Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 5 days ago
Last year’s book-writing session at IJF was standing-room only, confirming what many of us suspected; across borders and beats, journalists are hungry to turn their reporting into books—and to understand a rapidly changing publishing landscape. This panel will bring together decision-makers and practitioners from across that ecosystem to talk candidly about what it takes for journalists to move between articles, longform, and books, how non-traditional and traditional publishing models are evolving, and what actually makes a “bestseller” in 2026 and beyond. We will explore:
- Non-traditional paths vs. traditional/commercial deals: when to pursue a Big Five publisher, an independent or university press, or alternative routes (audio-first, subscription, digital-first)
- How editors and publishers evaluate proposals from journalists: voice, platform, subject, timing, and risk
- Skills journalists need to move back and forth between newsroom work and book projects (reporting depth, structure, voice, negotiation, collaboration)
- International and global angles: rights, translation, and how stories travel across markets
- The role of data and platforms (from TikTok to Tertulia) in building readership and momentum
- What “bestseller” means now: lists, algorithms, niche vs. mass audiences, and sustainability for authors The tone will be practical and transparent, with panelists sharing successes, missteps, and what they wish journalists knew before they start their next proposal. Moderated by S. Mitra Kalita. Organised in association with URL Media.
Con: Dawn Davis (senior VP and publisher 37 Ink), Lynda Hammes (co-founder Tertulia), Mitra Kalita (co-founder URL Media), Raju Narisetti (partner and global leader McKinsey Publishing & Marketing), Madhulika Sikka (VP and executive editor Crown Publishing Group)
Last year’s book-writing session at IJF was standing-room only, confirming what many of us suspected; across borders and beats, journalists are hungry to turn their reporting into books—and to understand a rapidly changing publishing landscape. This panel will bring together decision-makers and practitioners from across that ecosystem to talk candidly about what it takes for journalists to move between articles, longform, and books, how non-traditional and traditional publishing models are evolving, and what actually makes a “bestseller” in 2026 and beyond. We will explore:
- Non-traditional paths vs. traditional/commercial deals: when to pursue a Big Five publisher, an independent or university press, or alternative routes (audio-first, subscription, digital-first)
- How editors and publishers evaluate proposals from journalists: voice, platform, subject, timing, and risk
- Skills journalists need to move back and forth between newsroom work and book projects (reporting depth, structure, voice, negotiation, collaboration)
- International and global angles: rights, translation, and how stories travel across markets
- The role of data and platforms (from TikTok to Tertulia) in building readership and momentum
- What “bestseller” means now: lists, algorithms, niche vs. mass audiences, and sustainability for authors The tone will be practical and transparent, with panelists sharing successes, missteps, and what they wish journalists knew before they start their next proposal. Moderated by S. Mitra Kalita. Organised in association with URL Media.
Con: Dawn Davis (senior VP and publisher 37 Ink), Lynda Hammes (co-founder Tertulia), Mitra Kalita (co-founder URL Media), Raju Narisetti (partner and global leader McKinsey Publishing & Marketing), Madhulika Sikka (VP and executive editor Crown Publishing Group)
