HomeMy WebLinkAboutBUS-118Bergen Community College
Division of Business, Arts and Social Sciences
Department of Business/Hotel Restaurant Management
Departmental Policy Syllabus
BUS 118 PRINCIPLES OF PUBLISHING OPERATIONS
Course Description
This course provides the student with the fundamental principles of the publishing industry. Topics include
the industry’s organizational structure and subdivisions, operations management, the economics of publish-
ing, technological impacts on publishing, global publishing using electronic resources, legal considerations
and standardization, producers, suppliers, and transportation logistics.
Credits/Hours 3 lecture, 3 credits
Prerequisites None.
Required
Textbooks
Greco, Albert, Clara Rodriguez and Robert Wharton. The Culture and Commerce of
Publishing in the 21st Century. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2006
Student
Resources
Faculty
Resources
The Sidney Silverman Library has extensive business resources. Yet, student access to
electronic resources via the Library portal provides periodicals that report on and discuss
the latest trends, hardcopy and softcopy products, and innovations in the publishing in-
dustry. There is also virtually unlimited relevant publishing operations information available
on a variety of credible Internet W ebsites.
The publisher provides a set of resources for instructors on the book website. The site can
only be accessed by obtaining a password from the publisher’s representative. Information
on contacting the representative can be obtained from the Business Department Office.
Faculty are encouraged to utilize the College’s Moodle platform for asynchronous course
discussion, to supplement in class activities, and to communicate with students. For as-
sistance contact the Center for Instructional Technology http://www.bergen.edu/CIT/.
Student Learning Objectives: As a result of meeting the requirements in this course, students will be able to
1. Identify the overall objectives of the publishing industry in its efforts to supply publications in both hard-
copy and softcopy formats.
2. Classify the various positions within publishing and relate these positions to a typical organization struc-
ture.
3. List, define, describe and exemplify the publishing industry’s subdivisions.
4. Explain and exemplify the contemporary challenges experienced within the publishing industry.
5. Detail the current economic climate vis-à-vis publishing as well as describe how technology is
revolutionizing the industry.
6. Describe the contemporary reader, i.e., today’s demographic and target market of both print and media
alternatives.
7. Demonstrate through application (course project) the publishing process from idea generation
through final product and assessment. This includes planning, project development, distribution, and
evaluation.
8. Explain the fundamental legal considerations relative to publishing and the industry’s standards.
9. Evaluate and assess career opportunities in the publishing industry.
Means of Assessment:
Beyond written assignments, quizzes and examinations, students are to engage in the preparation of a
course project that applies the theory and principles of publishing operations. This project, either individual
or group, involves students to demonstrate competency through crucial thinking, planning, organizing, and
controlling the oversight of a publication process.
1
Course Concept
Principles of Publishing Operations is a foundations course designed to serve as an overview of the pub-
lishing industry from a business perspective; specifically, with concentration in the areas of production and
procedures. As a survey course, the class establishes the fundamentals of how the publishing industry op-
erates as setting the stage for further study.
Course Content:
1. Contemporary Publishing
2. Who’s Who: Staffing and Organization of a Publisher
3. Industry Subdivisions
- Book Publishing
- Newspaper Publishing
- Directory Publishing
- Commercial and Scholarly Publishing
- Periodical Publishing
- Tie-in Publishing
- Softcopy Publishing: ePublications, Audio, and Virtual Publishing
- Independent Publishing Alternatives
4. Challenges Confronting the Book-Publishing Industry in the 21st Century
5. Economics of Publishing and the Relative Impact of Technology
6. Changing Demographics, Producers and Consumer Behavior.
7. Planning and Scheduling
8. Managing the Production Cycle of a Publication
- Scope
- Budget and Assessment Measures
- Timeline (Start Date/Due Date)
- Resources (Editorial/Graphic)
- Milestones
9. Transportation Logistics and Virtual Delivery of a Publication
10. Legal Issues and Standardizations
11. Strategies for Domestic Success and Global Competitiveness
12. Career Opportunities in the Publishing Industry
Course Activities
A variety of learning activities can be used throughout the semester. Some examples of activities that may
be assigned to individuals or groups are
• Reporting on relevant issues and events within the publishing field.
• A term project that applies the lessons under study.
• Oral presentations relative to reports and students’ final projects.
• Use of Microsoft Word and Excel during project planning to establish project documents and a
budget.
• Investigation of both print and media publications to exemplify learned concepts.
• Use of Web search engines and proprietary Library searches for data gathering.
• Invite visiting publishing professionals to speak on relevant topics and provide Q&A.
• As there are hundreds of publishers, large and small, in the Northern New Jersey/New York City
area, some as close as Saddle Brook, a possible field trip may arranged.
Research, Writing, and/or Examination Requirement(s)
Computer Use: Using a computer is considered a basic business skill; therefore, using the Internet and
2
basic Office software will be an ongoing part of this course. Assignments will require accessing infor-
mation from the Internet and submitting word processed reports and assignments. All written work should
in Times New Roman, 12 pt. font, double spaced, and include name, date, assignment title/number, &
course name. In class presentations are to be created using Microsoft PowerPoint.
Students do not need their own computers although if they do not have their own computer and Internet
access they need to be prepared to spend additional time on campus. Computer access is available in the
free time labs, S346 and S-352, the BCC library, the TEC Commons, and many public libraries
Academic Dishonesty: There is a zero-tolerance regarding cheating and plagiarism. Academic dishon-
esty is reported as per the requirements of the College Catalog with the minimum impact of failure relative
to the specific assignment, exam, or report.
