Authors fear the worst if Penguin owner takes over Simon & Schuster

Analysis: if Bertelsmann, owner of Penguin Random House, buys US publisher, writers expect smaller deals and less choice for readersUK watchdog investigates Penguin owner’s Simon & Schuster takeoverJokes circulated online when, in 2013, Penguin and Random House merged: would the new mega-publisher, which became the world’s biggest trade publishing group, be known as Random Penguin? Penguin House? Now, as the prosaically named Penguin Random House’s parent company Bertelsmann’s $2.17bn acquisition of Simon & Schuster comes under scrutiny in the UK, the jokes are fewer and further between.Authors have made it abundantly clear that they fear the fallout if the deal goes ahead. When it was first announced last November, the Authors Guild in the US was quick to register its objections. The acquisition, which would bring heavyweight S&S authors including Hillary Clinton, John Irving, Stephen King and Bob Woodward under the PRH umbrella in the US, would “creat[e] a huge imbalance in the US publishing industry”, it warned, calling on the US justice department to step in. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2021-03-22 23:24:23 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "Authors fear the worst if Penguin owner takes over Simon & Schuster"


Penguin Random House Acquires the UK’ Wonderbly

The 12-year-old UK independent publishing house Wonderbly is to maintain its autonomy as a PRH property. The post Penguin Random House Acquires the UK’ Wonderbly appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2025-06-04 23:12:44 UTC ]
More news stories like this


10 New Nonfiction Book Releases of June 2025

Toni Morrison's time as an editor at Random House, modern Indian recipes, a new memoir by a Palestinian poet, and more. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2025-06-04 11:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


PRH Buys U.K.-Based Wonderbly

The Penguin Random House acquisition machine continues to roll on, with the world’s largest trade publishing announcing it has bought one of the U.K.’s fastest-growing independent publishers, Wonderbly, which has used a direct-to-consumer business model to sell more than 11 million books in 140... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2025-06-04 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Scholastic Combines Its Trade, Fairs, and Clubs Businesses

A day after Ellie Berger announced plans to step down as president of Scholastic Trade Publishing, the publisher has announced the integration of its trade publishing, book fairs, and books clubs businesses into the Scholastic Children’s Book Group under Sasha Quinton as president and Jackie De... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2025-05-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Comics Plus, PRH at Odds Over E-Book Lending Models

Following Random House’s acquisition of Boom! Studios, the comics and graphic novel publisher’s digital catalog is no longer available for unlimited, simultaneous library access—a source of disappointment at digital platform Comics Plus. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2025-05-28 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Publishing in Color Director Urges Inclusion

“God made us diverse, but the publishing industry has been monochromatic,” said Joyce Dinkins, director of the writers conference serving diverse communities in the Christian publishing sector. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2025-05-21 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Spotlight on Audible: Tech Advances and Busy Lives Fuel the Platform's Surge

In a time-crunched world, it’s no surprise that audio is the fastest-growing format in the publishing industry. (Sponsored) Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2025-05-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Right Now Is Publishing’s Time to Shine

The publishing industry is stacked with talent, writes PW editorial director Jonathan Segura. And with all the chaos coming out of Washington, this is the time, he writes, for publishers to make the most of that talent and do their best work. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2025-05-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


In a new lawsuit, the Authors Guild is going toe to toe with DOGE.

This afternoon, the Authors Guild filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. Plaintiffs, which include the guild and an independent group of scholars and writers, are protesting the sudden termination of millions of dollars in individual and institutional humanities grants. The perps on... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2025-05-13 19:09:59 UTC ]
More news stories like this


24 New Books to Read in May: Stephen King, Ocean Vuong, Alison Bechdel and more

Novels by Stephen King and Ocean Vuong, Ron Chernow’s latest blockbuster biography, a new graphic novel by Alison Bechdel and more. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2025-04-30 09:01:09 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Literary Advocates Condemn Florida Book Banning Bill

A coalition of organizations—including the Authors Guild, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and EveryLibrary—has formally opposed Florida House Bill 1539, which would require school districts to remove any book deemed “harmful to minors” within five days of a challenge. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2025-04-24 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Penguin Random House Leads Amicus Brief in LTGBQ+ Books Case

The US high court hears oral arguments as publishing industry parties file an amicus brief, on school exposure to LGBTQ+ themes. The post Penguin Random House Leads Amicus Brief in LTGBQ+ Books Case appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2025-04-22 20:46:03 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Penguin Random House Leads Amicus Brief in LGBTQ+ Books Case

The US high court hears oral arguments as publishing industry parties file an amicus brief, on school exposure to LGBTQ+ themes. The post Penguin Random House Leads Amicus Brief in LGBTQ+ Books Case appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2025-04-22 20:46:03 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Exclusive Cover Reveal of “Little Movements” by Lauren Morrow

Electric Literature is pleased to reveal the cover of Little Movements by Lauren Morrow, which will be published by Random House on September 9, 2025. You can pre-order your copy here. Thirty-something Layla Smart was raised by her mother to dream medium. But all Layla’s ever wanted was a career... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2025-04-17 11:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Meet the designer behind the look of the 21st-century book

In an industry ruled by #BookTok trends, Rodrigo Corral has become the publishing industry’s go-to designer by creating an undefinable style. There’s one big thing about Rodrigo Corral that does not initially make sense: The book cover maestro does not have a signature style.  Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2025-04-09 10:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The Publishing Industry Has a Serious Waste Problem, and It Needs to Stop Now

So many of us are asked about favorite lines from books. I have favorite phrases: for example, “ineluctable modality” garnered from reading Joyce’s Ulysses over 40 years ago. It seems to have relevance in regard to whatever process or system that catches my attention enabling me to think about... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2025-04-09 08:58:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this