Digital Book World 2013: Change and Cooperation

NYU M.S. in Publishing students David Stuzin, Nicole Estrin, Michelle Cashman, Pam Majumdar, and Lorna Field volunteer at Digital Book World.

During a Digital Book World 2013 panel discussion so crowded that some attendees sat on the floor, Matt MacInnis, Founder and CEO of the interactive book company Inkling, made a particularly perceptive comment: “It’s a miracle that the book was a thing the whole world agreed on.” That is, up until recently, it is fair to say that “the book” as we know it has retained the same static, linear structure across various nations and fields of study since the invention of the printing press 500 years ago. Going forward, MacInnis continued, “It’s not gonna be one monolithic thing serving the med. school book and serving the novel.”

“You’re Hired!” One Student’s Story

Daniell Maupai: from the Capstone to a job at Condé Nast

“I was SO nervous,” remembers Danielle Maupai of the moment she stood up at an NYU Center for Publishing Board of Advisors meeting and summarized key elements of her graduate thesis, or “Capstone.”  After delivering a flawless Capstone presentation the week before in front of her fellow graduate students in the NYU M.S. in Publishing program, Maupai had been selected to tell the Board members about her thesis.  Maupai knew this was a wonderful opportunity to outline her business plan for a new magazine for American teachers in front of executives like Nina Link, President and CEO of MPA: The Association of Magazine Media; John Q. Griffin, former Executive Vice President of Time Inc. & President of Time Inc. News Group and current President of Griffin & Associates; and Louis Cona, Chief Marketing Officer for Condé Nast.

Abu Dhabi Diary, Part II

Peter Balis shows his iPad to Sulaiman Adebowale from Senegal

The delicate art of the swipe and the pinch was demonstrated again—and again—as 25 publishers from all over the Arab world (and beyond) fingered iPads and also got acquainted with the Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader and the new Kobo eReader. Peter Balis, director of digital content sales for John Wiley and  Sons, had hauled his stash of digital toys half way around the world to demonstrate the latest technology to his 24 students assembled in the brand new, high-tech classroom on the campus of NYU Abu Dhabi.

It was day three of the four-day executive training sessions for Arab-region publishers co-sponsored by The Center for Publishing at NYU-SCPS and KITAB, the joint venture company formed by the Frankfurt International Book Fair and the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Today’s subject was digital publishing: the what, the why and—for some in the room—the when.

Publishing Thesis? Piece of Cake!

Erin Pursell at work on her Capstone

The Capstone is the culmination of the Master of Science in Publishing program at NYU. This is our graduate thesis, and we are asked to write a complete business plan for a new media venture. Students have created plans for new book imprints, magazine brands and content-rich websites, and a few have gone on to seek funding  in the hopes of launching a successful business.  (In fact, we are encouraged to do so.) On day one of the Capstone class last fall, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Knowing the scope of the task that lay ahead, I felt a little uneasy, not quite ready for the process to begin. A recent graduate of the program was there to talk about her own experience with the Capstone project.  She discussed finding a study buddy, staying focused, and getting started immediately. As I tried to figure out exactly how much work was ahead of me, she began explaining her study regimen: a private room in the library, booked four days a week for several hours each day, all semester. My eyes widened. Four days a week? Who has that kind of time? Her final paper was passed around the room, and I thumbed through the weighty forty plus pages. How was I ever going to get this done?

Faculty Spotlight: Who’s New For Spring and Summer

From an editor-in-chief  to a chief information officer, from a publisher of children’s books to a vice president for business development, the media executives joining the faculty of NYU’s  Master of Science in Publishing program  next spring and summer represent some of the leading figures in the industry.  Read on to learn more about the talented and eclectic group that students will soon meet in the classroom:

Expert Advice

Mary Ann Bekkedahl will speak in NYU's "From Idea to Empire : New Business Development" class."

We love our faculty members at NYU’s Master of Science in Publishing program, but it’s still nice to have a fresh face in the classroom now and then. Enter the guest speaker, an expert who spends an hour or so imparting a new publishing viewpoint,  strategy or way of doing business to the class. This fall, we’re fortunate to have a number of guest speakers sharing their wisdom with our students.

For faculty members, luring a top publishing executive to NYU’s evening classes after a long day on the job is a feat in itself. In fact, snaring speakers requires the reach of a casting agent, the tenacity of a talent scout and the clout of a speakers’ bureau combined. One must be very persuasive to convince a guest speaker to put together a PowerPoint presentation, scramble around for interesting handouts—think bestselling books or hot magazines—bolt out of the office early (stomach grumbling), and race to NYU in time to face a sea of equally hungry and weary students.