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 ]
Penguin Random House owner Bertelsmann has reported a first quarter revenue decline of 2.7% in what it said was a “satisfactory” performance given the challenge of Covid-19. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-04-29 16:46:13 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House has launched a collaboration with charity Speakers for Schools delivering a series of virtual educational events from its authors, streaming to thousands of students across the UK. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-04-23 20:41:22 UTC ]
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Judge famous for ruling against Boris Johnson will recount how ‘a little girl from North Yorkshire became the most senior judge in the UK’ Lady Hale, who presided over the momentous decision to rule Boris Johnson’s prorogation of parliament unlawful, is set to write her memoirs, of how “a little... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2020-04-23 14:06:04 UTC ]
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Fundraiser for retailers facing hardship during the coronavirus pandemic reveals that benefactor is internet giant widely blamed for trade’s declineAmazon, the internet retail giant vilified for years as public enemy No 1 to booksellers, has been revealed as the surprise mystery benefactor that... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2020-04-23 11:37:33 UTC ]
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On “Mondays With Michelle Obama,” which begins today at 12pm EST, and will run from through May 11, the former first lady will livestream a reading of a classic children’s book as part of the PBS Kids Read-Along series. She joins an ever-expanding pool of celebrities reading books for kids... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-04-20 14:10:58 UTC ]
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Aspiring writers and directors now have a rare chance to impress producers and publishers with time on their handsCameras have stopped rolling, book launches are postponed and actors are all “resting”. It looks as if nothing is moving in the world of entertainment and storytelling, yet from... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2020-04-18 13:05:09 UTC ]
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Former First Lady Michelle Obama will be reading children's books in a weekly series of videos for Penguin Random House and PBS Kids through May 11. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2020-04-17 20:08:16 UTC ]
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As quarantine continues, we’re all noticing that we respond to lockdown differently. While many spend each day providing care, food and other necessities, those of us privileged enough to be 'stuck at home' are seeing our friends’ and family members’ behaviour change under the new... Continue reading at British Council global
[ British Council global | 2020-04-17 15:42:05 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House UK is the latest U.K. publisher to take cost out of the business in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-04-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House UK has revealed it is furloughing "some" of its staff across the business, extending to staffers in its London office. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-04-06 23:18:38 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial Mexico has shifted to teleworking and added new digital workflows, and is offering online classes prioritizing the sales of e-books, much for the first time. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-04-03 04:00:00 UTC ]
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There are no shortage of celebrities who’ve been using social media to read to children and fundraise for some of the kids most affected by the impact of COVID-19. Another luminous star (and her daughter) are next in line: Mary Poppins herself, Dame Julie Andrews, plans to launch a... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-04-02 21:15:26 UTC ]
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The American Booksellers Association announced that it will postpone Children’s Institute, its annual conference of children’s book publishers, authors, and retailers, until 2021. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-04-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
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For what seems like since time immemorial, Penguin Random House Children's has been by far the biggest beast in British kids' publishing. That might have changed this morning with HarperCollins' announcement that it will acquire Egmont UK, plus Egmont’s Polish and German children’s book... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-04-02 02:11:04 UTC ]
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PubWest has published an open letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos asking him to support independent publishers by placing a moratorium on certain fees and by making books more of a priority for shipping as soon as possible. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-30 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Literary agent Simon Trewin has partnered with Writing.ie – a resource site for unpublished authors – to launch a weekly one-hour show on Facebook Live. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-27 16:09:51 UTC ]
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Shannon Marchese, formerly executive editor at Penguin Random House imprints Waterbrook & Multnomah and Convergent, has been hired as v-p, publisher of Tommy Nelson, Thomas Nelson’s children’s imprint. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-27 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House UK c.e.o. Tom Weldon says the company is actively seeking ways of helping struggling booksellers during the coronavirus lockdown. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-26 21:42:26 UTC ]
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A crowdfunder set up by the trade to raise money for booksellers affected by the Covid-19 pandemic has increased its target to £100,000 after Penguin Random House and the Booksellers Association pledged support. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-25 19:31:47 UTC ]
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Niki Chang is leaving The Good Literary Agency (TLGA) to join David Higham Associates (DHA) in April as a literary agent. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-24 09:01:20 UTC ]
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