Every critic knows that readers love a spirited hatchet job, whether or not the author being chopped is one whose work they’ve hated—or even read. Much of the public seems to possess an ambient belief that the literary world is filled with frauds and self-styled geniuses whose reputations have been propped up by venal publishers and the reviewers who toady up to them. In this light, anyone who dares to challenge the allegedly phony consensus by ripping apart one of the unjustly elect gets hailed as a hero. Every so often, a particularly harsh review will prompt an outcry; recently this happened after William Giraldi’s slashing, in the New York Times Book Review, of two books by the relatively unknown novelist, Alix Ohlin, whom he damned for embracing “the bland earnestness of realism.” But Ohlin was small fry, and much of the outrage Giraldi’s review ignited—he was accused on Twitter of failing to perform a critic’s basic duties and of producing a “pretentious, vicious and self-regarding” piece of work, among other offenses—seemed to arise from the sense that he was an insufferable blowhard while she was nice, or at the very least, harmless. Continue reading at 'Slate'
[ Slate | 2017-09-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
Proposed cuts to Sheffield’s libraries will be debated in the city after 10,000 people... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In his last column, Brian Kenney did a good and fair job of outlining the Douglas County Libraries ebook model, in which we host and manage our own digital content. Yet, his conclusion was a little puzzling. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-03-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Quarto has revealed plans to cut debt by divesting of businesses "detracting from... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Today more than ever publishers are looking for ways to save time and money in production. There are several obvious measures that can reduce cost and increase margins, however some solutions can be so sweeping that they jeopardize the integrity of the title, which in turn could tarnish your... Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2013-03-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Time Inc., the publisher of magazines including Time and Sports Illustrated, has begun eliminating about 6% of its head count—nearly 500 jobs—in the biggest round of cuts at the company since 2008."With the significant and ongoing changes in our industry, we must continue to transform our... Continue reading at Crains New York
[ Crains New York | 2013-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Seven Stories, the national centre for children's books, is making a final push to galvanise... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The staff of Westminster libraries have written an open letter to their council bosses, urging... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Canadians have had to be content with a form of Kindle Store limbo until now. They could buy Kindle ebooks, but they've had to rely on a US-centric portal that scarcely acknowledges their literary tradition. As of this weekend, they don't have to cross the virtual border: Amazon Canada now has... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2012-12-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Children's book publisher Scholastic Corp. slashed its 2013 profit guidance and said revenue will be $1 billion lower than expected because schools are spending money on curriculum and holding back on orders, fearing federal spending cuts. Shares fell $6.34, or 20%, to $25.50 in light... Continue reading at Crains New York
[ Crains New York | 2012-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon lowered the price of its Japanese Kindle Paperwhite to 100 dollars, matching the price of the recently announced Kobo Glo, while Sony's ebookstore is again on iOS. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-11-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Maxim magazine is cutting the paid circulation it guarantees advertisers from 2.5 million to 2 million next year, a 20% drop, and reducing its publishing frequency to 10 issues next year from 11 this year. Last year Maxim published 12 issues. Maxim President Ben Madden said the magazine... Continue reading at Crains New York
[ Crains New York | 2012-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Children's Laureate Julia Donaldson has spoken out in support of libraries, arguing that it... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-09-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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#library cuts
European publishers are looking into the opportunities a free trade agreement between the... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The struggling conglomerate, which has a 30 percent market share in Australia, publishes The Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian Financial Review and The Age in Melbourne. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2012-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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While 2011 saw fewer announcements of layoffs and buyouts in the newspaper industry than previous years, attrition continued quietly and relentlessly, with the nation’s biggest newspaper publishers trimming their combined work forces by 7.2 ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher
[ Editor & Publisher | 2012-04-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Discoverability, a new "format war", pricing, the growing importance of the education... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-03-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Mecom is set to announce that it is to cut more than 10% of the workforce at its flagship Dutch newspaper publishing business, in excess of 300 jobs, as part of a plan to digitally restructure its business and save €70m (£59m). Tom ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher
[ Editor & Publisher | 2012-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Former children's laureate Anne Fine has condemned plans to cut Durham library services,... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-02-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Keeping pace with the dramatic changes on the smartphone and tablet front is no small feat for any publisher, but doing so presents a particular challenge for smaller companies without a safety net of funds for experimentation with platforms that are at once in their infancy and yet increasingly... Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2012-01-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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