Newmag unveiled unprecedented plans and unexpected projects for 2024 during its GALA evening (video, photos)

According to Gnel Nalbandyan, editor-in-chief of the publishing house, 2023 was a successful year for Newmag. "This year we published 40 books, and over 5 years - more than 140 books. Among the books we published this year, there are many fiction, historical, political science, and social science books. The content of our translations is of high quality, these books are world bestsellers, important works, the need of which is certainly felt by society."

To assist readers in navigating the vast book market, Nalbandyan explained the publishing house's efforts to convey important features of published books through videos, campaigns, TV presentations, and dedicated series for Armenian authors. "We try to maintain modern standards and even dictate our standards in special literature created for children," said Nalbandyan.

During 5 years of activity, the publishing house presented itself with a children's series for the first time this year. Head of the "Yeraz" children's series Gohar Manukyan informed that during the year the books of Armenian and foreign authors were presented. "As in any well-established family, at Newmag we realized that it's time to think about children. 6 children's books were published this year, and “Yeraz” participated in 3 different festivals. It will have 2 festivals during the year, one before the school holidays and the other at the beginning of the school year."

Before summarizing the year, Artak Aleksanyan, the CEO of Newmag, stated that the year 2023 would not be remembered for the 40 published books. "We will hardly remember any work. For all of us, 2023 will be remembered for one thing: we lost our 1500-year-old cradle of civilization. Some people eat because of stress, others don't; we work because of it. All our tremendous work is due to this. We were working not to go crazy and to create something that would be useful to the new generation. 2023 was for us what was possible to do in a tectonic, complex, hyper-emotional year when rational thought lost to bitter reality."

Artak Aleksanyan presented the main news of 2024. According to him, the publishing house has an ambitious plan. Newmag will publish 52 books, which means that a new book will be published every week. 2024 will be marked by the visits of a record number of foreign writers to Armenia: authors of more than 10 bestsellers and Nobel Prize winners.

At the invitation of Newmag, French geopolitical scientist Frédéric Encel, famous Finnish historian Henrik Meinander, prominent American economist, Nobel Prize laureate Joseph Stiglitz, British screenwriter and writer of detectives and thrillers Alex Michaelides, Georgian historian Davit Jishkariani, Bulgarian novelist, literary critic Georgi Gospodinov, Latvian writer Janis Jonevs and Argentinian writer Luciano Wernicke will visit Armenia.

In 2024, Newmag will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Aznavour and the 60th anniversary of Tigran Hayrapetyan with a special initiative. The publishing house will launch its new mobile application next year, making it possible to read books via the app. Production of audiobooks is also planned. Newmag will also produce podcasts on both the app and the website. There are already the first 5 authors.

And finally, the publishing house will open its training center next year. Newmag Academy is intended for professionals working in middle and high circles aged 25-45. The courses will have a limited number of participants, who will be taught by Armenian and foreign professors.

Concluding his speech, Artak Aleksanyan noted that Newmag is becoming more than just a book publisher. "With our many products, festivals, podcasts, and training courses, Newmag is becoming a place to learn and teach, inspire and be inspired, talk and debate. In short, if you are thinking, then Newmag is your destination”.

During the 5 years of its activity, the publishing house has not only gained thousands of readers but also loyal partners who trusted Newmag and jointly presented books and literary projects. With the participation of those people, the publishing house celebrated its gala evening and summed up 2023. The overarching message for 2024 will be that Newmag is not only a publishing house but also one of the main sources for generating ideas and thoughts.