Behind the publishers' e-reader efforts are hopes for a digital-distribution mechanism that offers new venues to expand readership and collect revenue for news and information, publishers say.

WSJ: Publishers Nurture Rivals to Kindle

Publishers should continue to invest in great content, syndicate through reader apps, and let customers share content, driving new audiences to their publication.

FORBES: Four Ways Big Media Can Survive In The Tablet Era

As it turns out, matching the right advertising to the right device--be it a smart phone, e-reader or tablet--is a major dilemma for publishers, according to a study authored by May that was released this week by Outsell.

FORBES: Media

"I learned about the work it takes to get the book from the publishers and into the hands of readers, " says returning "Power Reader" Sherae Allen, a teacher and New York City resident who learned about the convention through a promotion at Brooklyn's Greenlight Bookstore.

WSJ: Book industry gathers for annual convention

While publishers ended up earning less per book because of the revenue share to e-reader companies, they regained control over their property.

WSJ: Crovitz: Steve Jobs, Price Fixer?

Sony said it will launch a wireless e-reader device that can download "daily content, " and is currently in talks with publishers.

WSJ: Publishers Nurture Rivals to Kindle

Together, the two publishers will be able to share a large part of their costs, to invest more for their author and reader constituencies and to be more adventurous in trying new models in this exciting, fast-moving world of digital books and digital readers.

ENGADGET: Penguin and Random House merge, promise a brave new e-book future