Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 6:53 pm Post subject: Origins of Publishing Houses.
Ever wonder how some of the big-time publishers started? Well, the purpose of this thread is for you to visit the publishing house's website, read their official history statement, and recapitulate it (or translate, if its primary language is not English).
Please include the URL of the page detailing the publisher's history with your summary. If you're translating, copy and paste the text in its original language as well.
I'll begin with Gyldendal, Denmark's most renowned publishing house:
Gyldendal har siden grundlæggelsen i 1770 haft som målsætning at sikre læserne adgang til litterære og kunstneriske oplevelser eller kundskaber i bogform. Som landets ældste og største forlag har Gyldendal dermed fået en forpligtelse, der rækker ud over bogsalg og indtjening, og forlaget har med sin historiske arv og sine traditioner opnået en central position i dansk kulturliv.
Til moderforlaget er i dag knyttet en række dattervirksomheder: Rosinante, Høst & Søn, Samlerens Forlag, Forlaget Forum, Forlaget Fremad, Hans Reitzels Forlag, Munksgaard Danmark, Academica, Systime, Exlibris og Nordisk Bog Center. Med hver deres særlige profiler og udgivelseslinjer sikrer disse virksomheder, at Gyldendal-koncernens samlede kompetenceområder stadig udvides.
Gyldendal ønsker at fastholde og udbygge sin position som landets førende udgiver af skøn- og faglitteratur for børn og voksne og af materialer til undervisning på alle niveauer. Dette sker i et dynamisk samspil mellem tradition og fornyelse, i forståelse for den kulturelle og demokratiske arv, i åbenhed over for bogmarkedets udvikling, for nye udtryksformer og medier - og ved fortsat at stille høje krav til kvalitet og mangfoldighed, redaktionel omhu og markedsføring.
Dette kan lykkes, når vi skaber:
- kreative og stimulerende redaktionelle miljøer, der er attraktive for forfattere inden for alle genrer
- arbejdspladser, der fastholder og tiltrækker højt kvalificerede medarbejdere til alle dele af virksomheden
- tillid og goodwill hos alle bogmarkedets aktører
- sund økonomi i virksomheden.
---
Translation: About Gyldendal
Since its founding in 1770, Gyldendal has had as its mission statement ensuring readers access to literary and artistic experiences or knowledge in book form. As the country's oldest and largest publishing firm, Gyldendal has had an obligation that reaches beyond book-sales and profits, and the firm, with its historical legacy and its traditions, has attained a central position in Danish cultural life.
Today the original publisher is affiliated with a number of branch-establishments: Raisiner, Harvest and Son, The Collector's Publishing House, The Publisher Forum, The Publisher Forward, Hans Reitzel's Publishing House, Monkcourt Denmark, Academica, Sewhour, Exlibris, and Nordic Book Center. With their distinct profiles and publication lines each, these establishments ensure that Gyldendal's total spheres of authority are constantly expanded.
Gyldendal wishes to preserve and extend its position as the country's leading publisher of critical and disciplinary literature for children and adults and of materials for instruction at all levels. This happens in a dynamic interaction between tradition and renovation, in accord with the cultural and democratic heritage, in openness towards the book-market's development, for new expressive forms and media - and by constantly making high demands on quality, variety, editorial accuracy, and marketing.
This can succeed when we create:
- innovative and stimulating editorial environments that are attractive to authors of all genres
- workplaces that keep and attract highly qualified contributors to all parts of the establishment
- confidence and goodwill amongst all the book-market's players
- a healthy economy within the trade.
History and development
Naspers was incorporated in Cape Town on May 12, 1915 under the laws of the then Union of South Africa as a public limited liability company. Naspers conducts its operations primarily through its subsidiaries and other affiliates. Its principal executive offices are located at 40 Heerengracht, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa (telephone: +27 21 406 2121).
Naspers started as a printer and publisher of newspapers and magazines in 1915. Later, book publishing operations were founded. Naspers’ print media operations developed of such an extent over the years that Naspers is now one of the leading media groups in Africa.
