Portland.BloggersPub

The State of Northwest Publishing

This article from last Sunday’s Oregonian mentions Ooligan Press and includes comments from Dennis, which should be enough to make you drop everything and read it now. But more than that, it is overall an interesting and important survey of the state of publishing in our region, especially regarding the condition of scholarly presses.

This is a follow-up to an earlier post (Wind, Dust, Mars, and Microbes), and it has little to do with publishing, so I hope you forgive me.

The Viking missions to Mars (1970s) detected “chemical activity” that had scientists wondering. At first, it was hoped that some form of organic matter caused this activity. When that turned out not to be the case, the question remained: where did certain chemical products on Mars come from?

Well, those martian dust storms are at it again! Cyclones on Mars create electrical fields. Now scientists think that these electrical fields give rise to chemical products such as hydrogen peroxide.

So what? Well, the existence of hydrogen peroxide and related chemicals on Mars and elsewhere needs to be understood. These chemical products really could be indications of life—we have to find out!

Anyway, if you can tolerate the small print and the blatant advertising, indulge your nerdy impulses by reading this article on Discovery News. If nothing else, look at the pretty pictures from NASA.

This is the first time I’ve come across a mention of Astrobiology in a news article. The paper the article refers to is “Oxidant Enhancement in Martian Dust Devils and Storms: Storm Electric Fields and Electron Dissociative Attachment” (yep, it’s a mouthful) by Delroy et al., in the June 2006 issue. You can read the abstract for free.

Just as a side note, I try to understand and explain these ideas as best I can. If I make mistakes, please let me know.

Talking about death… ours. Mortality!

Describing the small, start-up church: “When folks arrive, everyone knows everyone else by name- even the children are known by everyone! It’s easy to spot newcomers, who are usually swarmed upon and talked about over lunch. Sometimes they may actually…

Now I don’t have one of those—what’s it called?—televisions, but I do very much enjoy watching The Daily Show and Colbert Report online. Since the writer’s strike, their episodes have been somewhat painful to watch showing me just how crucial the staff has been. In a recent episode Stephan Colbert demonstrated just how important his writers are to him when he discussed the death of Gordon B. Hinckley, the President of the Mormon Church. In typical Colbert fashion, Stephan claimed that it must have been murder and suspected it was a writer since Hinckley was once quoted at saying “All writers should be put in a box and thrown in the sea.” Of course since none of his writers had been seen in three months, Colbert was quick to point out:

He then pleaded that they write a defense, type it up and let him read it on the air. I look forward to the end of this strike so I can get my funny shows back!

Inspired Selection are pleased to announce the following
new vacancies under the specialisations you previously
selected. For more detailed information on any vacancy,
including the opportunity to apply for each, please
visit our web site at http://www.inspiredselection.co.uk
and follow links to browse the relevant specialisation.


SALES

Supplier Relationship Manager (Bath) (5646) Salary range
available on application
A fast growing, not for profit organization, based in Bath, is
looking to fill the new position of Supplier Relationship Manager.
The company delivers technology services to the public sector and
the information industry, this role specifically working within a
team providing the provision of e-resources to universities and
colleges. This position will be responsible for maintaining
excellent relationships with the suppliers who provide the
software and online resources. They will develop an understanding
of the services provided and the requirements of the suppliers,
and also be responsible for identifying new opportunities as well
as negotiating contract renewals. You will have first class
communication and presentation skills as well as strong
negotiation skills. Demonstrable experience of building and
maintaining effective business relationships is essential as is
involvement in contracting and negotiations. Any experience of
working within an electronic data or software environment would be
an advantage. This is an excellent opportunity for the right
candidate to join an enthusiastic and developing company. Closing
date: 8/2/08
Wales and Southwest

Claire Townsend - claire.townsend@inspiredselection.co.uk

If this vacancy is not of interest to you, please forward it to
anyone you feel may be interested.


SENIOR MANAGEMENT

Editorial Director - Trade Non Fiction (5647) Salary details on
application
Are you an ambitious non-fiction editor? If so, this may be your
opportunity to join a successful trade publishing house with plans
for considerable growth. Our client is looking to appoint an
Editorial Director, to join its senior management team. You will
have significant experience commissioning in a broad range of
popular non-fiction subject areas and a demonstrable record of
success. You will have an excellent rapport with key literary
agents and, ideally, a sound knowledge of American publishing. You
will have a real passion for non-fiction publishing. You will be
working with a small, dedicated team and be able to take advantage
of their quick decision-making process. For the right candidate -
perhaps a senior commissioning editor seeking a position of more
responsibility - this position has real potential for career
growth. If that is you, please contact
donald@inspiredselection.co.uk for further information.
London and Southeast

Donald Smith - donald@inspiredselection.co.uk

If this vacancy is not of interest to you, please forward it to
anyone you feel may be interested.


