======The Wizarding Publishing Industry======
=====Location Information=====
  * **Type:** Industry / Commerce
  * **Location:** Primarily centered in [[Diagon Alley]], [[London]], but with global reach throughout the wizarding world.
  * **Owner/Residents:** Various publishers, editors (e.g., [[Xenophilius Lovegood]]), journalists (e.g., [[Rita Skeeter]]), and authors (e.g., [[Gilderoy Lockhart]], [[Bathilda Bagshot]]).
  * **Key Features:** Production and dissemination of written materials including books, newspapers, and periodicals; subject to [[Ministry of Magic]] influence and censorship.
=====Description and History=====
The publishing industry in the wizarding world is the primary means of communication, education, and entertainment through the written word. It encompasses a wide range of media, from daily newspapers that keep the community informed of current events to scholarly journals, popular magazines, and a vast library of books covering every subject from [[Potions]] to [[History of Magic]].
Historically, the publishing world, particularly its news media arm, has been susceptible to political pressure. During the [[Second Wizarding War]], the [[Ministry of Magic]] used its influence to control the narrative presented in **The Daily Prophet**, first to deny the return of [[Lord Voldemort]] and later, under his control, to spread propaganda and hunt dissenters. This demonstrates that while a vital part of wizarding society, the industry is not always a bastion of free press and can be a powerful tool for those in power.
=====Role in the Story=====
The publishing industry plays a crucial and recurring role throughout the series, often directly influencing the plot and the public's perception of key characters.
  * **Shaping Public Opinion:** In //[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]//, **The Daily Prophet** runs a year-long smear campaign against [[Harry Potter]] and [[Albus Dumbledore]], painting them as liars and attention-seekers. This isolates Harry and makes it difficult for Dumbledore to rally support against [[Voldemort]].
  * **Exposing Truth and Lies:** The media is a double-edged sword. [[Rita Skeeter]] uses her platform in **The Daily Prophet** and later her biography, //The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore//, to publish sensationalist, often damaging stories. Conversely, [[The Quibbler]] becomes the only mainstream publication willing to print Harry's true account of Voldemort's return, turning it into an essential voice for the resistance.
  * **Celebrity and Fraud:** The character of [[Gilderoy Lockhart]] demonstrates the power of publishing to create celebrity. His bestselling books, which chronicle heroic deeds he stole from other wizards, make him famous, earning him a teaching post at [[Hogwarts]] despite his complete incompetence.
  * **Education:** The industry's most fundamental role is providing the textbooks required for a [[Hogwarts]] education, such as //[[A History of Magic]]// by [[Bathilda Bagshot]] and //[[Advanced Potion-Making]]//.
=====Known Publishers and Publications=====
  * **Publishers**
    * `[[Obscurus Books]]`: A publisher of wizarding books, most notably //[[Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them]]//.
    * `[[WhizzHard Books]]`: The publisher of the classic wizarding sports guide, //[[Quidditch Through the Ages]]//.
    * `Little Red Books`: The publisher of the original wizard-printed edition of //[[The Tales of Beedle the Bard]]//.
  * **Newspapers and Periodicals**
    * `[[The Daily Prophet]]`: The most widely-read national newspaper in wizarding [[Britain]], with morning, evening, and Sunday editions. Its headquarters are located in [[Diagon Alley]].
    * `[[The Quibbler]]`: A famously eccentric magazine edited and published by [[Xenophilius Lovegood]]. Though known for articles on imaginary creatures, it became a key pro-Potter publication during the [[Second Wizarding War]].
    * `[[Witch Weekly]]`: A popular magazine read by witches like [[Molly Weasley]] and [[Hermione Granger]], known for features like the "Most-Charming-Smile Award."
    * **Academic Journals:** Publications like //[[Transfiguration Today]]//, //[[Challenges in Charming]]//, and //[[The Practical Potioneer]]// are mentioned as periodicals where serious academic and magical research is published.
  * **Notable Booksellers**
    * `[[Flourish and Blotts]]`: The primary bookstore in [[Diagon Alley]], which sells a vast range of books, including all the required [[Hogwarts]] textbooks. It frequently hosts book signings for famous authors like [[Gilderoy Lockhart]].
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * In the real world, the *Harry Potter* series was published by Bloomsbury in the United Kingdom and Scholastic in the United States.
  * The companion books written by J.K. Rowling for charity—//Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them//, //Quidditch Through the Ages//, and //The Tales of Beedle the Bard//—are presented as real-world prints of the in-universe books, complete with their in-universe publishers, Obscurus Books and WhizzHard Books, listed on the title pages.
  * According to Pottermore, the main newspaper for the magical community in the United States is named //The New York Ghost//. (Pottermore)