With the advent of electronic media, Naspers expanded its activities in the 1980s to incorporate pay-television and later internet platforms. In 1985, Naspers and several other South African media companies formed an electronic pay-media business, M-Net. M-Net was listed on the JSE in 1990. In October 1993, M-Net was divided into two companies. The subscriber management, signal distribution and cellular telephone businesses, together with a holding in FilmNet (a pay-television operator in Europe) were placed into a new company called MultiChoice Limited (later named MIH Holdings Limited).
In 1995, Richemont S.A. and MultiChoice Limited merged their global pay-television operations, including the interest in FilmNet, MultiChoice’s operations in Africa, and Richemont’s interest in Telepiu, into a single venture called NetHold B.V., which MultiChoice held through its subsidiary, MIH Limited. In March 1997, MIH Limited and Richemont merged most of NetHold’s assets with Canal+, the French based pay-television operator. However, MIH Limited retained NetHold’s African, Mediterranean and Middle East pay-television businesses and acquired 49% of Irdeto Access from Canal+. MIH Limited also received a small interest in Canal+. MIH Limited subsequently sold its interest in Canal+ to fund its expansion plans, including the purchase of the remainder of Irdeto Access from Canal+, the purchase of a 31.1% interest in the Thai pay-television operator UBC and the purchase of a 44.5% interest in OpenTV. OpenTV and MIH Limited were listed on Nasdaq in 1999. In August 2002, MIH Limited sold its stake in OpenTV.
In 1997, MIH Limited created an internet service provider and named it M-Web Holdings. In March 1998, M-Web Holdings was spun off as a listed entity on the JSE. It was subsequently delisted, and Naspers now holds 100% of the economic interest in the company.
In January 2000, Naspers merged its existing private education business with another leading South African private education service provider, thereby forming Educor Holdings Limited, which is one of the leading private education providers in South Africa. During 2000, Naspers also organised and branded its print media businesses under the Media24 umbrella.
In December 2002, Naspers conducted a reorganisation pursuant to which the minority interests in MIH Holdings and MIH Limited were swapped for shares in Naspers itself. Holders of MIH Limited shares, resident in any country other than South Africa, received their interest in Naspers shares in the form of Naspers ADSs. MIH Holdings shares were delisted from the JSE and MIH Limited’s shares were delisted from Nasdaq. At the same time, Naspers’ ADSs were listed on Nasdaq.
In May 2001, the group acquired a 46.5% interest in Tencent, the operator of an instant messaging platform in China called QQ. The business developed into the leading instant messaging business in China. Tencent listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in June 2004, whereafter Naspers’ interest decreased to 36.1%.
Naspers acquired an additional interest in M-Net and SuperSport and subsequently they were both delisted from the JSE and Nigerian Stock Exchange with effect from April 15, 2004.
In December 2004, Naspers acquired a 9.9% interest in the Beijing Media Corporation (“BMC”) for a cash consideration of Rand 273.2 million. BMC is a media company principally engaged in the sale of advertising space for the Beijing Youth Daily, production of newspapers and trading of print-related materials. On December 22, 2004 BMC listed its shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
On March 31, 2005, Naspers consolidated all its print media, book publishing (Via Afrika) and private education (Educor) assets under the Media24 umbrella in order to simplify the group structure.
In January 2006, Naspers sold its entire interest in United Broadcasting Corporation plc (“UBC”), Thailand’s leading pay-television operator, and MKSC World Dot Com Co.(“MKSC”), a leading Thai ISP, and recognised a profit on discontinuance of operations of Rand 1,032.2 million on the transaction. Details relating to this transaction are highlighted in note 28 to Naspers’ audited consolidated financial statements.
In April 2006, Naspers acquired, through Irdeto, the CryptoTec Conditional Access business from Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV for a cash consideration of Rand 230.7 million. The business is involved in the development and selling of content security systems.
