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Task Force for Co-ordination of Media Affairs

European publishing SMEs

Small and medium companies fuel the diversity of published works across the EU, enhancing press freedom and access to culture. 

Small and medium companies - defined as employing less than 250 people and with an annual turnover below € 50 million - working in publishing are not only important economically (SMEs count for more than 90% of the companies of the publishing sector); but they also make a major contribution towards media pluralism by fuelling the diversity of published works across the EU and enhancing press freedom and access to culture. Through the press and other print media like magazines and books, European publishing SMEs make an essential contribution to cultural and democratic diversity across Europe.

A sector in transformation

As a consequence of migration to digital technologies, the whole publishing industry is confronted by major challenges. In particular, long-established business models are under pressure. All sectors - general publishing, Scientific, Technical and Medical publishing, children's book publishing, textbooks, newspapers and magazines, national or local – must adapt to the new paradigm as it takes shape.
In the case of the publishing sector a very characteristic paradigm shift can be observed over the past 10-15 years. Increasing use of internet and the rapid development of free-sheet press titles represent a significant challenge for the printed publishing sector. These changing market conditions require that the publishing sector develops new business models and adapts itself to the new market environment. As the publishing sector is dominated by SMEs, the innovation process has specificities.

Technological and economic evolutions affect both the consumption patterns of publishing products and production processes. The need for innovation thus occurs both upstream and downstream in the value chain. This twofold requirement must be considered together.

The requirement to ensure the widest possible diffusion of technological and business innovations shared by a maximum of publishing SMEs extends beyond economic issues to embrace the democratic life of our societies as well. These innovations relate to new contents, new business models and ultimately new technological devices; their rapid adoption is now becoming vital for the publishing sector.
 

A difficult period

The outlook for books, newspapers and magazines is becoming ever more fragile because of the structural changes that are underway, now compounded by difficult economic circumstances. The press sector is being severely hit by the current downturn: advertising revenues are falling and the very existence of some titles is at stake.

A new initiative

The importance of SMEs for the economy of EU Member States has been clearly recognised by political and economic decision-makers for a number of years. EU SME policy is an integral part of the Lisbon Partnership for Growth and Jobs.
The aim of this European Commission initiative, "European publishing SMEs in the digital era: technological and business innovation", is to explore the issues encountered by publishing SMEs in the new technological and commercial environment and then to harvest best practices and identify future opportunities.
 

A consultation

Topics covered by the questionnaire include access to finance, innovation, market access and regulation, skills and quality of the labour force, delivery platforms and other mechanisms for co-operation, and language-related issues. 

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