35520 - Publishing techniques

Learning outcomes

Students

• know the basic elements (issues, methods and strategies) of the publishing techniques
• are able to apply the knowledge that they have learned in the field of publishing and publications
• are able to indipendently elaborate new knowledge and superior publishing skills and to apply them in other fields

Course contents

The course is divided up into two asymmetrical units:

- The first one is devoted to undestanding the fundamentals of publishing techniques (from proofreading and editing to the retailing and marketing) by means of an analysis of the different figures involved in these processes (editors, literary agents, translators, printers, lawyers, advertisers, etc.);

- The second one is devoted to the history of the Italian publishing industry (and of its main publishing houses) and to the current markets conditions

Readings/Bibliography

Main Textbook

Roberto Cicala, I meccanismi dell'editoria, Bologna: il Mulino, 2025

 

Recommended readings

Diego Guida, Editoria: istruzioni per l'uso. Acquisire le competenze di base, Milano, Editrice bibliografica, 2013

Alberto Cadioli e Giuliano Vigini, Storia dell'editoria italiana dall'Unità ad oggi, Napoli, Editrice bibliografica, 2012

Enrico Mistretta, L'editoria. Un'industria dell'artigianato, Bologna, il Mulino, 2006

Umberto Izzo, Alle origini del copyright e del diritto d'autore, Roma, Carocci, 2010

Daniele Baroni, Un oggetto chiamato libro, Milano, Longanesi, 2017

Marco Cursi, Le forme del libro, Bologna,il Mulino, 2016

Hans Tuzzi, Libro antico libro moderno, Roma, Carocci, 2018

Romano Montroni, Vendere l'anima, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2014

 

Further readings will be recommended during the lessons on individual subjetcs.

Teaching methods

Each theoretical issue will be aligned with practice activities in order to experiment first hand with the basics of the publishing process, so that at the end of the course students will be able to publish a book, starting from a given text, with a local publishing company.

As concerns the teaching methods of this course unit, all students must attend the online Modules 1, 2 on Health and Safety [https://www.unibo.it/en/services-and-opportunities/health-and-assistance/health-and-safety/online-course-on-health-and-safety-in-study-and-internship-areas].

Assessment methods

All students will have to edit a book (starting from an unformatted file) accompanied with its blurb, its reading file and a press release

All these texts, that students have to hand in ten days before the exam, will be discussed in the final exam itself.

 

Students with specific learning difficulties (SpLD) or with disabilities that can affect their ability to attend courses are invited to contact the University service for students with disabilities and SLD at the earliest opportunity -- ideally before the start of the course: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students. The University service will suggest possible adjustments to the course work and/or exam, which must then be submitted to the course leader so they can assess their feasibility, in line with the learning objectives of the course. Please note that adjustments to the exam must be requested at least two weeks in advance.

Teaching tools

Apart from textbooks, recourse will be made to virtual tools and real documents in usage on the part of publishing companies (agreements, leaflets, bound galleys, etc.).

For each lesson a handout/presentation will be uploaded on the platform IOL

Office hours

See the website of Paolo Rambelli