by Ruth Belena

Created on: January 25, 2010

The Internet might have brought about the biggest changes in publishing since the invention of the printing press, but this does not mean all previous forms of printing are now obsolete. The introduction of mass produced books did not stop people owning hand produced editions, and some of those original volumes still exist in library collections today. How the Internet has changed publishing is largely related to the speed of publication, and the speed of access to what is being published.

◊ Publishing news.

Daily newspapers have traditionally published reports on events after they have taken place. In the early days some of them could have happened weeks before publication. The Internet publishes breaking news, and users see constantly updated reports on news websites. Many of the traditional newspapers now publish news headline on the Internet, to be followed in print the next day by analysis and reaction to the news.

◊ Publishing books.

Traditional print publishing is a long process, and printed books have to be dispatched to book stores. There are next day book ordering services available at some retail outlets, but it is possible to order and download a book in electronic format instantly on the Internet. Some book publishers are now offering electronic versions of books at the same time as they release the printed books, so readers can buy new titles immediately from the Amazon Kindle Store.

◊ Self publishing.

An author can now self-publish a book using the Internet and have it available as an e-book or a print-on-demand book. At various websites offering self-publishing services, a writer will get paid a share of the selling price for each copy downloaded or mailed to a customer.

◊ Publishing articles.

Bloggers, website owners and content writers can all publish articles instantly on the Internet. Some writing sites first check for duplicate content and for plagiarism before allowing articles to appear online. Websites which allow non-exclusive content generally allow writers to publish instantly, the moment they submit an article. Blog hosting sites allow anyone with a blog to publish articles immediately, or to schedule each blog post to be published at a set time.

For journalists, bloggers and article writers, the Internet provides more publishing opportunities. Internet articles also reach a far greater number of readers, and much sooner, than would be possible in a recently printed publication.

The Internet has changed the world of publishing, but printed books, magazines, newspapers and a whole range of printed items continue to be produced. Writers and readers now have several publishing options to choose from. The Internet will continue to be used by more people around the world for buying and downloading books. Electronic publishing will continue to develop and will probably make an even greater impact on how books are published from now on.  

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