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The 2009 Fall CWIP kickoff exhibited a series of orchestrated and organic events that complemented the theme of mapping a
future while keeping pace in the ever-changing field of publishing.
The first obvious change for CWIP was marked by its new home, the Conference Center on the 33rd floor of Willis Tower. In this landmark building, itself experiencing change by shedding its iconic Sears Tower name, CWIP hosted an enjoyable networking and hors d'oeuvres hour followed by a lecture that had close to 60 attendees. While the diverse group of professionals had the opportunity to socialize, committee and board members helped CWIPers get involved so that they could become active agents in the future of CWIP as well as their own careers.
Keynote speaker Joyce McGreevy, of National Geographic School Publishing Group, bolstered the evening's theme
with her speech, Minor Edits and Major Revisions: Discovering What's Constant in a Business That Never Stops Changing.
McGreevy delivered personal examples of how adaptation has served her prolific publishing career.
McGreevy relayed how an open mind and a friendly communication style helped her during unemployment when she wrote a humorous email to a friend. The friend in turn forwarded McGreevy's email to salon.com, which eventually led McGreevy to a unique and satisfying job writing a column for the website.
McGreevy believes that where publishing takes us in the future depends on the present and must "include a broader evaluation of the past." She shared a story about how a trip to the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. exemplified the possibilities of publishing. In a protective case, a 16th century book--Sir Thomas Moore's Utopia--was on display for tour groups to view. A touch screen digital version was available next to the case so that people could "leaf" through the book. McGreevy witnessed how passages in the book that were read aloud by a tour group member spurred conversation among strangers and thus transformed a seemingly passive activity to one of engagement and fruitful digital integration. Print and digital media intersected, allowing personal engagement.
"Change is something that we know in our bones," said McGreevy, later adding, "The tools don't matter. It depends on what we do with them."
An unplanned example of this axiom in action occurred when, before her speech, the projector's remote control broke. Using her iPhone, McGreevy downloaded a virtual remote control application, showing how her familiarity with change helped her leap over a technological stumbling block.
For McGreevy, publishing is not about print versus digital, either versus or. The key to keeping up with change is simple: "We can have both and more."
Angelica M. Lopez is a freelance reporter and copyeditor. She can be reached at ms.amlopez@yahoo.com.