August 1, 2008

Sony Adopts e-Book Standard
Publishers Weekly (7/24)
Sony adopted The International Digital Publishing Forum’s e-book standard for their reader. Interestingly, as Jim Milliot points out, Amazon has yet to do so.

Culture
Changing American Reading Patterns
New York Times  (7/27)
Article concerned with the sociology and generational aspects of reading in America today.  Print, web, new media–all involve reading. Story may contain relevant insights for publishers’ new product development and distribution planning.

Online
Generational Activity Differences Online
Social Media Optimization (6/08)
Story on a Deloitte & Touche study regarding generational differences in using blogs and other online activities. The segmentation yields interesting insights for digital strategic planning.

New Media
Text Messaging Still Growing Strong
Wireless Developer Network (7/30)
Another article on why publishers might consider making SMS marketing a part of their promotional and content distribution strategy.

Livingstone.com Ideas to Marketplace.

Editor: Christopher Ribaudo, Chief Brand & Marketing Strategist

New Digital News Digest for Christian Publishers

CAROL STREAM, IL – August 1, 2008 – Livingstone published the first edition of Market Brief today for Christian publishing editors, brand and marketing professionals. Market Brief will appear on Fridays and will contain five to ten story headlines, short comments and links to stories of the past week deemed most relevant from Livingstone’s editorial and philosophical perspective.

“The intent is to help Christian publishers grow their business,” said Christopher Ribaudo, Chief Brand and Marketing Strategist of Livingstone and Market Brief’s Chief Editor. “Although Market Brief is small in size, our hope is that reader’s will come to believe its value is big. There’s so much information vying for decision-maker’s attention. We hope readers discover Market Brief helps them slice through the weekly information glut to focus on a few news stories that might potentially be transformational for their business.”

Livingstone’s plan is to publish Market Brief every two weeks and then move to weekly editions. It will be available in opt-in email and RSS feed formats to help realize Livingstone’s Web 2.0 strategy for the company.

About Livingstone
Livingstone is an ideahouse for religious publishers world wide located in Carol Stream, Illinois. It helps publishers grow their business by providing a range of professional services, from ideas to marketplace. Livingstone celebrates its 20th anniversary in September 2008.

“Let the Bible speak for itself,” my friend said over her latté. “All of this specialty gobbledy-gook just waters down what’s really important.”

I had just described for her some of the Bible projects I was working on. I think she went on overload as I talked about the specialty Bible products that pass through Livingstone’s hands every year.

I couldn’t help but wonder if she had a point. Isn’t that part of the struggle we’re all facing in Christian publishing? As Bible publishers jostle for shelf space, as we consider the sheer cost of producing a 2000-page Bible, we also wonder, “Is there room for another Bible?”

I believe there is—there always is. And I don’t say that just because I’m in the business.

I say that because I love God’s Word with every fiber of my being—as do most of us who stare into our computer screens all day laboring over products that are meant to share that Word in a variety of genres.

I love God’s Word because it changes lives. I know that from personal experience.

I remember receiving a specialized New Testament in The Living Bible back in 1975 when I was in high school. I brought that New Testament home and devoured it—and I vividly remember reading the book of Hebrews and actually “getting it.” It was an AHA moment, a moment when I understood what the book was about and how the New Testament fit with the Old Testament. And I’ve been in love with Scripture ever since.

My heart is to help others have those AHA moments. I want them to realize that the Bible is not a big scary book, but a big amazing story—so big that it reaches across time itself. And yet, it can reach into their lives on a rainy day and give them the comfort they need to keep going. Those AHA moments mean they get it. They begin to see how the pieces fit together and to understand how that matters to them personally.

As a kid of 17 in 1975, I needed the simple and clear language of The Living Bible to make the book of Hebrews make sense to me (thank you, Ken Taylor). So as I watch different Bible versions be created, I’m overjoyed. Someone else will have an AHA moment as well.

Now granted, in the same breath I could also say that the same person may find himself utterly confused. Standing at the local Christian bookstore to buy a Bible, he thinks to himself, NIV? ESV? GWT? NLT? KJV? NKJV? NRSV? OK, I really need some help here. I’m drowning in alphabet soup! But if he reads a few lines of these Bibles, it won’t take long before he finds one that reads to his level, his liking.

Aren’t we amazingly privileged to be able to do this? William Tyndale would be astounded.
Beyond that, however, we might ask the question my friend was pondering—specialty gobbledy-gook. By adding our ancillary material, are we guilty of not letting the Bible speak for itself?

I fondly remember purchasing my very first study Bible after wearing out my New Testament. I had started college and wanted something with notes, something that looked serious, something to help me really understand more deeply what the Bible was saying. That first study Bible was a burgundy bonded leather Criswell Study Bible. His “scarlet-thread of redemption”—his way of describing how the salvation message runs throughout Scripture—captured my heart. Through those notes began a journey that has brought me where I am today.

