publishing technology directions for journal publishers

1. Publishing Directions Thad McIlroyThe Future of Publishing www.thefutureofpublishing.com

2. My Challenge Today Whether to scare the hk out of you Or whether to focus on the solution 3. There are Enough Scary ThingsGoing on Already! 4. Enough Said! 5. I Decided on the Latter 6. We All Know the Challenges The business is changing, by the day The economics are changing, by theminute But 7. Customers and Branding Weve got some very loyal customers Who appreciate the work we do And are willing to pay a fair price 8. So Whats the Problem? 9. Print isNo Longer Competitive with Electronic Media 10. EVERY PUBLISHERmust find a way to reduce thecost of print,while striving for media agility 11. My Background 8 years in bookselling & publishing inCanada Fifteen years studying the intersection oftechnology and print publishing, workingwith printers, publishers & vendors 5 years directing Seybold Seminars 7 years studying the impact of theInternet on graphic communications 12. A (very) Brief History ofComposition Systems We started off with proprietary systems Then we moved (briefly) to standards(i.e. SGML) Then we has entered the PostScript(PDF) free-for-all Now were back to standards (i.e. XML) 13. Does XML Matter? Not at alland Without it youre gone! 14. WHY? 15. Because XML EnablesMedia-Agility We ALL know that the future of ourbusiness is not going to be dependent onprintyet...at the same time We MUST extend print as far aspossible While working towards a media-neutralfuture 16. Whats the REAL XML Story? Its everything it seems to be ANDless! Weve fallen for the XML religion alittle too quickly You MUST define your contentdeployment and re-use goals 17. So What SystemShould We Use? There really is no DEFINITIVE answer Each have their advantages anddrawbacks Microsoft Word QuarkXPress & Adobe InDesign 3B2 and XPP XSL-FO 18. Available CompositionWorkflows Supporting XML # Software ClassAutomation CostLevel 1 QuarkXPressA50% 2 Adobe FrameMaker A75% 3 Adobe InDesign A30% 4 XyEnterprise XPP B95% 5 3B2B95% 6 XSL-FO C85% 7 TeX/LaTeXD75%Classes: A: Off-the-shelf page layout software B: High-end proprietary software C: XSL-FO renderers (XML Stylesheet Formatting Objects) D: Public-domain typesetting software 19. So What SystemShould We Use? Microsoft Word supports XML schema, but no workflow established QuarkXPress & Adobe InDesign each are still struggling to understand the best XML workflow for publishing 3B2 and XPP they do a great job, but cost extra XSL-FO a standard, but still immature 20. Automation and Offshoring How did we develop so manymisconceptions? Typically, we became fixated on costsavings But then we learned: Surprise: they knowmore about production automation thanwe do! 21. At the Same Time Unquestionably India is far way Unquestionably there are culturaldifferences (as much as we try to pretendthere are not) Unquestionably, communication is a keyfactor in the success of the work we doevery day 22. What is the RealOffshore Story? Too many people think its about cheaplaborlabor savings are the wrong target Its really about using the best technologyin the world in the most effective manner Indian vendors do not yet understand thewhole story independent of the U.S. A hybrid model is your best bet 23. India:A Study in Contrasts! 24. Enter: The Hybrid Vendor The very best of onshore know-how andcustomer relations with The very best in technology and smartlabor in India 25. What Should We Send Offshore?Anything and everythingWhatever youre comfortable sending offshore 26. What Creates a SuccessfulOffshore Vendor Relationship? Trust, of course Scalewere still in the trial phase Commitment Investment Ownership 27. What Else? Technology A long-term commitment An ethical commitment A great facility Really smart people 28. The Vision: Smart DocumentsAuthors w. Text and vectortemplatesgraphics in XML Knows whereEditors working its been andelectronically where its going:First proofing print & binddone digitally Web & PDA distributionFile contains allpreflight info & Contains multiplerevision history language versions 29. Thank You! Thad McIlroy The Future of [email protected]