Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair 2009 (KLIBF 2009), 17–26 April 09

Greetings from the National Book Council of Malaysia! We write to inform you that our Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair 2009 (KLIBF 2009) will be held from 17th– 26thApril 2009 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC),Kuala Lumpur(www.pwtc.com.my). We would like to seek your kind assistance to help disseminate the information on KLIBF 2009 to book publishers in your country, particularly members of your association to visit our book fair. The Malaysian National Institute of Translation and the Malaysian Book Publishers Association will run a Rights Center open to all those who want to make rights negotiations with our Malaysian publishers and other interested parties. Should you need more information, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Amran Alias, KLIBF Event Manager at +603 – 2694 4799 (office) / +6019 – 216 2806 (mobile) or email:amran_snatrade@obl.com.my

Click here to download the invitation letter to KLIBF 2009 from the National Book Council of Malaysia.

Free CLASS talk on copyright involving licensing and royalty distribution

The Copyright Licensing and Administration Society of Singapore Limited (CLASS) will hold a free talk on copyright involving licensing and royalty distribution relating to you/your organization’s membership with CLASS.

The talk will be held on March 27 (Friday) at 2pm at the Cantonment Towers Residents’ Committee Centre in Block 12, #01-15 Cantonment Close (near the SOS office and the Tanjong Pagar Malayan Railway Station).

To facilitate seating arrangements (two representatives each, if yours is a publisher member), please email CLASS with your name/s and contact details by March 18, 2009.

World Book and Copyright Day

On 23 April 2009, we will celebrate the 14th World Book and Copyright Day, proclaimed by the UNESCO General Conference in 1995 to promote greater awareness of the importance of books in the world.

In order to support the Organization in today’s society, this year international professional associations are once again kindly invited to play an essential role in informing and mobilizing both their members and their external networks of experts and stakeholders.

For this edition of the Day, UNESCO suggests to explore the topic of the paramount function of books for the development of quality education, as well as the link between publishing and fundamental rights.

In order to download the poster of 23 April 2009 which you can use and to have access to the message from the Director-General as well as all the information regarding the origins of the Day and the activities organized all around the world on this occasion, we would like to invite you to visit the website www.unesco.org/culture/bookday.

Should you require any further information, please email Georges Poussin or Mauro Rosi.

MDA to inject S$250 million into industry in 2009

News and Notes from Media Business Forum: 13 March 2009

MDA to inject S$250 million into industry in 2009
Aim is to sustain media sector, as worldwide economic slowdown continues into the year.
THE Media Development Authority (MDA) estimates that the Government will spend S$250 million this year to sustain the growth momentum of Singapore’s media sector amidst the economic downturn, it said at its annual Media Business Forum yesterday.

This spending, which includes funding from the National Research Foundation to boost research and development in interactive digital media, as well as support for public service programmes, is projected to support about 2,000 jobs when the projects come onstream in the coming year.
Through the exercise, MDA will help fund and co-develop high-value and exportable content and applications to jumpstart activities in the sector.

Key areas include the ever-widening range of digital platforms, including Internet protocol TV, mobile TV and 3D TV, which MDA believes have an excellent chance of success as content becomes increasingly digitised.

The first wave of projects was called at the event yesterday, including one called “360° TV”, where MDA requested for original TV concepts that leverage various digital media distribution avenues and partnerships.

The MDA is also calling for proposals to transform Singapore into a digital music hub, which will build the ecosystem needed to develop music services to support content productions.

More such calls for proposals can be expected this year. Said Dr Christopher Chia, MDA’s Chief Executive Officer: “Media is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world, and the performance of Singapore’s media sector reflects our potential to benefit from the worldwide movement.”

Besides calls for proposals, MDA is launching a new Media Training and Attachment (META) scheme, which emphasises hands-on experience through attachments to projects or established organisations.
For details, please refer to www.smf.sg.

MPAS Online Publishing Workshop

Organised by the Magazine Publishers Association of Singapore (MPAS) and supported by the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA), the inaugural MPAS Online Publishing Workshop is the definitive event for publishers and media professionals in Singapore.