But have we gone too far? Do moms, dads, parents, kids, teens, tweens, sick people, hurting people, tired people, business people really all need a Bible of their own?

I believe that if we can create something that will speak to them, then we should do so. Why? Because of the AHA moments that still need to happen in the lives of those moms, dads, parents, kids, teens, tweens, etc. People need Scripture “in their own tongue”—the material we produce is meant to help those people understand that the Bible speaks to them, it’s relevant. Mind you, we aren’t making the Bible relevant (it doesn’t need our help), but we are helping these many audiences see that relevance, maybe for the first time. For some of those people, that plain text Bible in a particular translation or that specialty Bible designed just for them might provide that first AHA experience.

My friend didn’t want me watering down what was most important. I explained to her that I just see myself as laboring alongside modern-day Martin Luthers and William Tyndales and early church leaders who simply sought to bring Scripture to the people—all people, in all places, in all walks of life, in all phases of life. Whatever it takes, I want them to have that AHA experience that will help them see the message of salvation and grace.

And really, isn’t that what it’s all about?

Linda Taylor, Editorial Director

Livingstone Repositioned as an Idea House for Publishers

CAROL STREAM, IL – July 11, 2008 – Livingstone formally unveiled a new brand identity today that represents a major milestone in the company’s 20-year history and signifies the company’s refocusing to an idea house for religious publishers.

The new brand identity involves both internal and external changes to Livingstone.

Internal changes include a new strategic business plan, staff changes, enhanced product development and ideation strategy, increased client care, refinement of proposal development and re-design of creative production processes. Internal changes also include extending its service line with new ideation, branding, digital and marketing communication practices for publishers.

External changes involve the development and launch of Livingstone’s new logo and website at livingstonecorp.com. It also includes a new tagline: “Ideas to Marketplace™.” This tagline is Livingstone’s unique brand promise and is designed to express what drives Livingstone as a company, and what Livingstone makes possible for publishers.

“’Ideas to Marketplace’ is a fresh and up-to-date expression of Livingstone’s spirit and what we do,” says Christopher Ribaudo, Chief Brand and Marketing Strategist. “The emphasis signaled by the new brand identity represents a fuller, more complete expression of Livingstone’s essence, capabilities and story.”

Livingstone CEO, Bruce Barton, notes “Love for the Gospel, creativity and big ideas have always been central to Livingstone’s mission and vision.”  Co-Founder, Dave Veerman, says “We’re proud of our history of serving Christian publishers providing editorial, design, typesetting and project management. Now we are taking it to the next level.”

About Livingstone
Livingstone is an idea house providing print, web and new media solutions for publishers worldwide. Livingstone marks its 20th anniversary September 2008. To learn more about Livingstone, go to livingstonecorp.com.

CAROL STREAM, IL—June 17, 2008—Livingstone hired Christopher Ribaudo as its Chief Brand and Marketing Strategist. He is responsible for expanding Livingstone’s current portfolio of book production services to include new branding, integrated marketing communications and digital services for publishers. Ribaudo is also the chief architect for the re-branding of Livingstone.

“We are very grateful to have Christopher on our management team. His knowledge and experience will help improve our service to publishers, as well as redesign and position our company to face emerging challenges and opportunities in the future market environment,” said Bruce Barton, CEO of Livingstone.

Chief Creative Officer, Dave Veerman, noted, “Christopher brings a unique blend of marketing experience, creativity, and theological training to this position. He will certainly broaden and deepen our capabilities and resources as we continue to work in partnership with publishers, ministries, and others.”

Ribaudo has worked in consumer, technology, and non-profit environments. He was the brand and marketing communications strategist for such brands as Aloha Nui Bodyworks, TechXpress, People’s Self-Help Housing Corporation, and others. Additionally, he helped lead marketing and sales initiatives with The Grid, OneMain.com and Earthlink.

Ribaudo combines brand and marketing communication expertise and consulting experience with years of pastoral experience and theological education. He is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church in America and holds a Master of Divinity degree from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia.

“It is exciting to be associated with such a respected company as Livingstone,” said Christopher Ribaudo. “With winds of change blowing through Christian publishing and larger publishing industry as a whole, it’s great being part of a team like Livingstone where there has been such a strong tradition of providing premium solutions for publishers’ needs. I look forward to continuing the tradition as we help publishers navigate the new media-oriented digital environment of publishing.”

About Livingstone
Livingstone specializes in book and Bible production, branding, digital and integrated marketing communication solutions for publisher’s print, Web, and new media needs. A recognized industry leader, Livingstone marks its 20th anniversary in September 2008. Livingstone’s new Web site will be launched in early July 2008.

Livingstone is an international idea house providing book and Bible production, branding, digital, media content and integrated marketing communications solutions for publishers across print, web and new media platforms. Livingstone marks its 20th anniversary in September 2008. Its new Web site will be launched in early July 2008.