Talk of the Town: Monthly Publishing Industry News Digest

Change continues to ripple across the publishing and research sectors, from funding constraints and AI governance to design innovation and the survival of independent presses. This curated monthly roundup captures the stories shaping current industry conversations.

• Amazon’s New DRM Policy for Self-Published E-Books

Amazon has introduced changes to its Digital Rights Management (DRM) settings on Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) that will allow titles published without DRM to be downloaded as EPUB or PDF formats starting January 2026, enabling wider device interoperability and cross-ecosystem reading – a significant shift for indie authors considering how best to balance copyright protection, reader convenience and discoverability. Read the full article here: ALLi

• SEO and Discoverability in Scholarly Publishing

Despite the rise of AI discovery tools and generative search interfaces, effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) remains vital in scholarly publishing. This piece argues that publishers should combine traditional SEO with emerging strategies – such as clear metadata, structured abstracts, and insight into how AI indexes content – to ensure research outputs are visible and accessible to both human and AI-driven audiences. Find out more: Scholarly Kitchen

• Print Production Choices for Indie Publishers

This Independent Publishing Magazine guide breaks down the pros and cons of colour versus black-and-white printing for books. It highlights key considerations such as cost, production quality and the intended use of visuals (e.g., children’s books, illustrated works versus text-heavy manuscripts) to help self-publishers decide the best approach for their titles. Click on the link for the full article: Independent Publishing Magazine

• Metadata as a Strategic Priority

The Publishers Association highlights that quality metadata is essential for discovery and sales in a crowded marketplace. Accurate metadata supports accessibility, enhances search performance across retail and academic platforms, and improves user experience – making it a strategic priority for publishers at all scales. Read the full article here: Publisher’s Association

• How AI Can Assist Authors

In this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, host Dan Holloway and guests explore practical ways that artificial intelligence can support authors — from drafting and editing to marketing and outreach – while still emphasising the importance of authorial voice and human judgment in creative work. Learn more: ALLi

• Evolution of Scientific Publishing Practices

This analysis explores how academic publishing continues to change under pressures including demand for open access, performance metrics, and shifting norms around peer review and research impact. It sheds light on how scientific communication is adapting – and the unintended consequences that sometimes arise. Click here to read: The Conversationn

• 2025: A Year of Mergers in Publishing

The publishing industry has seen a remarkable wave of consolidation, with major mergers reshaping competitive dynamics. This trend reflects wider strategic moves by established houses to scale operations, diversify portfolios and build resilience in an uncertain market. Read the full article here: Publisher’s Marketplace

• Responsible Use of AI in Peer Review

A recent report confirms that some publishers are endorsing frameworks for ethical and responsible AI deployment within peer review processes, emphasising human oversight, transparency and the need to uphold review integrity as AI tools become more widespread in scholarly workflows. Find out more: Research Professional News

• Diamond Open Access: A Growing Movement

Supported by new philanthropic funding, diamond open access models – where neither authors nor readers pay fees — are gaining traction in the U.S. This development could expand equitable access to research outputs and challenge traditional publication economics. Click here to read: STM Publishing News