SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION
CMNS 372-4 (E1.00)

Anne Ahmad	Fall 2001
HC: TBA; c/o 291-5212	Harbour Centre Eve.
Email: asahmad@sfu.ca

THE PUBLISHING PROCESS

Prerequisite:

60 credit hours.

This introductory course offers an overview of the book publishing process. We will follow the various stages of the publishing process from the acquisition and editing of manuscripts to design and production, promotion, marketing and distribution. As we work through each stage, our discussion will move from basic concepts, principles and practices to specific case studies dealing with different kinds of publishing companies (eg. literary, regional, general trade) and different types of books (eg. fiction, non-fiction, children's, genre, poetry). We will also examine Canadian publishing in the context of the international scene and engage in a dialog about the future of the book. Working in groups, students will be asked to simulate a particular publishing scenario.

Format:

The first class will be an Introduction to the course. The rest of the course will be divided into five units (as indicated below) that correspond to the units in the Workbook and Selected Readings. Each unit will comprise the following elements: lecture, discussionof readings and student presentations. A detailed schedule will be distributed in class.

UNIT I Editorial
UNIT II Design and Production
UNIT III Marketing and Distribution
UNIT IV Promotion
UNIT V the International Scene and the Future of the Book

Course Texts:

V. Frith, ed., CMNS-372 Workbook and Selected Readings (To be sold at Harbour Centre Bookstore).
[Note: The 'Workbook' section of the Workbook and Selected Readings will enable students to keep a record of publishing terms and basic concepts.]
Additional readings will be distributed in class

Assessment:

Mid-term Essay 25%
Seminar Presentation and Participation 25%
Final Examination 50%

[Note: The Final Exam will be based on the Workbook and Selected Readings and on material from the lectures. Essay questions on the exam will be selected from a list that will be distributed at the end of the last class.]

The School expects that the grades awarded in this course will bear some reasonable relation to established university-wide practices with respect to both levels and distribution of grades. In addition, the School will follow policy T10.02 with respect to "Intellectual Honesty" and 'Academic Discipline" (see the current Calendar, General Regulations section).