The future editor: creative producers for a digital age

Reeve, K (2015) The future editor: creative producers for a digital age. In: By the Book: International Symposium, 18 - 20 June 2015, Florence, Italy.

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Abstract

As we contemplate the complexities and challenges of a rapidly-evolving digital landscape with increased screen-based reading, media convergence, and adaptation across multiple formats, I will argue that the skills and rigour editors employ are needed more than ever to develop and differentiate content into high-quality engaging publications. This paper will seek to reposition editors at the centre of the future publishing industry as imaginative and creative collaborators and cultural influencers: identifying and advocating talent; developing stories, ideas and research into meaningful, authoritative and accessibly-written multi-format publications for a range of different audiences; and helping authors reach their audience. Digital has been incorporated into production, marketing, sales and distribution, while those in editorial departments have, arguably, been least involved in exploring the opportunities (creative and commercial) that new technology offers. The 21st-century editor, in an accentuated role as innovative creative producer (combining creativity with entrepreneurial skills), can now wield a wider range of tools, inspired by the approaches used in the creative-tech sector for new product development such as user experience, data analysis, iterative testing as well as a range of digital creative content tools. This paper will consider how a radical rethink of this role could help both academic and trade publishing rediscover its central position within our culture and clarify the added value it offers to authors and readers.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Note:

Presentation script available. Alternate title of the paper was 'The role of the editor'.

Overall theme of the symposium was 'Books and reading in an age of media overload'.

Keywords: Editors, editorial, digital publishing, publishing, books, creative producer
Divisions: School of Writing, Publishing and the Humanities
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Date Deposited: 14 Jan 2016 14:23
Last Modified: 06 Jan 2022 19:50
URI / Page ID: https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/6583
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