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Publishing in the knowledge economy
The industry today
CHAPTER
13
Strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and threats
13.1 Introduction
This section, analysing the strengths,
weaknesses and constraints, opportunities and
threats facing publishing and its constituent
parts, is based on our research, the
questionnaire responses, and input from
industry representatives in the form of
interviews and focus group meetings. Ultimately,
it is a product of Pira’s judgement.
This SWOT analysis points forwards to our
deeper analysis of the challenges facing the
industry, contained in Part 2, and to the Action
Plan. However, not all of the identified
weaknesses and threats, nor for that matter the
opportunities, will necessarily have an action
point specifically attached to it – some action
points, for example those concerned with the
adoption of e-business technologies, may
address a whole series of the weaknesses
and threats.
The analysis has been made for sub-sectors
of the industry, but there is also an introductory
section which draws together common factors
across publishing.
13.2 Publishing – common strengths
and issues
Strengths
• Use of English language internationally
• Highly qualified workforce
• Core competences in selection, editing
and manipulation of information are
extremely valuable in the new knowledgebased
economy
• No tax on information and knowledge in print
• Brands
• Self regulatory regimes in place in relation to
advertising, content and distribution
(ASA,PCC,JIG)
Weaknesses and constraints
• Lack of sufficiently close knowledge or
relationship with end customer
• Uneven adoption of vital underpinning
technologies to take advantage of
opportunities
• Competition laws and cross-media ownership
constraints limit scale
• Mature markets for print products
• Declining share of consumer time spent on
print products
• Lack of comprehensive statistics to assess
performance
• Lack of public profile as an industry
• Confused copyright licensing structure
• English language makes UK publishing
vulnerable
Threats
• Copyright infringement
• Disintermediation/reintermediation by nontraditional
‘publishers’ and others interposing
between publishers and their customers
• Inequitable taxation of electronic information
• Commoditisation of some content
• Skill shortages
• Increased demands on consumers’ time and
attention
• Regulation of content and privacy laws
• Competition from publicly funded bodies such
as the BBC can stifle new markets
Opportunities
• Closer relationship with customers
• Use of data about customers and relationships
with them to buttress advertising revenue and
allow the creation of new and customised
products and services
• New services based on new non-print
platforms and on digital printing/print on
demand
• Use of enabling e-business technologies in
production/supply chain/sales and
marketing/content management
• International markets driven by use of English
and empowered by new technologies
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