HI~Arts announces the publication of Manifesto Revisited - what does the digital world look like for publishers one year on? by Sara Lloyd, Digital Director, Pan MacMillan.

In 2008, Sara Lloyd, Digital Director for the UK trade publishing house, Pan MacMillan, made waves in the European and American publishing scene with her article A Book Publisher's Manifesto For The Twenty First Century (first written for the US journal Library Trends). The article became not only influential in informing opinions and approaches to the rapidly developing opportunities and challenges presented by digital publishing - it was also the focus of considerable debate in the blogosphere, offering a unique and challenging perspective.

In 2009, as part of its digital policy development process, HI~Arts (the arts and creative industries development agency for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland) commissioned Sara Lloyd to revisit the Manifesto and to look at how the digital landscape for publishers, authors and readers had shifted over the last year. We are now very pleased to make Manifesto revisited available as a free download through our website.

Manifesto revisited looks at how publishers have responded so far, including some examples of digital initiatives by Pan Macmillan, as well as developments led by other publishers. In addition, it offers a reality check about whether we need to reach yet for the 'Panic!' button: where authors and readers are really at, and how publishers still have the opportunity to play a key role in driving a vibrant digital future for our writing and reading culture if they would just grip the reins a little bit tighter.

HI~Arts' Writing Development Coordinator, Peter Urpeth, said:

"Sara Lloyd's original Manifesto was highly influential in shaping opinions on the digital present and the digital future of publishing. The revisited Manifesto provides important perspectives on a period of incredible change for writers, readers and publishers. The changes and opportunities that digital publishing represent are also a challenge to the priorities, policies and activities of arts and creative industries agencies such as HI~Arts, and the input of industry leaders, such as Sara Lloyd, is vital in enabling us to really shape and develop our work.

"The fact is that for writers, publishers and readers, the issue of digital publishing is no longer a matter of if and when, it is happening now, a quiet revolution for most, but one that will have a profound effect on reading, writing, publishing and book retailing."

Sara Lloyd's Manifesto revisited - what does the digital world look like for publishers one year on? can be downloaded from the HI~Arts website at:

http://www.hi-arts.co.uk/jan10-feature-manifesto-revisited.htm