Grading Policy
Grade Allocations:
Exams/Quizzes 65% - 70%
Oral Presentations 5% - 10%
Course Project/Written Assignments 20% - 25%
Class Discussion/Participation 5%
Total 100%
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to attend all classes and stay for the duration of the class. Classes begin promptly.
Attendance is taken at the start of each session. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the instructor at
the end of class if he/she was not present when attendance was taken. Although there is no automatic
penalty for absences, a student receives zero grades for assignments and participation if not present.
Other College, School, and/or Departmental Policy Statements
Students must be familiar with and are required to abide by all Bergen Community College policies and
procedures as outlined in the current College Catalog.
If a student believes that he or she has a grievance with a faculty member, a form to express this concern
may be obtained either online or at the Business Departmental Office.
Cell phone technologies must be turned-off and stowed throughout the duration of the class sessions.
Special considerations for occupation or family matters requiring phones to be placed on vibrate must be
discussed with the instructor individually.
Bergen Community College has adopted an internal grievance procedure providing for prompt and equi-
table resolution of complaints alleging any action prohibited by federal regulations implementing section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as attended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).
Section 504 and ADA state, in part, that "no qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such
disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activi-
ties of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by an such entity."
Student Support Services
Students should be encouraged to make full use of the Sidney Silverman Library (in person and online at
http://www.bergen.edu/library/), the Tutoring Center (available in person in room L-125 and online at
http://www.bergen.edu/library/learning/tutor/), the Writing Center (available in person room L-125 and
online at http://www.bergen.edu/library/learning/write/) Students with disabilities are encouraged to visit
the Office of Specialized Services (L-115) to acquire an accommodation form necessary to assist and
support learning.
Include a Course Outline and Calendar*
Week Date(s) Topic/Activity Assignments/Events
3
1 Contemporary
Publishing Briefly explain the history of publishing with a focus on how
technology has transformed this industry.
2 Who’s Who: Staffing
and Organization of
a Publisher
Given an organization chart of an actual publishing com-
pany, define each staff member and summarize his or her
responsibilities within the organization. Select a job title
within the publishing field and prepare a short essay de-
tailing the authority and responsibility of the position
3-4 Industry
Subdivisions
List and summarize each of the publishing industry subdivi-
sions and identify examples of publications found within
each category. Select an industry subdivision and prepare
a short essay identifying the challenges relating to the
preparation of related publications. Identify growth and de-
cline trends associated with each industry subdivision.
Course project: Select an Industry Subdivision and re-
search possible publication choices.
5 Challenges
Confronting the
Book-Publishing
Industry in the 21st
Century
Select one contemporary publishing challenge; research to
find a company that is adapting to meet the challenge. De-
fine and Describe the challenges confronting the publishing
industry.
6 Economics of
Publishing and the
Relative Impact of
Technology
Define and describe the economic conditions that specifi-
cally impact the publishing industry. Explain how the advent
of the World Wide Web has and mobile media changed the
publishing landscape. Document how society reads their
news today. Course Project: Choose a publication within
the selected Subdivision of choice. Identify if the publication
is paper or soft-copy.
7 Changing
Demographics,
Producers and
Consumer Behavior.
Document who reads and from what source do they pull
their material. Evaluate the current attitudes on paper
books and electronic book readers, e.g., Kindle. How has
tablet processing, e.g., iPad, changed reading behavior,
and for which demographic? Course Project: Identify the
demographic and target market of the selected publication.
8 Planning and
Scheduling
Review an actual book, newspaper, periodical or virtual
publication’s schedule from idea-generation to final prod-
uct; identify the need and timing of each step of the pro-
cess. Define and describe acquisitions and explain how
publishers secure writers, authors, or journalists to meet
their needs. Course Project: Evaluate the selected publi-
cation and generate a planning document for success.
9-10 Managing the
Production Cycle of
a Publication
List the stages of the production through example. Course
Project: Develop a production cycle for the publication of
choice.
11 Transportation
Logistics and Virtual
Delivery of a
Publication
Evaluate the supply chain management and transportation
logistics for print publications. Define and Describe the
steps necessary for a deliverable such as an ebook or vir-
tual publication. Course Project: Detail the methods to
transition the selected product from the Publisher to the
consumer.
Week Date(s) Topic/Activity Assignments/Events
4
12 Legal Issues and
Standardizations
Explain the fundamentals of copyright infringements. De-
fine and describe plagiarism. Prepare a report that details
the implications and outcomes associated with plagiarism.
Define privishing and provide examples whereby privishing
may be considered ethical, unethical, and illegal. Identify
and explain the International Organization for Standardiza-
tion (ISO) ICS 01.140.40 and 35.240.30
13 Strategies for
Domestic Success
and Global Compet-
itiveness
Research and prepare a report of the international opera-
tions of a major publishing company. Pinpoint specific mar-
keting and outreach methods that can add to a publishing
company’s success. Course Project: Explain the out-
reach/marketing strategy to intice the target market to
buy/read the selected publication.
14 Career Opportuni-
ties in the Publishing
Industry
Using an online job search site, e.g., Monster.com, search
a publishing career position of interest; detail the findings in
a concise report.
15 Testing and
Presentations
Student project presentations, final assessments, course
wrap-up.
*Note to Students: This Course Outline and Calendar is tentative and subject to change, depending upon the
progress of the class.
5