I don’t routinely copyedit books much anymore, but I still care deeply about books, and I think the world needs them now more than ever. My ears always prick up when I hear industry news about publishing, and there’s plenty around to think about now that the London Book Fair has been put to bed for another year.
Reasons to smile include research from the Publisher’s Association, which reveals that 80% of international adults surveyed agree that British academic literature positively contributes towards the country’s international reputation, and 63% believe that without it, the UK would not have the international influence it does today. Get the full story at https://www.publishers.org.uk/uk-publishing-boosts-the-uks-international-reputation/.
Another surprising revelation is the marketing opportunity presented by that unloved library stalwart, large print books. The angle here is on ‘comfortable reads’ – not just for the visually impaired but also for children learning to read, or anyone who has difficulty with reading. Research suggests that large print reduces cognitive load, visual processing, eye strain and fatigue, which helps to increasing learners’ confidence, motivation and interest. Read more at: https://thenewpublishingstandard.com/2025/03/10/the-untapped-potential-of-large-print-books-a-strategy-for-the-publishing-industry/.
Discussion of the future of books would not be complete without tackling the vexed question of AI and protection of copyright. There was a special session at the London Book Fair with representatives from both the British and US publishing industry, amid consultations on their policy action plans to challenge their respective governments’ approaches to relaxing copyright laws for the purpose of opening up more material for training and assimilation by AI. See the summary at https://publishingperspectives.com/2025/03/ai-publishers-warn-white-house-of-a-bloated-fair-use-defense/.
Intellectual property matters – if we want to keep hearing good news stories about British publishing then let’s protect what we do best and keep print real. And large, apparently.