Module description
Ambitious claims have been made about the impact of digital culture and technology, and some areas and aspects of publishing have been significantly transformed, but others very firmly follow print-era models in most senses. At heart of this is a clash of interests and cultures between a complex range of protagonists, including digital media companies, 'traditional' publishers, users/readers and authors/content creators. The ongoing negotiation between print era paradigms and new models for publishing is still far from being resolved, but networked digital content has fundamentally changed the manner in which content is created, disseminated and consumed and this has affected the whole publishing cycle, from content creation to final 'publication' and beyond. In this module we evaluate a range of digital publications in terms of their audiences, delivery platforms, presentation, marketing and criteria for evaluation.
We will explore different models presented by digital and print publishing; the different ways in which content can be 'framed' for publication; the impact of user-generated content and social media; the impact of the digital culture on the act of reading; eReaders and eBooks; access and intellectual property; and ongoing debates about the future of publishing. The module will consider different formats and platforms, as well as engaging in basic practical exercises to test some of the issues we discuss, reviewing case studies and hearing from practitioners in the field.
Assessment details
Coursework - 4000 word essay or project (100%)
Educational aims & objectives
The term 'Digital publishing' is understood in many different ways by different people, and yet the concept is increasingly fundamental to many aspects of human communication across different sectors. This module situates digital publishing historically in relation to print and other media, giving students a critical perspective on the factors which have informed the development of publishing and the numerous transformations which digital culture have brought about. It gives students various perspectives on digital publishing (in its broadest definition), including content creation/authoring, platforms for reading/interaction, production and print/web/digital publication flows. Students will evaluate case studies from a variety of different publishing ecosystems, and will develop critical analytical skills in relation to the methods, cultures and technologies which underpin digital publishing in its various forms, in addition to practical skills for planning new digital publications.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this module, students will
- gain a deep theoretical grounding in key aspects of the history of digital publishing and the current state of the art, including comparison with print and other media.
- develop critical and reflexive skills for assessing the quality of a digital publication, its ability to meet the needs of a target audience and its relationship to other forms of publication.
- be able to critically appraise a range of design and technological approaches, and make informed recommendations for new publishing projects, stating their rationale.
- be able to carry out practical research into the organization and usability of digital publications, using appropriate techniques to explore how they are made and used