Amazon to End Print Textbook Rentals, Overhaul Magazine and Newspaper Subscriptions - Publishers Weekly

Today, Panzer made a quick trip to the Publishers Weekly site. There with just a little digging in the posts our illustrious kitty traveler found a post about Amazon.

According to Jim Milliot's post, Amazon is ending their textbook rental program. After spring quarter next year students will only have the option to buy either new or used textbooks from Amazon. This change and the discontinuation of magazine and newspaper subscription sales are part of the company's cost saving measures.

I'll miss the magazines.

Panzer says, "This little kitty hates to see the magazine subscriptions go away."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of cocoa and a brownie for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon textbook rentals

The effect of no-deal Brexit on independent publishers - The Boar

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was shaken side to side by yelling and hissing coming from outside. Following all the hullabaloo took our traveling kitty boy to The Boar site. In case you didn't know, The Boar is the student newspaper of the University of Warwick. With a little digging in the posts there, Panzer found one about Brexit and independent publishers.

According to the post by Charlotte Anne Creamore, UK independent publishers are afraid an exit from the EU without a deal will force .many of them to close. These closures could leave as many as 70,000 workers in the publishing industry unemployed. There's also some uncertainty about whether authors will look for publishers outside the UK.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This Brexit thingy gives this little kitty a headache."

Sometimes you just need to ignore things.

Note: This is a long-medium post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Brexit

U.S. Newspaper, Book Printers Buying Canadian Uncoated Groundwood Are Up In Arms - Printing Impressions

Panzer hardly had time to park the Panzermobile, before he heard crying and ranting coming from the Catosphere. Jumping back into the ship, our speedy kitty followed all the noise to the Printing Impressions site. With no digging at all he found a post about the proposed addition of a countervailing duty (CVD) to Canadian uncoated groundwood paper was causing all the hubbub.

The post by Mark Michelson says U.S. newspaper and book printers are upset over a recent decision from the U.S. Department of Commerce. After North Pacific Paper (a U.S. paper company) filed a complaint about the Canadian government subsidizing certain portions their wood industry, the Department of Commerce opened an investigation. After the investigation the Dept. of Commerce determined Canadian uncoated groundwood paper was subsidized. This means Canadian uncoated groundwood paper will now have a countervailing duty (a fee) imposed. This type of paper is what is used for newspapers and books. U.S. newspapers and book printers will take a hit to their bottom line with the increase in their Canadian paper costs. Readers may not be willing to pay more for newspapers and books and this may cause some businesses to close down.

Maybe I can go home now.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty thinks this new CVD speeds up the transfer from paper books and newspapers to ebooks and digital news."

Note: This is a h-u-m-o-n-g-o-u-s post. Bring two thermoses of tea and a dozen muffins, six ginger snap cookies (biscuits) and a cinnamon roll for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to U.S. newspaper and book printers

Jeff Bezos has advice for the news business: 'Ask people to pay. They will pay' - CNBC

Panzer was doing his weekly cleaning in the Panzermobile today when he found a wadded up post between the seats. Spreading it out flat on the floor, our fastidious kitty discovered it was a post from the CNBC site about Jeff Bezos. (In case you don't know who Jeff Bezos is, he's the founder of Amazon.)

Not what you want. What they want.

According to Matt Rosoff's post, Jeff Bezos gave a presentation at the Future of Newspapers conference. Mr. Bezos was at the conference because he bought The Washington Post newspaper in 2013 and turned it profitable by 2016. At the conference he gave his views on how newspapers need to adjust to the current reading public climate. One of his main points dealt with the fact he treats the newspaper like Amazon. In both instances, he always puts the customer/reader first. He also says, don't worry about the advertisers. In the end they don't pay the bills, the reader does. The post contains several other points of interest in creating a profitable newspaper.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Always put the reader first? ... That's the same thing this little kitty does with his books."

Note: This is a huge post. Bring a thermos of tea and six muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Jeff Bezos

Amazon Extends Its Dominance with Audible Channels - Book Business

Panzer made a trip into the Catosphere today looking for news for you. Our kitty reporter stopped in at the Book Business site. After a little digging around, he found an interesting post about Amazon and their subsidiary Audible.

This definitely needs looking into.

Joe Wikert's post is about Audible's new Channels service. Panzer told you about Channels a few days ago. Mr. Wikert explains how useful the newspaper article feature can prove to be. It would be particularly beneficial for those who don't want to subscribe to a newspaper but still want the news articles. He also includes his evaluation of the original content feature and the podcast curation feature.

Panzer says, "Hmmm ... Maybe Channels is more than just a YouTube competitor."

Note: This is a longish post. You'll need a muffin and a cup of tea for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Audible Channels

To read Panzer's original post, tootle over to Audible