the issues that are of concern to publishers, authors, and service providers, an essential aim of this conference is to facilitate networking opportunities, particularly for new publishers, young professionals in the industry, as well as for authors and freelancers.

HP is the main sponsor for the event; and PrintWeek India is a media partner. One of the key sessions at this year's conference is a workshop entitled 'Understanding Print', which is designed to help publishers "understand" how print could save them money, and help them become more competitive.  
 
PrintWeek India's 116-page document – Book Special – which features a cross-section of the Indian publishing industry, will be distributed to all delegates at the conference. 
 
The special publication is aimed at the print and publishing community, to highlight current trends and perspectives from the publishers' point of view. Besides the marquee names and the Big Five of publishing, the Book Special interviews and features 36 trade and specialist publishers.

A version of this story first appeared on www.booksy.in