Review of Publishing Studies in the 1990's

Abstract

Reviewing the literature in The Journal of Publishing Sturdies shows what scholars in this field researched in the 1990s and also how The Journal of Pubulishing Studies has progressed until today. In this special issue, the literature review focuses on, among others, the history of publishing, law and ethics, publishing techniques and technology, and electronic publishing. Among the various studies, the most advanced and solid area is the study of Japan's pre-modern period. This was methodologically approached from the perspectives of Japanese literature and history studies, while accumulative studies explored the field more in depth. Other studies pointed out the diffculty of separating unique qualities of print and electronic media, as well as the difficulty for researchers of drawing a clear picture of publishing laws and regulations as they relate to the fields of law and ethics. Studies on publishing techniques and technology and electronic publishing showed that these areas should mature in the near future.