which is best Self-Publishing or Traditional Publishing?

Question

I am doing a Dissertation on Self-Publishing & Print-on-Demand,

Answer 1

Self publishing and print on demand is the best way forward. This is because desktop publishing, internet/websites mean the technology is available more than ever before to self publish. It has happened in the music world e.g Gnarls Barkley and will no doubt follow in the literary world. Also, you can purchase isbns and put your self published books in libraries or get vanity publishers to make the books and even Waterstones may sell them for you. Self publishing is the future whether in video/film such as snakes on a plane etc or my space. Publicity and marketing are the only thing traditional publishers have left but with the internet and ability to make our own radio stations and in future tv and ebooks- this will be under threat as will the established literary publishing world.

Answer 2

My friend self-published his novel "Are You Mad?" and the publisher went bankrupt so he was very much out of pocket!