AWS Announces Generative AI Partner Innovation Alliance to Globally Scale Success of its Generative AI Innovation Center

Average student spending on college textbooks and digital course materials has steadily declined in recent years, according to new data unveiled from Student Watch, which is funded by the National Association of College Stores Foundation, and Student Monitor, an independent research firm. In its new annual report, Student Watch reports a decline in student spending on course materials of 35 percent over the past six years, while Student Monitor’s semi-annual report similarly indicates a 39 percent decline over the same time period. “Students are actually spending less on college course materials than we have seen them spend before,” commented Brittany Conley, Research Analyst, On Campus Research for the National Association of College Stores (NACS). “We saw that students spent about $413 across the academic year on course materials. Ten years ago, that number was closer to $700.”

To be innovative, we can't merely look and mimic what others have done before. The whole idea of blazing a new path is that there was no path there before. Steve Jobs really hit the nail on the head when he said: “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower…”. When one of the biggest awards night in the magazine industry calendar is loudly caveated by just how depressing and difficult the media industry is right now, it feels like the already battered brows are taking another beating. How disappointing on what is meant to be a night of celebration. For one, my table was upbeat, and it was for good reason. Not only for the optimism of four nominations to celebrate, but we have just closed our best ever month, our biggest issues and record revenue performances across our global titles in our 24 year history. In my opinion, the industry needs to stop crying into its champagne glasses and start celebrating the fabulous medium of magazines, the opportunities they pose and find new and innovative ways to get to the huge audience and bustling markets. Click Read More below for additional information.

Publisher Dennis Publishing has added to its current affairs division with the acquisition of MoneyWeek, a leading financial title. The magazine had been published by Agora Publishing since 2003 and now joins the group’s flagship The Week magazine, along with The Week Junior, as publications within its current affairs division. MoneyWeek, which had a weekly circulation of 46,498 in the period July to December 2016, was founded in 2000 by The Week founder Jolyon Connell and its current editor-in-chief Merryn Somerset Webb, who is staying on as editor along with John Stepek. Click Read More below for more of the story.