In May 2006, Naspers acquired a 30% interest in Abril S.A. (“Abril”) for a cash consideration of Rand 2,557.3 million. Abril is the largest magazine publisher in Brazil and one of the largest media companies in Latin America. In addition, Abril owns the country’s leading educational book publisher and a pay-television network.
In August 2006, MIH Print Media Holdings Limited (“MIH Print Media”) acquired a 20.2% interest in Titan, a leading company in the field of Chinese sports publishing, for a cash consideration of approximately Rand 114.5 million.
1915 – Naspers forerunner De Nationale Pers founded. First edition of Die Burger, a daily, published on 26 July.
1916 – Introduction of monthly magazine Huisgenoot.
1918 – Founding of De Burger Boekhandel and De Burger Leeskring.
1919 – Publication of first English book, Republicans and Sinners.
1922 – Publication of first book in the vernacular (Xhosa).
1925 – Die Volksblad became a daily.
1937 – Introduction of Oosterlig, a daily.
1950 – Nasionale Boekhandel founded.
1959 – Became involved in general publishing market through the acquisition of Tafelberg Uitgewers.
1963 – Educational publisher Nasou founded.
1965 – First edition of English women's magazine Fairlady.
1970 – Sunday papers Beeld and Dagbreek amalgamated, becoming Sunday newspaper Rapport.
– Educational publisher Via Afrika came into being.
1974 – First daily edition of Beeld published in Johannesburg.
1975 – Founding of Nasionale Nuusdistrubeerders, a distribution network for publications.
1978 – Human & Rousseau became a Naspers subsidiary.
1979 – Afrikaans book club Leserskring founded.
1982 – English book club Leisure Hour (now Leisure Books) founded.
1984 – Acquisition of Drum Publications, with publications consisting of City Press, Drum and True Love & Family.
– Acquisition of a 50% interest in Jane Raphaely & Associates.
1985 – Pay–television service M-Net initiated. Financial magazine Finansies & Tegniek introduced.
1986 – Take-over of publishing company JL Van Schaik.
1987 – Introduction of English family magazine You.
– Naspers book stores changed to Van Schaik Boekhandel.
1988 – Became involved in distance learning through the take-over of distance learning colleges Lyceum and Success.
1989 – City Press became a fully-fledged Sunday newspaper.
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1990 – M-Net listed on the JSE Limited (JSE).
1991 – Acquisition of Jonathan Ball Publishers.
1992 – M-Net expands operations into Africa.
1993 – Separation of M-Net and MultiChoice, both now trading on the JSE as a linked unit.
– Expansion of MultiChoice to Europe.
– Oosterlig incorporated with Die Burger.
1994 – Naspers listed on JSE on 12 September.
– Community newspaper City Vision introduced.
1995 – Naspers became founder and main sponsor of Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK).
– Introduction of digital satellite transmissions in Africa, Europe and Asia.
– Introduction of Greek TV platform, NetMed.
– Final separation of M-Net and MultiChoice.
1996 – MultiChoice renamed MIH Holdings Limited.
– MIH subsidiary MultiChoice Africa founded.
– Amalgamation of educational publishers Nasou and Via Afrika.
– 50% interest acquired in Touchline Media.
1997 – MIH investment in Thailand pay–television platform UBC.
– South African Internet business (M-Web) initiated.
– MIH investment in OpenTV, an interactive technology company.
– New magazine printing-house completed.
1998 – Group name changed to Naspers.
– Introduction by Naspers of its internet business with web pages 24.com, Kalahari.net, BFA.net, fin.24.com and news24.com
1999 – OpenTV ownership increased to 80%.
– MIHL initial public offer on Nasdaq and Amsterdam stock exchange.
– Completion of new northern office complex MediaPark in Johannesburg.
– Major upgrading of newspaper printing-houses.
– Introduction of M-Web Thailand.
– Introduction of digital pay–television in Greece, Nova.
– 50% interest in religious publishing and retail group Lux Verbi/Sybel Media.
2000 – Reorganisation of Naspers into a holding company with five subsidiaries: MIH Holdings, M-Web, Media24, Nasboek and Educor.
