AI a challenge, opportunity to publishers, says expert

Taking place for the first time outside the United States, the second and third day of the inaugural “Sharjah NYU SPS Executive Publishing Programme” is giving professionals in the publishing sector insights into global market dynamics and the significance of translation in expanding publishing reach, as well as future trends, digital marketing, and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in publishing.

Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), in collaboration with the Center for Publishing, Writing, and Media at the NYU School of Professional Studies (SPS), the programme is being held at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) empowering a global contingent of publishing leaders from 17 nations.

A standout session in the four-day agenda was “Global Market Trends and How to Craft a Global Strategy,” led by Chantal Restivo-Alessi, Chief Digital Officer and CEO of International Foreign Language at HarperCollins Publishers.

In her session, Restivo-Alessi offered valuable insights on identifying and capitalising on global market trends to shape impactful strategies for international expansion.

“Everything is global, and positioning accordingly is imperative. We must optimise the reach of every book by ensuring content resonates across cultural boundaries. A major expansion for HarperCollins was becoming a publisher in foreign languages, translating existing US and UK content into over 16 languages. But it’s not just about exporting, it’s a two-way flow and cultural exchange is multi-directional, identifying opportunities for international works to publish in English and vice versa. Publishers must adapt to new realities: digital transformed our industry, and now AI presents both challenges and opportunities we can’t ignore,” Restivo-Alessi explained.

This was complemented by her second session, “Global Publishing, Consumer Trends, and Sources for Editorial Content,” which equipped participants with the knowledge to identify emerging consumer preferences and valuable sources for editorial content across diverse markets, saying, “Digital formats are a growing part of the market today, and audiobooks are increasingly becoming a go-to for many segments, now making up 10% of the US market and still increasing. The ability to multitask while listening is a big driver for this. Younger consumers are voracious readers, and social media, especially TikTok, is essential for discovery. At the same time, competition has increased with a greater variety of players in the market.”

“Physical books are seen as affordable luxuries, but our data shows that 83% of consumers feel prices are too high, and 9% are putting off purchases. Interestingly, 49% of book purchases are driven by the desire to ‘treat yourself.’ Subscription models in digital formats are also becoming significant, providing recurring revenue streams for publishers. Meanwhile, graphic novels and manga’s global explosion is no accident, driven by retail support as well as media synergy with film and gaming, and its multi-generational appeal,” Restivo-Alessi concluded.

Another important session was “Translators as Growth Partners: Words Without Borders” with Samantha Schnee, Founding Editor of Words Without Borders. Schnee emphasised the essential position translators have in bridging cultural gaps and facilitating the global exchange of literature, highlighting the importance of recognising translators as key collaborators in the publishing process.

Building on this theme, Naveen Kishore, Founder of Seagull Books, and her Chief Editor/Senior Designer, Sunandini Banerjee, presented “Publishing with a Global Purpose – Harmonizing acquisitions, translation, and design for global growth.” Together they shared their experiences in integrating acquisition, translation, and design to create books that resonate with global audiences, emphasising the power of cultural sensitivity and artistic vision.

Participants were also able to explore expansion opportunities with Christie Henry, Director of Princeton University Press, through case studies and a role-play exercise.

Inés ter Horst, Director of Intellectual Property, Princeton University Press, presented “Powerful Partners Empower Publishing: A Case Study” in collaboration with Christie Henry, which highlighted the importance of intellectual property rights in global publishing.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Taking place for the first time outside the United States, the second and third day of the inaugural “Sharjah NYU SPS Executive Publishing Programme” is giving professionals in the publishing sector insights into global market dynamics and the significance of translation in expanding publishing reach, as well as future trends, digital marketing, and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in publishing.

Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), in collaboration with the Center for Publishing, Writing, and Media at the NYU School of Professional Studies (SPS), the programme is being held at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) empowering a global contingent of publishing leaders from 17 nations.

A standout session in the four-day agenda was “Global Market Trends and How to Craft a Global Strategy,” led by Chantal Restivo-Alessi, Chief Digital Officer and CEO of International Foreign Language at HarperCollins Publishers.

In her session, Restivo-Alessi offered valuable insights on identifying and capitalising on global market trends to shape impactful strategies for international expansion.

“Everything is global, and positioning accordingly is imperative. We must optimise the reach of every book by ensuring content resonates across cultural boundaries. A major expansion for HarperCollins was becoming a publisher in foreign languages, translating existing US and UK content into over 16 languages. But it’s not just about exporting, it’s a two-way flow and cultural exchange is multi-directional, identifying opportunities for international works to publish in English and vice versa. Publishers must adapt to new realities: digital transformed our industry, and now AI presents both challenges and opportunities we can’t ignore,” Restivo-Alessi explained.

This was complemented by her second session, “Global Publishing, Consumer Trends, and Sources for Editorial Content,” which equipped participants with the knowledge to identify emerging consumer preferences and valuable sources for editorial content across diverse markets, saying, “Digital formats are a growing part of the market today, and audiobooks are increasingly becoming a go-to for many segments, now making up 10% of the US market and still increasing. The ability to multitask while listening is a big driver for this. Younger consumers are voracious readers, and social media, especially TikTok, is essential for discovery. At the same time, competition has increased with a greater variety of players in the market.”

“Physical books are seen as affordable luxuries, but our data shows that 83% of consumers feel prices are too high, and 9% are putting off purchases. Interestingly, 49% of book purchases are driven by the desire to ‘treat yourself.’ Subscription models in digital formats are also becoming significant, providing recurring revenue streams for publishers. Meanwhile, graphic novels and manga’s global explosion is no accident, driven by retail support as well as media synergy with film and gaming, and its multi-generational appeal,” Restivo-Alessi concluded.

Another important session was “Translators as Growth Partners: Words Without Borders” with Samantha Schnee, Founding Editor of Words Without Borders. Schnee emphasised the essential position translators have in bridging cultural gaps and facilitating the global exchange of literature, highlighting the importance of recognising translators as key collaborators in the publishing process.

Building on this theme, Naveen Kishore, Founder of Seagull Books, and her Chief Editor/Senior Designer, Sunandini Banerjee, presented “Publishing with a Global Purpose – Harmonizing acquisitions, translation, and design for global growth.” Together they shared their experiences in integrating acquisition, translation, and design to create books that resonate with global audiences, emphasising the power of cultural sensitivity and artistic vision.

Participants were also able to explore expansion opportunities with Christie Henry, Director of Princeton University Press, through case studies and a role-play exercise.

Inés ter Horst, Director of Intellectual Property, Princeton University Press, presented “Powerful Partners Empower Publishing: A Case Study” in collaboration with Christie Henry, which highlighted the importance of intellectual property rights in global publishing.