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PERSPECTIVES OF THE PUBLISHING IN
MACEDONIA
public panel discussion
05.02.2004, cultural center Tocka
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On the public panel discussion about
the present and the future of the Macedonian publishing
there were more than fifty people invited, publishers,
editors, writers, translators, book store keepers,
librarians, representatives from the Ministry of culture,
from FIOOM, and journalists. The motive for organizing the
panel were the recent strategic documents which the
authorities put in power, and which considered not only the
perspectives of the publishing for the period 2004-2008 but
the whole cultural policy in general. Of course the
always-controversial annual results from the open
competition for publishing was the most direct reason. |
The aim of the panel
was to come to more clear strategic perspectives for the whole
publishing sector through open dialogue with the key players. For
example, there is a need for ideas how to strengthen the cooperation
among the publishers, distributors, bookstores, and librarians...
There is a need for finding out a bit different position of the
Ministry of culture and the other eventual donors... Maybe there is
a need for new laws connecting with the publishing... In one word,
there is a need to create new, better ambient about the books that
are printed in Macedonian, and in general, for all the books in the
country. Moderator of the public panel discussion was Zoran
Bojarovski, editor in Forum and experienced journalist in the field
of culture. From the participants who came were: two members from
the Publishing Commission in the Ministry (Venko Andonovski, Nikos
Causidis), as well as the Minister of culture, Blagoja Stefanovski
and the responsible for publishing in the Ministry, Biljana
Tudzarovska, Maja Bojadzievska (Sigmapress), Jadranka Vladova,
translator and former member of the Publishing Commission, Vanco
Karanfilov (Tabernakul), Nikola Gelevski (Templum), Olga Kostevska
(Gjurgja), Jovica Tasevski (Makavej), Igor Isakovski (Blesok), Nenad
Stevovic (Ili - Ili), Ljubica Arsovska (Kulturen zivot), Petar
Volnarovski (translator and editor-in-chief of the magazine
Razgledi), Suzana V. Spasovska (author and lector), Goce Drtkovski
(List) and others.
 The
forming of a nacional center for book was the most lobbied idea on
the pannel. it was said (Venko Andonovski and Zoran Ancevski) that
such centres exist in the other Balkans countries, where different
proffesional profiles coordinates the whole sector, from the
creation of the cultural product until the end effects. In the
centers there is also a school for translators, because, as
Andonovski and Ancevski said, the translation of the books are often
done by noncompetent and skilled translators. As far as the decision
of the Comission, Andonovski said he stand firm behind it.
"There is a need for creating a strategy. We create a parasite
system, the publishers are waiting money only from the Ministry
while from the other side there is no reports how the money were
spent.", Nikola Gelevski said.
Vanco Karanfilov said that this dialogue should continue. For him
the problem lies in the lack of money for the sector. The economic
and social status of the readers thas not allow them to buy books.
Maja Bojadzievska demanded installing again the "reviewer", who
would guarantee for the quality of the proposed book and more
competent professional in the Ministry. Jadranka Vladova insisted on
the "selector" instead of a commission.
Zoran Ancevski said that the criteria should be more developed. The
ministry should not support best sellers, or other commercial
editions. Igor Isakovski demanded tax-free solutions for the
publishing.
Robert Alagjozovski said the criteria and the procedures for
aplication and decision-making are not good. They are poor and
instead we demand from three persons to make good decisions. And
than we attacked their subjective choice who they impose as
objective. We should look on the publishing sector as a small and
medium sized bussiness and treating it like that we should try to
find some solutions. Ljupco Lazarevski, president of the Publishers'
Association proposed solutions for popularization of the book, more
money for international presentation of macedonian authors etc. |
