Today, this is My Question: “How good is UP Press in promoting the publications it comes out with?” This is My Answer: “There is much to be desired!”

I know my answer is a double entendre – you can take it either way: Good or Bad! Let me tell you: Good? It’s not that good. Bad? It’s not that bad – it’s poor!

Each of the 2 book covers shown above is only as small as the face of the one showing them – in fact, if I were the photographer or layout artist, I would have shown the books between the face. Why show the face at all? Unless UP Press is selling the books – and the face!

Not readable – Can’t read!

Calling the attention of the UP Press publicity guy – if the press has one, he is not doing his job; if the press has none, UP Press is not doing its job!

Bad: Unclear, unreadable photograph “displaying” 2 books. And nothing said about any of the books. A book is not like fish – display the fish and it will sell!

I’m very particular about UP writing because I am a UP graduate – UPLB BS Agriculture major in Ag Edu, 1965; Civil Service Profesional 1964 – yes, I became a Professional a year before I was a Graduate.

I believe UP Press needs an Editor In Chief. Yes, I am The Editor In Chief (TEIC) you never met! I’m not applying – at 84, too old. But let me tell you my story anyway, as you can learn from it.

One: I started being TEIC in 1975, producing from scratch literally the 3 FORI publications: monthly newsletter Canopy, quarterly technical forest research journal Sylvatrop, and quarterly color magazine Habitat. Oh, they made FORI known and popular in the Philippines and abroad – we had exchange publication arrangements with the libraries of top universities.

Two: From 2005 to 2011, I was Writer From Home (WFH) for the nternational Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) based in India, when William Dar was Director General of ICRISAT. ICRISAT published 7 books for itself based on my WFH outputs.

2011: I was given the singular award “Outstanding Alumnus For Creative Writing” by the UPLB Alumni Association (UPLBAA) when Madecor President Elpidio L Rosario was UPLBAA President. The 1^st and only such award in UPLB history!

When I saw that Facebook post, I googled for a list of UP Press books – I got 131 in my list. Interesting stories – but how do I know if they are interesting enough for me? I have to be convinced before I read – that is why you need a good, positive book reviewer!

In general, every book published needs a positive blah for prospective buyers, and that is the failure of UP Press that I see.

“Publicity can be terrible,” American actress Jane Russell says. “But only if you don't have any.” The non-attempt of UP Press in this one is not terrible – but what a waste. Sayang!@517