MARKETING/PUBLICITY

Schools Marketing Manager (5649) On application
A leading educational publisher based in Central London is looking
to appoint a Schools Marketing Manager. This is a key role within
the company, with responsibility for driving the development ,
planning and implementation of effective marketing plans for the
Schools list, in order to maximise sales and enhance market
presence. Key responsibilities include: participating in the
development of marketing strategies and tactics; to oversee the
implantation of marketing plans and ensure they are delivered on
time; direct line management of four team members, ensuring their
professional development; take departmental responsibility for the
company website; drive and mange the e-marketing strategy for the
department; manage relationships with external agencies and
organisations; and manage and report on the setting of the schools
marketing budget. The successful candidate with have proven
experience in marketing within publishing, ideally in the area of
schools marketing , with experience of managing campaigns to time
and budget, using the full marketing mix. You will be confident
and proactive, with excellent copywriting skills, commercial
awareness and an eye for detail. Line management experience is a
bonus although not essential. Closing date: Friday 4th February
2008.
London and Southeast

Gail Norman - gail@inspiredselection.co.uk

If this vacancy is not of interest to you, please forward it to
anyone you feel may be interested.


EDITORIAL

Editorial Director - Trade Non Fiction (5647) Salary details on
application
Are you an ambitious non-fiction editor? If so, this may be your
opportunity to join a successful trade publishing house with plans
for considerable growth. Our client is looking to appoint an
Editorial Director, to join its senior management team. You will
have significant experience commissioning in a broad range of
popular non-fiction subject areas and a demonstrable record of
success. You will have an excellent rapport with key literary
agents and, ideally, a sound knowledge of American publishing. You
will have a real passion for non-fiction publishing. You will be
working with a small, dedicated team and be able to take advantage
of their quick decision-making process. For the right candidate -
perhaps a senior commissioning editor seeking a position of more
responsibility - this position has real potential for career
growth. If that is you, please contact
donald@inspiredselection.co.uk for further information.
London and Southeast

Donald Smith - donald@inspiredselection.co.uk

If this vacancy is not of interest to you, please forward it to
anyone you feel may be interested.

Editor (Telecommunications) (4904a) Salary available on
application
A company based in Cambridge, providing consulting and research in
Media, telecommunications and IT and is seeking to appoint an
experienced Editor to work in their consulting division. The
jobholder will join the Editorial Group supporting the consultancy
staff. This team is responsible for ensuring the quality, clarity,
consistency, accuracy and appropriateness of consultancy reports,
proposals and presentations. Responsibilities include: •
structural editing, copy-editing and proof-reading of material for
consultancy reports, proposals and presentations • preparation of
graphics for reports, using PC-based drawing and charting packages
• preparation of presentation materials (text and graphics) •
applying house style and assisting in its refinement • production
editing of reports The successful candidate will have an ability
to understand technical subjects and make them understandable to
others. He or she will have excellent editing skills and will have
previous experience editing and restructuring technical materials.
They will have a methodical nature, but be adaptable with the
ability to work to very tight deadlines, and have excellent
attention to detail. For the right candidate there may be the
opportunity to work from the London office. Closing date:
08/02/08
London and Southeast

Claire Townsend - claire.townsend@inspiredselection.co.uk

If this vacancy is not of interest to you, please forward it to
anyone you feel may be interested.

Project Editor, contract (5541a) Salary on application
Are you available now for a 2-3 month contract? A leading
educational publisher is looking for an experienced Project Editor
for their Secondary Maths and Science lists. You will be assisting
with the project management of a range of books and educational
products to ensure high quality of content and timely delivery.
You need to have relevant project management skills and experience
within educational book publishing ideally, although we can
consider people from a trade non-fiction, Reference or Children’s
publishing background too. You must be available for a quick start
and there may be potential for the contract to be extended.
Closing date: 8th February but applications ASAP please!!
London and Southeast

Claire Law - claire@inspiredselection.co.uk

If this vacancy is not of interest to you, please forward it to
anyone you feel may be interested.


