FOLIO: Personalities -- The Blog People Page

As we anticipate the launch of Apple's iPad next week, it's worth taking a look at the current ereader - or as we like to call it Digital Book Reader - landscape from one publisher's perspective.

Just some quick notes on F+W Media:

--we sold 10.2 million books in 2009
--we have a backlist of approximately 3,500 books
--we publish on average 600 new books annually
-- 200 new books in the relationship, self-help, business, writing and memoir categories
-- 400 or more in illustrated categories such as art, craft, collectibles, numismatics
--we publish 35 magazines

Thus, we have a serious, vested interest in the e-book world, as well as the p-book world.

So where does the world stand today?< More...

RELATED FOLIO: VIDEO: Is Print Dead?

I’m not sure if it’s because more of my time these days is spent meeting with media management, investigating possible acquisition opportunities, or simply doing more research. But it seems that there is a growing debate in our industry.

I’d call it the print is dead vs. “I’m not dead yet” (Monty Python reference) crowd.

The print is dead group (Steve Ballmer, who famously said that in 10 years all media will be digital, serves as the group’s unofficial chairman) has strong revenue growth on it More...

FOLIO: has asked me to blog occasionally for their newly designed, recently launched Web site. I was both flattered and flummoxed since I haven't had to deal with deadlines, or word counts since my days as a journalist way back when our businesses were called trade magazines and trade shows, rather than b-to-b media, the event business and content factories.

So my first question was, what would you like me to write about?

I have a passion for all things "e." I love new technology, but I'm not really an expert. I've been in the magazine business in one shape or another since college, writing, editing, selling and publi More...