Attend this online publishing and marketing intensive workshop conducted by top marketing and publishing instructors from the Mequoda Group (US) and learn the strategies of online publishing success, which include information on how to attract, convert, engage and monetize online traffic. This will uncover and illustrate all the ways to create more robust and profitable web presences.

Who should attend?
Publishers, editors, journalists, copywriters, circulation directors, website architects, usability engineers, creative directors and others responsible for website design, website content, Internet strategy and online marketing will all benefit from participating in this workshop.

About The Mequoda Group (US)
The Mequoda Group is a consulting and publishing company focusing on best practices for traditional publishers converting and transferring their business model into the online space.

They have brought together publishing industry veterans and information architecture experts to create a unique road map for creating successful websites. They combine the benefit of 30 years of experience in periodical management with a cutting-edge knowledge of Internet marketing and publishing

The Mequoda Group organises the Mequoda Summit, a highly reviewed event for online publishers in the US annually. The event is packed with information-packed sessions covering SEO, ad sales, budgeting, staffing, editorial strategy, email marketing and more, helping publishers make sense of the commercial opportunities online publishing offers.

About The Magazine Publishers Association of Singapore (MPAS)

The Magazine Publishers Association of Singapore (MPAS) is Singapore’s premier magazine publishing industry association and brings together 100 publishing companies in Singapore. The main charter of the federation is to assist its members in business development, market intelligence, overseas trade missions, networking and alliances.

How to Register:
Registering to attend the MPAS Online Publishing Workshop is simple. Just visit www.mpas.org.sg to book your place online.

Rates:
Local Attendees: $100
Oversea Delegates: $500

If you have any queries about how to register, just email melvin@mpas.org.sg and a member of our team will be pleased to help you.

For more information on the Event, please visit www.mpas.org.sg.

RIGHTS OF AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS OUTSIDE USA: Google Court Settlement

Please see the attached documents about your rights in connection with Google’s digitization of books in libraries. Some of those books might have been yours.

Please direct questions about the settlement or the claiming process to the Settlement Administrator, using the email addresses in the attached chart or the phone numbers listed in the Notice’s Appendix.

Please direct questions about the Notice Program to Belinda Bulger or Danielle West.

Download the web and email addresses form here.

Download the Notice here.

SPH-NAC Golden Point Award 2009: Open for submissions

The SPH-NAC Golden Point Award (SPH-NAC GPA), Singapore’s premier creative writing competition and only national writing competition to celebrate new writing in the four major languages, is open for submissions till 29 May 2009.

In its search for emerging and new creative writing talents in Singapore, the competition is open to unpublished writers who have not yet published a solo work – though writers who have been published in journals or anthologies will still be eligible to enter.

Organised by the National Arts Council (NAC) since 1993, the biennial writing competition invites entries in the categories of short story and poetry. Over the years, the competition has received entries by individuals from all walks of life – from engineers, accountants, social workers and even fitness instructors. Some noted prize-winners include writers like Annuar Othman and Denon Lim, as well as Young Artist Award recipients Alfian Sa’at, Cyril Wong and Tan Chee Lay.

Open to all Singaporeans and Permanent Residents, participants of the SPH-NAC GPA may write on any subject or theme. Poetry entries must be submitted in a collection with a minimum of five poems, and not exceeding eight poems. Short story entries should not exceed 5,000 words. A panel of local and foreign judges will be appointed for each respective language category to assess and select the winning entries.

The SPH-NAC GPA is held in conjunction with the Singapore Writers Festival (SWF), the nation’s only major literary event and one of the few literary festivals in Asia that is multi-lingual. The Singapore Writers Festival (SWF) and the SPH-NAC GPA is co-organised by the National Arts Council and The Arts House. Singapore Press Holdings and Singapore Press Holdings Foundation are also the Official Sponsors for SWF 2009.

Prizes
The following prizes will be awarded for each of the four languages for both the short story and poetry categories:
First Prize: $4,000 cash, a trophy, and a $6,000 enrichment grant. First Prize winners may also be offered the opportunity to be represented by a well-known, international publisher and/or by an established literary agent.
Second Prize: $3,000 cash and a certificate
Third Prize: $2,000 cash and a certificate

In the event that none of the above prizes are won, Merit Awards of $500 may be awarded instead.

