Tokyo Tycoon, Start as a Writer

Chapter 13: A Time of Life and Death
After sending Kiyoaki Matsueda to the door, Midori Kobayashi returned to the office, sorted out the materials, and then went to the meeting room.

There is a meeting at 2:30 in the afternoon.

The time is almost up.

Almost all the people attending the meeting have arrived.

The six editors of Department 2, the editor-in-chief, and the deputy editor-in-chief of the publishing house.

Because of the delay in signing the contract with Kiyoaki Matsueda, when Kobayashi Midori arrived at the meeting room, although she was not late, she came in on time, making it seem like everyone was waiting for her.

This is a big taboo in the workplace.

"Kobayashi, what's wrong with you! You come later than anyone else for the 2:30 meeting. Do you have any sense of time..." The deputy editor-in-chief was sitting in the conference room. Editor-in-chief Matsushita of the second department did not dare to neglect him and quickly stood up and scolded Kobayashi Midori.

In the Japanese workplace, the hierarchy between seniors and juniors is very strict.

It is perfectly normal for superiors to teach or even insult their subordinates, and for seniors to bully newcomers.

Kobayashi Midori didn't dare to talk back. She just held the folder and lowered her head to listen to the scolding from her boss.

"Okay, it's time for the meeting."

After the deputy editor-in-chief spoke, Editor-in-Chief Matsushita stopped scolding his subordinate and motioned for her to sit down quickly.

"Whoo~"

Kobayashi Midori breathed a sigh of relief and quickly walked to the end and sat down.

There was a data report printed at each person's seat. The editor-in-chief of Panasonic, who was presiding over the meeting, was at the front row and wrote a few lines on the large whiteboard with a gel pen.

[March: 3]

[March: 4]

[March: 5]

"As you can see, the sales of Shincho have been declining from March to May." Editor-in-Chief Matsushita looked solemn, holding a pen and writing down another number next to it.

【236350】

"This is the sales volume for the first half of June. The magazine was published on the first day, and the sales were concentrated in the first ten days. After half a month, the sales volume is less than 25. The total sales volume this month may set a new low since the new century."

Editor-in-chief Panasonic had a serious and gloomy expression, and the editors below were also looking at the data in their hands with frowns on their faces.

"Let's take a look at our old rival, Gunzo." Editor-in-Chief Matsushita erased all the numbers on it and stopped writing. He said directly, "The total sales they announced last month were 623000, which is nearly 50% more than ours."

Among Japan's five major pure literature journals, Shincho has always been the leader.

Now, the sales volume of "Group Portrait" is 50% more than that of "New Trend", which is undoubtedly a denial of the value of "New Trend".

"The main responsibility for the temporary decline in sales should be borne by the operations and publicity departments, but the sales have been declining every month for the past six months, which has forced the president to question the vision and ability of our content team."

At this point, Editor-in-Chief Panasonic took a breath.

The content produced by "Xinchao" is selected by the editors under them, and the editors-in-chief are responsible for reviewing it.

When the management believes that the content team is not capable enough, the pressure will first fall on the editor-in-chief who is responsible for reviewing the content, and then the editor-in-chief will pass the pressure on to the editors below.

The atmosphere in the conference room became extremely solemn.

The editors present all lowered their heads at the same time, not daring to look their boss in the eye.

"Yesterday, I held a meeting with the editors-in-chief, the editor-in-chief, and the heads of the publicity department to analyze the reasons for the decline in sales."

Editor-in-Chief Matsuda knocked on the large whiteboard with his hand, making a loud noise that made everyone look up, and then he began to talk about the content of yesterday's meeting.

There are two main reasons for the decline in sales of "Xinchao".

First: The Internet age has arrived.

The Internet has made the dissemination of information and content more convenient and faster. People's entertainment methods have changed. Young people are more willing to obtain information and content from the Internet, and are more willing to accept fragmented content. Fewer and fewer people can sit down and read traditional literature.

Second: Xinchao is too specialized.

As a pure literature magazine, "Xinchao" publishes very little popular literature and is quite picky about the type of readers. Many articles require literature lovers with a certain level of appreciation to understand them, and a large number of popular literature lovers cannot be converted into its users.