– Media24 printing operations regrouped into Paarl Media.
– Sunday newspapers City Press and Rapport amalgamated into RCP Media.
– Acquisition of 50% interest in The Natal Witness.
– Founding by Nasboek of distribution company On the Dot, also offering e-commerce services.
– Sports portal SportsCN introduced in China.
– Amalgamation of OpenTV and SpyGlass Inc.
– 74% interest acquired in weekly newspaper Soccer-Laduma.
2001 – Acquisition of 46,5% in QQ, an instant messaging service in China.
– Nasboek's general book publishers amalgamated under NB Uitgewers.
– Founding of Sunday newspaper Sunday Sun.
– dit, Afrikaans version of Woman's Value launched.
2002 – First edition of Daily Sun published.
– MIHL sold its interest in OpenTV.
– MIH Holdings and MIHL became wholly-owned subsidaries of Naspers.
– Naspers secondary listing on Nasdaq.
2003 – Media24 increased its effective interest in Paarl Media to 84,21%.
– First edition of weekly Western Cape tabloid Kaapse Son launched.
– Hungarian version of Woman’s value launched under licence in Budapest.
– Monthly edition of Touchline Media’s publication Kick Off launched in Nigeria.
2004 – M-Net and SuperSport delisted from the JSE Securities Exchange and Nigerian Stock Exchange, April 2004.
– Tencent IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
– Acquired a 9.9% minority stake in Beijing Media Corporation
2005 – Acquired South African Tiscali internet business, effective February 2005
– Print media assets consolidated under Media24 umbrella
2006 – Sold entire interest in United Broadcasting Corporation (UBC)
– Irdeto acquired CrytoTec Conditional Access
– Naspers acquires 30% in leading Brazilian media company, Abril
– Acquired 20.2% interest in Titan, a leading Chinese sports publishing company _________________ Toe ek jonk was, het ek al die antwoorde geken. Nou verstaan ek nie eens die vrae nie.
If you don't mind my asking, how long have you been with Naspers? I've always had this preconception that it's quite difficult to join a publishing company even with graduate-level credentials, so I'm curious as to how the process went for you.
Rand McNally is a publisher of maps, globes, and atlases, currently based in Skokie, Illinois.
History
The company was formed in 1856 in Chicago by William H. Rand, to print tickets and timetables for Chicago's railroad companies. In 1864, Rand partnered with Andrew McNally to oversee printing of the Chicago Tribune. Their first geography-based product was the Western Railway Guide published in 1869.
During the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, Rand saved the company by burying two printing machines under sand. The company opened a map department in 1872 and soon became, and has remained, the preeminent publisher of commercial maps in the United States. By 1880, they began printing maps and globes for schools.
They also published several best-selling literary works, including the Real Mother Goose (1917) and Kon-Tiki (1950).
In 1963, because the company was not satisfied with the ability of existing map projections to create intuitive depictions of the entire world, they commissioned Dr. Arthur H. Robinson to develop what became known as the Robinson projection, which became very popular and was used extensively for constructing maps of the entire world.
In 1999 they acquired Thomas Bros. Maps, the prominent mapmaker in Southern California founded in 1915, and best known for the encyclopedic Thomas Guide. Thomas Bros. remains a division of Rand McNally.
Products
• Road/Street/City Maps
Rand McNally's Street Guides/Thomas Guides, fold maps, and EasyFinders currently cover all of the United States and most of Canada. Street-level detail maps and map books (called Street Guides/Thomas Guides, published by Rand McNally & Company) are available for many major cities and metro regions. EasyFinder laminated folding maps are available for all states and most cities as well. Maps also contain comprehensive indexes with population information, travel information, points of interest, travel tips, state/region/city info and much more.
• Road Atlases
Rand McNally's famous Road Atlas has been published annually since 1924. This perennial bestseller covers the United States, Canada and Mexico. Road atlases for truckers are also available as well as pocket atlases and large print versions.