The Enrichment Grant of up to $6,000 has been awarded to the First Prize winners of the SPH-NAC Golden Point Award competition since 1997, to provide them with sufficient funds to participate in writing seminars, workshops and literature festivals overseas.

Entry Forms and Submissions
The call for submissions for the SPH-NAC Golden Point Award commences on 10 March 2009. The official entry form will be available for download from the SWF website at www.singaporewritersfestival.com. All entries must reach the National Arts Council by 29 May 2009. All winners will be notified of the results by post in October 2009. The SPH-NAC Golden Point Award Presentation Ceremony will be held in conjunction with the Singapore Writers Festival in October 2009. For more information, the public can contact nac_gpa@nac.gov.sg.

Singapore Media Fusion SMF website

To give you a more personalized and interactive user experience, the Media Development Authority of Singapore presents the new and enhanced Singapore Media Fusion website with fresh content on media industries in Singapore and added features.

With improved search engines, streamlined access to information and rich content ranging from company information to film locations, job postings to new media initiatives – and much more – a visit to this website is now more enriching than ever.

To visit the new website, click here.

Creative guidelines and approvals

How do we create a product that epitomizes not only the brand attributes but also the mass appeal and cashing in the dollars? These are the questions that come to mind as we develop products, whether on our own or through another contracting party.

This is never easy, but a step-by-step process can be created and followed through to ensure a higher chance of success at retail. Join us in this session and you can learn how to have your products fly off the shelves.

Date: 2-5pm, 24 March 2009
Venue: GLobal Brands Group, 1 HarbourFront Place #09-05/06, HarbourFront Tower 1

For RSVP, please email Belinda Ong at belinda.ong@globalbrandsgroup.com

3rd installment of the Content360 programme

1. CONTENT 360 SEMINAR | 18 & 19 Mar | 1-on-1 Meeting :

Mr Bernard Macleod – Fremantle International Distribution | http://www.fidtv.com
Mr Vipin Goyal – VP, Business Development and International Expansion, Joost | http://www.joost.com
(Please refer to the attached eFlyer of the guests’ bio.)

Dates: 18 Mar (Wed) & 19 Mar (Thurs) 2009
Venue: MDA office @ Fusionopolis (3 Fusionopolis Way, #16-22 Symbiosis)

Please indicate your interest in having a One-on-One meeting with your selected guest(s) by 9 Mar (Mon), by completing the attached template.

The final meeting date and time will be informed closer to the event dates, in the mean time, appreciate if you can keep 18 & 19 Mar free in your schedule.

Note: Meetings are arranged on a first-come-first-served basis, due to the guests’ short duration of stay. Your indication of interest does not equate a confirmed meeting, selection of companies for meetings are based on the project interests of the Guest, in order to ensure a productive meeting for the guest and yourself. Programme is subject to change.

2. CONTENT 360 SEMINAR | 19 Mar (Thurs)

MDA would like to invite you to attend the CONTENT360 Seminar on 19 March (Thurs), in a specially organised seminar, where two leading international media companies will share with you how they are transforming the way traditional media is consumed and delivered, the emerging opportunities in new media, and how you could take advantage of them to maximize revenue and branding opportunities.

CONTENT360 SEMINAR
Date: 19 Mar
Time: 2-5 pm
Venue: National Library (100 Voictoria Street), Level 3 – Function Room 3 @ Drama Centre
(Parking is available at the National Library Building or Bras Basah Complex)
Admission: Complimentary

Speakers:
Mr Bernard Macleod – Fremantle International Distribution
Mr Stacey Seltzer – SVP of International Content Acquisition, and Business Development | Joost

Programme:
2.00 pm Registration
2.30 pm Presentation by Speakers
3.50 pm Panel Discussion/Q&A
4.15 pm Refreshments
5.00 pm End of event

Kindly RSVP by 13 Mar (Fri) to selina@rubix-cube.com.
We appreciate your early confirmation of attendance, as seats are limited.

Download the Booking Template here.

Download the Seminar Flyer here.