The reason why "Group Portrait" was able to make a comeback and surpass "New Wave" is that it gradually increased the proportion of popular literature, lowered the reading threshold, and attracted the attention of a large number of popular literature readers.

"The first point is the changes of the times. Our personal abilities are limited and we cannot resist the tide of the times. Our main job is to change ourselves and adapt to the times. The new trend also needs to lower the reading threshold and truly embrace popular literature..."

When every editor heard this, they couldn't help but smile bitterly.

The trend of popular literature has been going on for a while, and isn't their second editorial department responsible for this?

Unfortunately, for so many years, trendy popular literature has been in an extremely awkward position. People buy your trendy stuff because they see your professional literary quality. If they want to buy popular literature, there are many bestsellers to buy. How sick must one be to buy your pure literature magazine to read the little bit of popular literature content?

Readers of pure literature don't buy it, and readers of popular literature are not interested in it.

The Second Editorial Department has been established for a long time, but due to its poor performance, it has never been able to stand up straight.

"Everyone, we are now at a critical moment of life and death." Editor-in-Chief Matsushita looked at his editors, his eyes unconsciously showing some fatigue. "The message from the higher-ups is very clear. They will give us another month and a half."

"what?"

Someone made a puzzled sound.

Kobayashi Midori's heart skipped a beat and she felt a little panicked.

"The information conveyed by the president is that we plan to make the content of our second department account for half of the monthly magazine in July and August, and then use the sales of these two months to measure whether our second department is still worth existing. If the downward trend in sales cannot be stopped, our entire department will be disbanded, and everyone will be transferred to other positions. And the interns..."

Editor-in-Chief Matsushita paused, looked at Kobayashi Midori, and added, "It is impossible to become a regular employee."

"..."

Kobayashi Midori's heart tightened.

The thing I was most worried about was about to happen.

At this time, the deputy editor-in-chief, who had been silent for a long time, stood up and comforted everyone: "Okay, don't worry too much, everyone. There is still one and a half months left, and two chances. If everyone works hard, we will definitely be able to come up with high-quality and attractive content."

These polite words are of no use at all.

The editors present all looked as pale as death.

The decline in sales of traditional magazines, paper books, and paper media is an inevitable result of the development of the times.

Unless a great figure who can resist the tide of the times appears and helps "New Wave" rise against the trend, no one can save them.

I wonder if Matsueda-san can do it... This question couldn't help but pop up in Kobayashi Midori's mind.

A great man who saves everyone from danger and goes against the tide of the times, a genius writer who is like a superhero... Just thinking about that situation, Kobayashi Midori felt her heart beating fast and she was in love so much.

"By the way, there's one more thing."

Seeing them all bowing their heads and keeping silent, the deputy editor-in-chief clapped his hands and said, "In order to give you enough competitiveness to sign new writers, I have secured some signing subsidies from the finance department. All new writers signed by your second department can receive a subsidy of 10 yen. Cheer up, and work harder to discover high-quality authors!"

All the editors still looked listless.

10 yen is really not attractive.

"that……"

Young editors in the internship period, please slowly raise your hands.

The deputy editor-in-chief and the editor-in-chief both looked at her.

"Can I get subsidies for the work signed today?" Kobayashi Midori asked cautiously.

"Did you sign a new work today?" asked Editor-in-Chief Matsushita.

Kobayashi Midori nodded: "Yes! And it's not just a simple contract. I plan to recommend you to the final list of the Newcomer Award."

"Oh?"

Her words caused the two leaders to look doubtful.

It is a bit far-fetched for an intern editor who has no author resources at all to recommend works for the newcomer award.

The other editors also looked at her with strange expressions.

"Please bring it here for me and Editor-in-Chief Murakami to see." Editor-in-Chief Matsushita waved his hand, motioning her to bring it over.

"Yes, Editor-in-Chief!"

Kobayashi Midori stood up and walked towards him, her palm holding the folder slightly sweating from nervousness.

It's impossible not to be nervous.

This manuscript may not only determine whether her career can start smoothly, but also the survival of the entire Editorial Department 2!
"Matsueda-san, please bless me..."

"If it works, I will thank you and repay you..."

The intern editor prayed devoutly in his heart and handed in the manuscript.

(End of this chapter)