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The internet has completely changed what constitutes a book publishing company. Until relatively recently, the image of such a publisher would likely have been a stereotypical one of a 'crusty' group of literary people giving the thumbs-up or down according to their taste or vision. It would also likely have been an autocratic book publishing company with only the most famous authors on its books getting any form of a say in its running. Such a book publisher firm would have completely dictated the themes of the books it was putting forward - a very much 'the public wants what the public gets' situation. The opposable reviewing thumb further established this tenet with the notion of expressing a formal opinion about a book being strictly limited to the chosen elite - those whose literary tastes had been deemed sufficiently refined as to permit the declaration of whether a book had potential or not. Bizarrely, often as not, these reviews would baffle the major part of the book's potential readership and be completely out of step with their purchasing requirements. In the last few years, the internet has made (and continues to make) sweeping changes to the way in which we both write and purchase the ‘printed’ word. As a result, the modern book publishing company has had to 'move with the groove' or face going the same way as dinosaurs, video tape and many High Street shops. One of the most visible changes is that of the idea of reviewing as nowadays any man and his dog can express their opinion and, as long as it's not obscene, libelous or likely to incite racial hatred or an act of terrorism, it'll get published for all to see. Vox populi is now the determining market force for a book publishing company - a long overdue event, many might say. With self-publishing becoming ever more widespread and with even some of the more famous authors admitting to using ghostwriters, the whole world of publishing is going through an upheaval the likes of which hasn't been seen since someone first daubed an outline of their hand on a cave wall. While there are more pluses than minuses to publishing now being open to just about everyone, it has also meant a decline in standards as many poor quality books get self-published for the want of an editor or other experienced eye; in other words, part of the normal service for a book publishing company. The role of a present-day book publisher company is a world apart from that of its predecessors. Forming its niche is still very much a work in progress but a major part of succeeding as a book publishing company now consists of responding to public opinion and working with authors. Sooner or later there will be a backlash against the low-grade material that clogs the major book distribution networks and then there will be a shift back towards more traditional values. Ask any book publishing company and they’ll tell you it's just a question of when.
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