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 ]
News tagged with: #uk publishing #open letter #guardian reported #lead character #natalie jerome #literature wales #children’s book #penguin random house #major publishing #literary agent

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


Reflections on Self-Publishing Ayn Rand in Germany

Kai John spent his life savings to buy the rights to Atlas Shrugged and have it retranslated into German. Here, he reflects on his decision and its reception. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #atlas shrugged


Book Awards, the German Self-Publishing Way

Epubli, the Holtzbrinck-owned German self-publishing platform, reflects on its methods and motivations for running a book prize suitable for the 21st century. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book awards #german self-publishing #21st century


Digital Publishing Demonstrates Its Worth During Hurricane Sandy

The practice of digital journalism was both tested and proved yesterday as Hurricane/Super Storm Sandy bore down on the East Coast during an unforgettable night for millions of Americans. While digital media outlets have been dutifully covering the storm for days, several prominent New... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2012-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #relentless pursuit #breaking news #wide audience


Paywall Startup Tinypass Adds Metered Subscriptions for Small Publishers

New York-based startup Tinypass, which helps small publishers and content creators charge for content online through existing platforms like Google, is rolling out metered content options to all of its clients. Tinypass, which signed up its first f ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2012-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #small publishers #content online #existing platforms


Nook goes on sale in UK

Barnes & Noble's Nook e-readers, the Nook Simple Touch and Nook Simple Touch GlowLight,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #nook e-readers #barnes noble


PSA: Nook Simple Touch and Simple Touch with Glowlight go on sale in the UK

Barnes & Noble's arrival in the UK has been so well-telegraphed, you might be surprised to learn that today's the day the units actually launch. You'll be able to pick up a Nook Simple Touch or awkwardly-titled Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight from retailers such as John Lewis, Sainsbury's... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2012-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uk site #barnes noble #john lewis


A Publisher's Dream: Never Overprint Again: Digital Printing in 2012

For decades, large and small publishers alike have wrestled with one simple but crucial question about their books, on which success and failure often hang in the balance: How many copies should we print? Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital printing


Self-published books triple in production since 2006

Self-published books make up 43 percent of the print titles released in 2011 and helped to drive the first growth in print production since 2007, according to a new study from Bowker. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Penguin and Random House: Will they combine to form the world's biggest publisher?

Pearson, the owner of Penguin, and Bertelsmann, Random House's parent company, are currently in discussions to merge the two companies. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #random house #biggest publisher


Windows 8 Offers Publishers a New App Platform to Deliver Content

Today, Microsoft launched its newest PC and tablet operating system–Windows 8. The latest installment of Windows will feature app-based capabilities, and offer users the ability to purchase and download apps from the Windows Store. To coincide with the launch, Condé Nast, Bonnier and Northern... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2012-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #deliver content #latest installment #northern shell #operating system


Self-Publishing Rules the EBM at Indies

When On Demand Books introduced its Espresso Book Machine to the U.S. book trade in 2008 by installing a beta model at Northshire Books in Manchester Center, Vt., the company promoted it as a tool for printing backlist titles and books in the public domain, as well as for authors who wanted to... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book trade #public domain


Genre-Busting Trends in the UK

Ahead of the Frankfurt Book Fair, UK publishers anticipated a boom in genre titles and enhanced digital competition. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Cruise sues magazine publisher

An attorney for Tom Cruise said he filed a US$50 million defamation lawsuit Wednesday against the publishers of Life & Style magazine for articles that said the actor has abandoned his 6-year-old daughter, Suri. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2012-10-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tom cruise


E.L. Doctorow, Michael Henry Heim Honored in 2012 PEN Literary Awards

E.L. Doctorow, Michael Henry Heim and many other poets, authors and translators were given awards and honored during the 2012 PEN Literary Awards. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-10-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Confronting the Big Issues in Indian Publishing

A lack of trained professionals, of distribution channels for books, of good infrastructure, and piracy plague Indian publishers, but a dialogue for change has begun. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #big issues #indian publishing #distribution channels


India vs. China? To Publishers, India Wins

A rising middle class, looser regulations and ebook growth puts India ahead of China on many publishers agendas, says OUP's group strategist. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Shifting Strategies Lead to Success for US Small Publishers

At the Frankfurt Book Fair this year, representatives from a number of indie publishers demonstrated the impact they are having on the industry as a whole. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-10-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #small publishers


Amazon 'charging publishers 20% for ebook VAT'

Amazon is forcing publishers to start negotiations over ebook prices exclusive of the full 20%... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook vat #forcing publishers


Publishers must engage with children's book buyers

The recommendations of friends was the top driver behind children's discovery of new titles,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book buyers


Publishers look for author 'staying power'

Publishers are still prepared to pay good money up front for the right books, agents have told... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #staying power