This report tracks the evolution of information through the eyes of the five traditional "players"--author, primary publisher, secondary publisher, distributor, and information consumer. It maps the trajectory of publishing through the media landscape--from print to online to CD-ROM to networks. Representatives from each constituency describe the impact of the following factors on their identities and missions in the distribution chain: vertical integration/consolidation; economics and pricing; proprietary rights; ownership information; data scrutiny; peer review; liability issues; formats/media; multimedia permissions; and changing distribution flows. Future changes in the roles of the five players during an era of evolving distribution technologies and industry consolidation are analyzed. The five chapters are: "The Author in the Digital Environment" (Elisabeth Davenport); "The Publisher's Position: Survival in an Electronic World" (Robert Campbell); "The Evolving Information Chain and Secondary Publishers" (Dennis Auld and Nancy J. Jamiolkowski); "The Changing Business of Information Distribution" (John A. Hearty and Robert D. Smith); and "The Information Consumer in Transition" (Barbara Quint). (Each chapter has several references.) (MAS)