In September, Publishers Weekly and the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea (KPIPA) partnered to bring a group of South Korean editors and marketers to New York City for an overview of how the U.S. book industry works. The itinerary included classes held at the offices of PW and on-site meetings with New York publishers and bookstores.
The session followed one in June for South Korean publishing executives, which included lectures from representatives of Barnes & Noble, Copyright Clearance Center, Ingram, Penguin Random House, and PW editorial staff, among others. In addition to providing an overview of the U.S. publishing scene, the sessions offered insight into how the South Korean publishing community can best work with its American counterparts.
This most recent seminar focused on editing and marketing, and featured speakers from Blue Streak Books, Coach House Books, Cursor Marketing Services, Liz Gately Book Scouting, MoMA, the Barbara J. Zitwer Agency, and others. The group also had the opportunity to visit publishers, including Catapult, the New Press, and Workman. Areas of focus included trends and topics for adult and children’s book publishing; best practices for acquisition, editing, and marketing; and innovations in digital publishing and retailing.
Michael Kim, publishing consultant, said: “It was a great experience for everyone, a unique opportunity to hear from many of the top publishing professionals in the United States, and vice versa, for them to hear from us. It is truly one of the best ways to interact—in an intimate, small-group environment where you can ask questions and get answers tailored to your personal situation.”
Publishers Weekly and KPIPA plan to host similar sessions again in 2018.
