Noted Publishing Execs to Be Featured on Wi5 Panel

One of the highlights of next month's Winter Institute will be a panel discussion on the challenges and opportunities presented by digitization that will feature three of the book industry's top executives.

"The State of General Trade Publishing: Three Noted Publishers Discuss How Digitization Is Impacting Their Business & the Industry" will feature panelists Drake McFeely, president of W.W. Norton & Company; David Young, chairman and CEO of Hachette; and Madeline McIntosh, president, sales, operations, and digital, for Random House. The panel will be moderated by Barry C. Lynn, author of Cornered: The New Monopoly Capitalism and the Economics of Destruction (Wiley).

The three publishers will share their thoughts on a number of topics related to the burgeoning digital marketplace. Questions to be explored include: How is the explosion of digital content impacting the general trade publishing industry? How are publishers reacting to the format and device wars? Do publishers plan to sell digital content directly? Do they see digital content as a complementary or competitive product to printed books? How are they grappling with price?

The session, from 2:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, February 3, is open to all Winter Institute attendees.