The publishing tide is shifting fast: E-book sales in February topped all over formats, including paperbacks and hardcovers, according to an industry report released this week. Get the full story »
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Tribune Co. buys Naperville Magazine
Tribune Co. said Tuesday that its Chicago subsidiary has acquired Naperville Magazine, a lifestyle monthly devoted to the Illinois suburb of the same name. Get the full story »
Google, Hachette ink accord on book scanning
Google has signed an accord with France’s biggest book publisher Hachette Livre on the scanning and sale of out-of-print books, which grants the publisher wide control over pricing and content. Get the full story »
Johnson Publishing HQ sold to Columbia College
From Crain’s Chicago Business | Johnson Publishing Co. has sold its headquarters at 820 S. Michigan Ave. to Columbia College Chicago, though it did not disclose terms of the sale. In a press release, Johnson Publishing said it will continue to occupy the building under an 18-month lease.
Amazon no longer selling guide for pedophiles
Amazon is no longer selling a self-published guide for pedophiles. It wasn’t immediately clear whether Amazon.com Inc. had pulled the item, or whether the author withdrew it. Amazon did not immediately return messages Thursday.
Amazon to let readers lend Kindle books
Amazon.com Inc. is going to allow the lending of e-books purchased from its Kindle Store.
The online retailer announced the upcoming feature in a discussion forum for the Kindle on its website Friday, saying that later in the year it will start letting Kindle users and people who use its free Kindle apps loan books to others for a two-week period. During the loan, the book’s owner will not be able to read the book, Amazon said.
Barnes & Noble says Burkle not fit for board
Barnes & Noble Co. said activist investor Ronald Burkle was unqualified to be on its board and accused the billionaire of trying to take over the bookseller through a proxy battle without rewarding shareholders. Get the full story »
Barnes & Noble posts 1Q loss on legal costs
Barnes & Noble Inc. posted a first-quarter loss on legal expenses related to its proxy fight with a major shareholder, the struggling book seller said Tuesday. The company cut its annual earnings outlook on the costs related to fighting billionaire financier Ron Burkle.
Desiree Rogers named CEO of Johnson Publishing
Desiree Rogers, left, attends a dinner with Linda Johnson Rice on March 4, 2010. (AP Photo/Earl Gibson III)
Desiree Rogers, the Chicago executive and former White House Social Secretary who was vaulted to international notoriety after uninvited guests crashed a state dinner, has been named the new CEO of Johnson Publishing Co., the publishers of Ebony and Jet magazines.
Rogers had been consulting for the Chicago-based publishing and cosmetics company on a two-month contract. She will now take over day-to-day operations.
In July, Anne Sempowski Ward, the former president and chief operating officer of Johnson Publishing, said she was stepping down, which prompted speculation that Rogers was in line for the job. Get the full story »
Barnes & Noble expands textbook rental program
Barnes & Noble’s college bookstore unit said Monday it is expanding its textbook rental program.
The program, which began as a pilot in January, is offered through campus bookstores managed by Barnes & Noble. Users have the option of renting in campus bookstores or online. Get the full story »
R.R. Donnelley 2Q profit triples
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co.’s second-quarter profit more than tripled, beating expectations, following prior-year charges as revenue increased more than expected. Get the full story »
New Kindle sells for $139 in price war
Online retail giant Amazon.com plans to introduce two new versions of the Kindle e-reader on Thursday, one for $139, the lowest price yet for the device.
Amazon raises royalties offer for Kindle books
Amazon.com said Wednesday it is now offering do-it-yourself authors and publishers royalties of about 70 percent on their e-books. The online retailer in January had announced plans to offer users of its e-book self-publishing program, the Kindle Digital Text Platform, book sale royalties of 70 percent after delivery costs. Get the full story »
Rolling Stone late to post Gen. McChrystal piece
(Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/MCT)
From The New York Times | The explosive Rolling Stone article on Gen. Stanley McChrystal was not published on the magazine’s website, rollingstone.com, until 11 a.m. on Tuesday — and by that point, Politico and the Web site of Time magazine had posted PDF files of the article on their own websites before Rolling Stone could get its own article up. Rolling Stone then asked them to remove the PDFs. Will Dana, the magazine’s managing editor, said that the magazine did not always post articles online because it could make more money at the newsstand and that when it did, the articles were typically not posted until Wednesday. But other news organizations made that decision for him.
It’s an E-reader battle as Amazon cuts Kindle price
A price war is heating up in the electronic reader market, as Amazon cut the price of its Kindle e-reader below $200 Monday just after Barnes & Noble did the same with its competing Nook device.
The rapid-fire moves are fanning flames in the still-small but rapidly growing market that the book industry sees as a major part of its future.
On Monday afternoon, online retailer Amazon.com Inc. slashed the price of the Kindle by $70 to $189, just a few hours after bookseller Barnes & Noble Inc. reduced the price of the Nook by $60 to $199 and said it would also start selling a new Nook with Wi-Fi access for $149.
Get the full story »
