Gatekeepers

I read much these days criticizing gatekeepers, by which is meant the traditional publishers whose selectivity is now the cause of resentment.

The argument goes that anything should be published, and this is beneficial to consumers, and Amazon is the paragon of pro-consumer marketing, especially because of price.

But being of service to consumers involves a lot more than price. It also involves protecting consumers from junk, and that is what publishers have done for generations. I am fairly confident, when I buy a book from a distinguished publisher, that I will be treated to a worthwhile reading experience. Once in a while such publishers make mistakes and publish bad books, but what is remarkable is the quality that readers can and do count on generation after generation.

In fact, consumers of literature well know that publishers do a larger service by weeding out lousy literature and that this culling is more important than price. That is where Amazon fails. It does not help consumers of literature. In fact, the Amazon model invites grief.

In the end, the traditional publishing model will thrive, and attract readers who want some guarantee of quality, while the Amazon model will fail. The swamps of literature will eventually devour the Amazon model because price is less valuable than the services provided by traditional publishers, including selection, proofreading, editing, book design, publicity, and prestige.