Digital Publishing

The educational program is structured as a progressive journey consisting of 20 lessons (2 hours each), covering the most relevant themes in contemporary multimedia publishing. The course begins by examining the transformation of publishing from the analog to the digital age, analyzing how technological innovation has reshaped the production, distribution, and consumption of editorial content. Topics include the dematerialization of books and print, the emergence of new players and business models (from traditional publishing to digital startups), and the shift from a linear supply chain to a more fluid and collaborative publishing ecosystem.

Within this introductory framework, the course clarifies definitions of multimedia publishing in relation to related concepts, distinguishing between multimedia (integration of different media into a single product), cross-media (distribution of coordinated content across multiple, distinct media), and virtuality/augmentation (extending the editorial experience beyond the limits of traditional physical or digital media).

A core section of the course is dedicated to augmented publishing—editorial forms that merge the physical world of print with additional and interactive digital content. Students are introduced to examples of books and magazines enhanced with augmented reality: for instance, printed publications or e-books where, by scanning the pages with a smartphone or tablet, users can access extra content such as 3D animations, videos, audio tracks, or hyperlinks. The course explores how these augmented solutions can provide readers with multisensory and personalized experiences, and how the fusion of analog and digital opens new narrative, educational, and marketing possibilities. At the same time, it addresses the technical and editorial challenges of augmented publishing, such as ensuring consistency across different media and maintaining usability even with complex interactive elements.

In parallel, the course explores cross-media publishing, showing how narratives and editorial projects can unfold across a variety of complementary media. Case studies include transmedia storytelling, where a story is developed through books, comics, films/TV series, podcasts, video games, and social media, engaging audiences across platforms and at different levels of depth. Strategies by which publishers and authors expand a story universe beyond the traditional book—through online communities and additional content like character blogs, social profiles, or web series—are examined. Students are encouraged to reflect on the evolving role of the reader within the cross-media ecosystem—from passive consumer to active participant and content creator—and on the skills needed to manage editorial projects distributed across multiple channels while maintaining brand and narrative coherence.

Another focus is on the digital platforms that have redefined how editorial content is published and distributed. The course analyzes the impact of online stores and self-publishing services on the publishing supply chain. Platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, Apple Books, Kobo, Wattpad, and others are discussed in order to understand how they have democratized access to publishing, promoted disintermediation (with independent authors publishing outside traditional channels), and introduced new business models (e.g. low-cost e-books, subscription plans, print-on-demand). The course highlights both the opportunities these platforms offer—such as access to a global readership and user analytics—and their limitations, such as content saturation, quality control issues, visibility challenges, and the share retained by digital intermediaries.

Additionally, students are introduced to content management tools and digital publishing solutions used by publishing houses to manage online catalogs and publications (e.g. editorial CMS platforms, collaborative cloud editing systems, open access academic publishing tools), showing how digital skills have become an integral part of modern editorial work.

A significant portion of the course focuses on immersive environments and their applications in publishing. It explores the narrative and experiential opportunities offered by virtual reality (VR), presenting examples of editorial projects that immerse users in 3D digital environments: from virtual reconstructions of historical settings for educational purposes to interactive storytelling experiences in the metaverse and VR-accessible libraries. Similarly, augmented reality (AR) applications are examined—such as companion apps that, when scanning an illustrated book or travel guide, display additional information, 3D models, or geolocated narrative elements overlaid on the real world. Students are encouraged to critically evaluate the potential of VR and AR to create immersive reading experiences and to imagine how books or magazines might evolve in virtual spaces. Challenges associated with these technologies—such as the need for specific hardware, production costs of immersive content, user comfort and accessibility, and ethical considerations (e.g. distinguishing fiction from reality, privacy in virtual environments)—are also discussed.

Particular attention is given to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its growing impact on the publishing industry. The course illustrates how AI is being integrated into editorial workflows, presenting machine learning-based tools that assist or automate tasks traditionally performed by editors. Examples include AI-assisted proofreading and editing software (for grammar checking, stylistic suggestions, or data consistency), algorithms for automated content generation (from automated journalism to short narrative or descriptive texts), and recommendation systems that personalize reading suggestions based on user behavior. The course also explores the use of generative AI models (such as GPT-type neural networks) to create editorial content, images, or even synthesized audiobooks—highlighting both their creative potential and the uncertainties surrounding the quality and originality of such outputs.

Beyond practical applications, the course addresses related ethical and professional issues: copyright protection for AI-generated content, intellectual property ownership, the need for transparency with readers regarding algorithmically generated content, the risks of bias and misinformation in automated systems, and the irreplaceable role of human editors in curating and enhancing machine-generated work.

Finally, the course adopts a hands-on approach to digital publishing tools, incorporating demonstrations and practical exercises. Students are introduced to widely used or emerging platforms and software that support multimedia editorial work. Lessons include demonstrations of content management systems (CMS) for publishing text and multimedia online, with practical activities such as creating and updating a basic website or digital magazine. Students explore tools for digital layout and e-book production, including open-source or commercial programs for converting documents into EPUB3 format enriched with interactive elements, and for designing responsive digital layouts.

Attention is also given to data visualization and interactive storytelling tools (e.g. software for creating infographics, maps, or digital timelines) useful for presenting editorial content in visual and multimedia formats. In line with the course themes, students are shown basic applications for developing augmented or virtual reality content, helping them understand the workflow behind an immersive editorial project—from preparing digital materials to using user-friendly AR/VR platforms.

These activities provide a concrete link between theory and practice, allowing students to experiment firsthand with the technologies discussed in class, evaluate the strengths and limitations of each tool, and acquire operational skills that will be useful both for the final project work and as a foundation for future independent learning.