As a black literary agent, I despair at UK publishing's lack of diversity | Natalie Jerome

For decades, I sat in meetings with all-white teams. The industry needs an independent body to advise on equalityI’m a literary agent and at the height of last year’s Black Lives Matter protests I was sent a list, with accompanying photographs, of the top editors working across the major publishing houses in the UK. When I read it I burst into tears. It showed a sea of almost totally white faces, some of whom had been approaching retirement when I started out as an editorial assistant 20 years earlier. The stagnation in the industry was stark and filled me with despair.Analysis of the industry since then, partly led by pressure from BLM and an open letter from the Black Writers Guild, has only further highlighted this imbalance. Two of the biggest global publishers, Penguin Random House and Hachette, revealed that just 2.7% of their staff – in both cases – are black; and the Guardian reported that you are eight times more likely to see an animal as lead character in a children’s book than a person of colour.Natalie Jerome is a literary agent, deputy chair of Literature Wales, and a former publisher Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2022-01-01 10:00:46 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "As a black literary agent, I despair at UK publishing's lack of diversity | Natalie Jerome"


UK publishing less accessible to Black authors now than before 2020, industry names say

Ahead of the Black British book festival, literary figures say the number of books being published by Black writers has ‘plummeted’UK publishing is less accessible to Black authors now than it was five years ago, according to some of the biggest names in the industry.The Black Lives Matter... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2025-03-26 17:06:01 UTC ]
More news stories like this


'Brave' D.C. Episcopal Bishop Inks Two-Book Deals with PRH

Mariann Edgar Budde, the Episcopal bishop of the diocese of Washington, D.C., who urged President Donald Trump to show “mercy” in his second term, has inked deals with two Penguin Random House imprints for books for young people. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2025-03-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Publishers, Nonprofits Raise Funds to Back Freedom to Read, Free Speech

As challenges to free expression show no signs of abating, Penguin Random House and the National Coalition Against Censorship have announced separate fundraising initiatives to counter the threat. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2025-03-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Penguin Random House’s ‘Banned on the Run’ Event: US$10,000

Ahead of the States' National Library Week, Penguin Random House and Sourcebooks open a 'Banned on the Run a fundraising effort. The post Penguin Random House’s ‘Banned on the Run’ Event: US$10,000 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2025-03-26 02:24:13 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The Chinese Children’s Book Market Continues to Evolve and Grow

Chinese children’s publishers are creating original works, quality translations, and tweaking their programs to meet rapid market changes. (Sponsored) Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2025-03-21 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Scholastic Has a Disappointing Third Quarter

Growing consumer caution and uncertainty surrounding federal government support for education resulted in results falling below expectations at the children’s book publisher’s last quarter. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2025-03-21 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The Chinese Children’s Book Market Continues to Evolve and Grow

Chinese children’s publishers are creating original works, quality translations, and tweaking their programs to meet rapid market changes. (Sponsored) Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2025-03-21 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Barbara Marcus to Retire from Random House Children’s Books

Barbara Marcus, one of the most prominent and influential figures in children’s book publishing for decades, will step down as president and publisher of Random House Children’s Books on May 1. She will be succeeded by Mallory Loehr, currently EVP and publisher of the Random House Books for... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2025-03-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


At Bologna: IBBY’s International Children’s Book Day

During Bologna Children's Book Fair, IBBY's annual International Children's Book Day will be observed, this year sponsored by the Netherlands. The post At Bologna: IBBY’s International Children’s Book Day appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2025-03-19 23:32:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Bologna 2025: BCBF Welcomes Guest of Honor Estonia

Estonia will serve as Guest of Honor at the 2025 Bologna Children’s Book Fair, marking the Baltic nation’s first time in this prominent role at the world’s largest children’s publishing event. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2025-03-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Bologna 2025: Expanding the Book Fair Tent

The Bologna Children’s Book Fair, scheduled from March 31 to April 3, will once again bring the book world to Italy as it continues to grow beyond its traditional remit focused on children’s books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2025-03-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Interview: Tori Amos on Her Children’s Book and Her Reading Life

His memoir “Growing Up” depicted her hometown “like a shining city on a hill.” Other authors who mean a lot to the musician (and now childrens’ book writer): Kevyn Aucoin and Hilary Mantel. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2025-03-13 09:00:09 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Draw Me a Controversy: On the Banning of Beloved Children’s Book Author Eric Carle

Spend any time scanning a list of banned books and you’ll find some head-scratchers: picture books challenged for including seemingly gay characters in the background, or describing a difficult moment in history, or revealing a naked goblin butt. Among the most banned picture books of the last... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2025-03-10 08:58:37 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Uri Shulevitz, 89, Acclaimed Children’s Book Author and Illustrator, Dies

A Caldecott Medal winner, he turned childhood memories of fleeing the Nazis in Poland into magical stories. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2025-03-07 19:00:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Open Letter Books Partners with Deep Vellum Publishing

Dallas’s Deep Vellum Publishing will assume publishing, distribution, and marketing responsibilities for Open Letter Books, based at the University of Rochester. Open Letter’s editorial direction remains with founder Chad W. Post. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2025-03-03 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Your Guide To Understanding Children’s Book Categories and Age Groupings

Children’s books fall into six main categories based on age groups and format: board books (ages 0-3), picture books (3-8), ... Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2025-02-20 11:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Bologna Children’s Book Fair’s Evolving Rights Hubs

Bologna's rights-business structure is evolving along with creative industries' growing engagement with book publishing. The post Bologna Children’s Book Fair’s Evolving Rights Hubs appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2025-02-15 01:29:36 UTC ]
More news stories like this