We’ll confess that this week’s exchange between MacKenzie Bezos and author Brad Stone only makes us more interested in Stone’s appearance at Digital Book World next January, as part of a block of programming focused on analyzing Amazon. This new page at the DBW conference site provides an overview of the Amazon-focused sessions, and also highlights two other “featured blocks” of new material.
In response to suggestions from some of the C-level people who serve on the DBW advisory council, we’re featuring four sessions that present a structure view on “change management” (created with the help of consultant Carolyn Pittis, who led many change efforts at HarperCollins). As most people now recognize, digital change is not an isolated skill or department — it affects the entire organization.
The third featured block takes what we think of as a mature approach to dealing with start-ups. While other conferences like to glorify start-ups for their mere existence, we’re interested in that relatively small intersection where established companies and new entrants are working together effectively. A great panel on investing in innovation will feature some of unheralded publishers and publishing players who are themselves investing in new ideas and propositions. We’re conducting, and will report on, a survey of both book publishers and the new companies wanting to engage with them.
And that’s just a small sampling of the dozens of sessions and multiple tracks already planned. You can view the full program-in-formation here. Those listings now also include the richer-than-ever optional third day of events (actually Monday, January 13), which includes the return of terrific, focused Publishers Launch Kids show, the leading event for children’s publishers; the relocated and expanded Making Information Pay for Higher Ed event from the BISG; a new digital design and production conference; and a great set of practical workshops.
The early pricing expires this Friday, so now is a great time to put Digital Book World on your schedule. As always, Publishers Lunch readers get the absolute best price available anywhere on individual tickets to the show through this link, which provides a 10 percent discount off the stated early prices. The Total Access Pass, for only a small increment above the regular full conference ticket, provides your choice of PL Kids or any of the workshops as well.