Alan Yentob: 'The BBC can't compete with its hands tied behind its back'

BBC's creative director on his closeness to Tony Hall, competition from rivals like Google – and his plan for more appsAlan Yentob is having his picture taken on a staircase overlooking the vast BBC newsroom at New Broadcasting House and telling me about the flooding at his house in Somerset when we are interrupted by annoyed news staff.They ask us to move as flashes from the camera can be seen on-screen on the BBC News Channel – illustrating the perils of having a newsroom as a backdrop for live bulletins.Yentob apologises and we retire to his office – a former radio drama kitchen that sits between Old and New Broadcasting House. Apt, as Yentob bridges the old and new within the organisation. His office is narrow but cosy – desk stacked with books and an Alan Yentob mask someone sent him. There is a fold-up bike below his desk, just like the one Hugh Bonneville's character Ian Fletcher has as head of BBC Values in John Morton's forthcoming follow-up to Twenty Twelve, W1A, in which Yentob has a cameo.But as there's no table, we move to director general Tony Hall's office. As he confirms, Yentob played a part in bringing Hall back to the BBC after George Entwistle resigned. "I always felt that Tony should've been the director general. Yes, I did talk to [Lord Patten] about it and I did speak to Tony. For Tony it wasn't without its risks, he loved his [Royal Opera House] job."It seemed his influence might wane under Entwistle, but it is obvious he is now back at the heart... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The remarkable bounce back of New Zealand's magazines

After the withdrawal of Bauer Media last year, the industry appeared to be on its death bed – but not for longAt 8.31am on a Thursday, Henry Oliver received a text message from his employer, alerting him to a company-wide Zoom call in 29 minutes’ time.The day was 2 April 2020, a week into New... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-01-16 19:00:40 UTC ]
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Runcie, Mozley and Owusu judge BBC National Short Story Award

James Runcie will chair the judges for this year's BBC National Short Story Award alongside authors Fiona Mozley and Derek Owusu. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-13 22:24:54 UTC ]
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Am I Argentine? On Identity, Tradition and Finding Ties to One’s Homeland

I consider myself Argentine. I tell people it is not only part of my origin story but my identity. My first novel is titled Hades, Argentina, and to my friends I’m sure that seems fitting, the natural summation of my life and literary ambitions so far. But the truth is I had never been to […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-01-12 09:48:41 UTC ]
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Plath and Louverture biographies compete for Slightly Foxed Prize

Three biographies published by Penguin Random House, including ones of poet Sylvia Plath and Haitian general Toussaint Louverture, are competing on the five-strong shortlist for the Slightly Foxed Best First Biography Prize. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-12 05:51:35 UTC ]
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Tiffany Haddish to star in an adaptation of M.T. Anderson’s Landscape with Invisible Hand.

2021 is already starting off right (movie-wise, at least): Deadline has just announced that Tiffany Haddish is in final negotiations to star in the screen adaptation of National Book Award winner M.T. Anderson’s sci-fi novel Landscape with Invisible Hand, which will be produced by MGM, Annapurna... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-01-06 19:07:21 UTC ]
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In his memoir, Georgetown’s John Thompson doesn’t hold back

The late basketball coach offers an honest, unsparing look at his life and his ex-employer. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-12-24 13:00:00 UTC ]
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Back of the net

The age-old issue around what can be done to encourage boys to read has been brought into sharper focus over recent weeks with the announcement that Marcus Rashford, supported by MacMillan, is launching a book club. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-20 22:26:17 UTC ]
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Their Publishing Imprint Closed. Now They’re Bringing It Back.

In a literary landscape dominated by the biggest players, Cindy Spiegel and Julie Grau are among the executives rejecting the corporate publishing model and instead starting their own companies. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2020-12-18 10:00:29 UTC ]
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Child brings back Clarice Bean for 'Christmas classic' with HCCB

Lauren Child is bringing back Clarice Bean in a “spectacularly cinematic Christmas classic” for HarperCollins Children's Books. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-17 02:21:05 UTC ]
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Atkinson’s Life After Life on track for BBC One adaptation

BBC One has commissioned a four-part adaptation of Kate Atkinson’s Costa Award-winning Life After Life from House Productions. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-17 01:13:20 UTC ]
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BBC director of arts Claypole to step down

BBC director of arts Jonty Claypole is stepping down from his role and leaving the corporation in April 2021. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-07 18:10:33 UTC ]
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BBC Studios options Chowdhury's prize-winning The Waiter

BBC Studios has optioned TV rights for The Waiter by Ajay Chowdhury, winner of the Harvill Secker Crime Writing Competition in association with Bloody Scotland. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-07 14:28:57 UTC ]
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National TV Ad Sales Shrank 11% This Year, But Are Bouncing Back

In the U.S. and around the world, the third quarter of 2020 wasn't a pretty one for traditional advertising revenue. But digital media is looking up. According to Magna's latest quarterly advertising forecast, U.S. linear advertising revenues for 2020 (which include linear TV, linear radio,... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2020-12-07 02:00:00 UTC ]
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NYC radical bookstore Bluestockings is back—and they need your help.

YES! The volunteer-run, collectively owned radical bookstore and activist center Bluestockings is reopening in a new location after shutting down over the summer and fall. In July, Bluestockings announced they were shutting down their original location at 172 Allen Street for both pandemic and... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-12-03 16:23:15 UTC ]
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Lilliam Rivera’s Orpheus and Eurydice Remix: Talking about Never Look(ing) Back, by Bayleigh Acosta

Interviews Photo of Lilliam Rivera by Lilith Ferreira / Las Fotos Project Lilliam Rivera is an award-winning author of children’s books who currently resides in Los Angeles, California. Rivera’s work has appeared in the New York Times,... Continue reading at World Literature Today

[ World Literature Today | 2020-12-02 22:19:21 UTC ]
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An Orpheus and Eurydice Remix: Talking to Lilliam Rivera about Never Look(ing) Back, by Bayleigh Acosta

Publishers Would Back a Reinvented BookExpo

With Tuesday's news that ReedPop was pulling the plug on the current version of BookExpo and BookCon, most people contacted by 'PW' expressed little interest in returning to the same kind of show—but nearly all hoped some type of annual event could be created. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-12-02 05:00:00 UTC ]
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BBC Radio 4 adaptation of Gaiman's fairytale to be released as digital download

BBC Audio will release the BBC Radio 4 adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s The Sleeper and the Spindle as a digital download in January 2021, with an exclusive introduction from the author. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-30 14:33:55 UTC ]
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Bonnier's Mann signs up to BBC allyship scheme

Bonnier Books c.e.o. Perminder Mann is part of a new scheme which aims to unite organisations inside and outside the creative industries to promote allyship. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-30 00:21:01 UTC ]
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Headline Home to publish Raymond Blanc tie-in cookbook

Headline Home is publishing a cookbook by chef Raymond Blanc OBE to accompany his new ITV television series focusing on simple recipes for home cooks. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-23 20:53:47 UTC ]
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