DESIGN

Designer (5556a) Salary on application
This is an exciting and interesting opportunity to work within
book design, within a marketing department, as a Designer. The
Marketing Design Team serves the Marketing Department which
promotes academic books in Humanities, Social Sciences, Education,
Behavioural Sciences, Nursing and Allied Health, Life Sciences,
Built Environment, Science and Technology, Reference and Law. You
will have: worked with templates, designing catalogues, leaflets,
postcards, advertisements and other marketing material; a good
knowledge of printing processes, an eye for detail and strong
typographic skills; working across departments you will need to be
a good communicator, flexible and dependable. This is a busy team
with a continual flow of work so you must be able to manage your
time well and keep to deadlines. You will, ideally, need to be an
experienced designer with a design qualification, a good working
knowledge of typography and be flexible and adaptable in meeting
the needs of varying teams. Experience in book publishing would be
an advantage but those with a design qualification and less
experience can also apply. Closing date: 04/02/08


Oxfordshire and Midlands

Sue Trafford - sue@inspiredselection.co.uk

If this vacancy is not of interest to you, please forward it to
anyone you feel may be interested.

Senior Designers x 2 (5648) Excellent salary and benefits
Senior Designers x 2 – An exciting and challenging opportunity to
work with a highly successful market leading educational publisher
based near central Oxford. They are seeking proactive Senior
Designers to work within their team/development division on
secondary and vocational titles. Along with a passion for design
and typography, you will be an experienced project manager who
will have experience in outsourcing and project managing all
aspects of design on printed (book), and/or electronic product
across a wide range of disciplines and for multiple age ranges.
Excellent Mac skills including a thorough knowledge of all Adobe
and Microsoft packages are essential. This is a design management
role that will require a good deal of ‘hands on’ design experience
preferably in the publishing sector and be an excellent
communicator. However, those with less experience may also be
considered. The vacancies are office based with occasional visits
to suppliers, schools and trade shows.
Oxfordshire and Midlands

Sue Trafford - sue@inspiredselection.co.uk

If this vacancy is not of interest to you, please forward it to
anyone you feel may be interested.


MAILSHOT

Supplier Relationship Manager (Bath) (5646) Salary range
available on application
A fast growing, not for profit organization, based in Bath, is
looking to fill the new position of Supplier Relationship Manager.
The company delivers technology services to the public sector and
the information industry, this role specifically working within a
team providing the provision of e-resources to universities and
colleges. This position will be responsible for maintaining
excellent relationships with the suppliers who provide the
software and online resources. They will develop an understanding
of the services provided and the requirements of the suppliers,
and also be responsible for identifying new opportunities as well
as negotiating contract renewals. You will have first class
communication and presentation skills as well as strong
negotiation skills. Demonstrable experience of building and
maintaining effective business relationships is essential as is
involvement in contracting and negotiations. Any experience of
working within an electronic data or software environment would be
an advantage. This is an excellent opportunity for the right
candidate to join an enthusiastic and developing company. Closing
date: 8/2/08
Wales and Southwest

Claire Townsend - claire.townsend@inspiredselection.co.uk

Here comes Part 4 in Donnie Hoyle’s hilarious “You suck at Photoshop” comedy/how-to series. This one deals with Paths and Masks. (If you haven’t seen any of these yet, you might want to go back through the archives of this blog and start at #1 and make your way up to this one in order, it will be worth it!)

While I try not to ride Colbert’s coattails, I have to give a “tip of my hat” to the Willamette Week for freely advertising the book launch for (friend of the site) Tim Harnett’s debut book “Trompe L’oeil.” Since the Mercury was also sent the information and didn’t even mention the launch, we have finally settled the debate as to which paper is cooler. See how this works–they freely advertise us, we freely advertise for them. That’s how book marketing should be done!

Everyone who knows me knows that I like free things–so long as they are useful. A while back I discovered Stock Exchange and it was exciting to find so many excellent stock photos that we could use without paying an arm and a leg. Recently I made a new discovery: EveryStockPhoto which is even more exciting. You know how you frequently use Google Image search to look for pictures, but the pictures usually come out small and are the intellectual copyright of someone else? EveryStockPhoto searches through the images in stock photo sites, giving you countless images, the majority of them you can use so long as you attribute the photo to its creator (check the license of each photo to be safe). One of the neat things about this, is that it has all of Stock Exchange’s photos built into their system as well as WikiMedia Commons, and NASA images. This means that rather than searching all those places, you can do it all at once, saving time…and of course, money, since this is free. Awesome!

As part of my ongoing studies into accessibility in book publishing, I decided to share with everyone a simple color-spectrum (feel free to enlarge the image by clicking on it) that shows you what a rainbow looks like for people with various forms of color blindness. I made this with Photoshop and the Vischeck filter. While I don’t think anyone expects a designer to work with only a color-blind audience in mind, it’s important to take it into account. For instance, think about what yellow on a green background would look like for someone with the first two forms of colorblindness…identical. As there is a large percentage of our population with colorblindness, I think this is something you would want to take into account as a designer.