Abstract: Publishing data serves as a core production factor in the publishing industry. Maximizing the efficiency of each process and minimizing risks throughout the whole life cycle of publishing data is one of the key propositions for the high-quality development of the publishing industry. Focusing on the research topic of the whole-life-cycle governance of publishing data, this paper first clarifies its connotation and then proposes an eight-stage model for the whole life cycle of publishing data. It holds that the whole life cycle of publishing data is a full-process system covering data collection, data storage, data usage, data processing, data transmission, data provision, data disclosure, and data destruction. Secondly, the paper summarizes and analyzes its characteristics, including systematic comprehensiveness, multi-stakeholder collaboration, dynamic sustainability, and risk management and control. Thirdly, it examines the prominent issues existing in the governance of each link of publishing data. Finally, combined with the characteristics of each stage in the whole life cycle of publishing data, the paper puts forward targeted whole-life-cycle governance paths from collection to destruction. Based on the above systematic research, this study aims to realize the effective governance of publishing data under the empowerment of data elements.