• World Maps/Atlases
Rand McNally has a large line of maps and atlases covering the world.
• Globes
The globes, wall maps and atlases in many U.S. classrooms are made by Rand McNally.
• Software
Tripmaker and StreetFinder mapping software and electronic navigational tools like Mobile Travel Tools and IntelliRoute, and Rand McNally Street Guide/Thomas Guide Interactive CD.
• Wireless Solutions
Downloadable mobile phone applications provide GPS navigation, local routing and real-time traffic udates.
• Portable Navigation Devices
Rand McNally introduced its first portable navigation device, the Rand McNally GPS Navigator, in September 2006.
• For Children
Children's maps, atlases and reference books of the US and the world.
Heh, I can't believe that RM originated in this area! I always thought they were from Seattle or Boston and established during the early 20th century, for whatever reason.
I have them and the makers of Carmen Sandiego to thank for my geographical know-how.
Location: San Francisco, Noord-Kalifornië, Noord-Amerika
Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 9:20 am Post subject:
Harrenys Targaryen wrote:
Heh, I can't believe that RM originated in this area! I always thought they were from Seattle or Boston and established during the early 20th century, for whatever reason.
I have them and the makers of Carmen Sandiego to thank for my geographical know-how.
Same here. I've always loved looking at maps, but the Rand McNally atlas of the US was my favorite.
If you don't mind my asking, how long have you been with Naspers? I've always had this preconception that it's quite difficult to join a publishing company even with graduate-level credentials, so I'm curious as to how the process went for you.
I first joined Naspers in 1991, and spent most of the time since there. I worked for the South African Broadcasting Corporation for a while and worked for a political party for the past two years, until rejoining Naspers a month ago.
It is usually difficult to join a publishing company (as a journalist), and most start out at small regional weeklies before getting into a big company such as this one.
After university I initially worked for the civil service for three years, which I hated. One day, while in Pretoria (I lived in Cape Town at the time), I walked past the offices of the newspaper Beeld, and thought what the hell, I can't lose anything, let's try asking them for a job. I went in, asked to speak to someone with regards to a job, surprisingly the deputy editor in charce of the office (the newspaper's head office is in Johannesburg) was willing to see me. We had a long conversation, and I must have said something right, because a week later they called to offer me a job. _________________ Toe ek jonk was, het ek al die antwoorde geken. Nou verstaan ek nie eens die vrae nie.
I first joined Naspers in 1991, and spent most of the time since there. I worked for the South African Broadcasting Corporation for a while and worked for a political party for the past two years, until rejoining Naspers a month ago.
It is usually difficult to join a publishing company (as a journalist), and most start out at small regional weeklies before getting into a big company such as this one.
After university I initially worked for the civil service for three years, which I hated. One day, while in Pretoria (I lived in Cape Town at the time), I walked past the offices of the newspaper Beeld, and thought what the hell, I can't lose anything, let's try asking them for a job. I went in, asked to speak to someone with regards to a job, surprisingly the deputy editor in charce of the office (the newspaper's head office is in Johannesburg) was willing to see me. We had a long conversation, and I must have said something right, because a week later they called to offer me a job.
And with your persona, they were certainly eager to have you back! It seems that your position at Naspers was the profession that you enjoyed the most overall...and one can't stray too far from his or her calling. I hope the SABC and the political party were worthwhile commitments as well.
Now why can't more career experiences resemble yours? (Well, save the ~36 month ordeal at the civil service.) ^_^
Same here. I've always loved looking at maps, but the Rand McNally atlas of the US was my favorite.
Oh, I wish I owned that one! I mean, I borrowed some of the later editions from the library during elementary school, but I've never had it on hand as a reference. Now, almanacs, on the other hand...well, if you consider those a worthy replacement.
And I am now suddenly reminded of Vermeer's portrait "The Mapmaker" and the film "Girl with a Pearl Earring": I wish some filmmaker continued the Lowland cycle and made a biography of that Fleming, Gerardus Mercator.
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