Usually when I get an Industry Guest to do a Ninc blog, all I have to do is post the information once it reaches me. Things were a little different with Publishers Marketplace and one of the driving forces behind it, Michael Cader.
First, he's an intensively private man who doesn't give out pictures. He sort of promised to send me one of his dog, but I hate nagging such a busy man. As he explained, his job requires him to write 1-2 thousand words a day. That's in addition to putting the Daily Lunch and Publishers Marketplace together (with help of course)
Before getting to Michael's answers to my questions, here are the links:
https://publishersmarketplace.com/
https://publishersmarketplace.com/lunch/free/
The Lunch is free while Publishers Marketplace, which is the all things publishing bible, is a pay site. I've been a member for several years and can't imagine not availing myself of the information in it. Here's where you'll learn which agents are selling what properties to which publishers in what genres. Its also a jobs board, rights posting, bookstore listing, bestseller lists, reviews, etc, etc.
Do you need up to the minute, factual information about what's happening in the publishing world? No doubt about it, this the place to go.
Now its time for me to step aside and let Michael speak.
1. How long has PM been in operation?
PM launched in October 2001, shortly after the first Internet bubble burst and everyone had decided maybe online wasn't the future of everything after all.
It was a natural outgrowth of Publishers Lunch, started (somewhat accidentally in early 2000). One of the "sparks" that made sense out of Lunch in the early days for me was the realization that we were gathering the attention of a very disparate group of people for a few minutes every day in this "electronic space." The bigger opportunity, and challenge, was to help those people connect with each other in ever deeper and more meaningful ways electronically.
Oops. Partially answered above already! The simplest answer is "more, more, more." We're always experimenting with what we can do with the site to create data, news and features that solve information problems, create information opportunities, and help people in publishing connect with each other, find answers, and make new discoveries.
Our staff is smaller than it should be! Up until this year, it was primarily technology people and a couple of folks to help maintain some key databases. This year we just added two new people to help expand our content further.
Always!
I'm not sure we're supposed to answer that! We're in touch with community every day, and we're part of that community as well. "Trust" is an important word, because I think our audience does trust us to handle information appropriately and with context, and understands that we're here to serve the publishing world.
Sure.
Difficult one to answer...
My 13-year-old is very handy.
Filed as: Industry Guests
