Democracy under siege—and the press, too

On Wednesday afternoon, a mob of right-wing extremists and indignant livestreamers stormed the Capitol. Along their path, they left a note to the journalists who were covering the scene, a message that seemed a harrowing extension of a presidency marked by anti-press virulence: etched into a door was the phrase murder the media. It’s hard not to take that seriously—as was noted by Rachael Pacella and Paul W. Gillespie, both journalists who had survived the 2018 mass shooting at the Capital Gazette, in Annapolis, Maryland. And yet, as Masha Gessen wrote for The New Yorker, no one in charge seemed to take the mob seriously enough. The harm done to the press was alarming. All through the afternoon, reporters in Washington photographed rioters kicking, toppling, stomping, and pouring water on their equipment as they yelled “Fuck you, propaganda!” and chanted “CNN sucks.” An AP spokesperson told the New York Times that members of the crowd stole some equipment; a group appeared to be trying to burn it. One person shouted at a couple of Washington Post reporters, “How many more fucking people gotta die? All the lies you’ve told, all this time––that’s what made this happen. A lady died because of your lies!” (That was possibly a reference to Ashli Babbitt, the woman fatally shot by police during the siege.) Yesterday afternoon, the US Press Freedom Tracker said it was investigating several instances of assault, equipment damage, and other mayhem caused by the mob. Hours before... Continue reading at 'Columbia Journalism Review'

[ Columbia Journalism Review | 2021-01-08 13:30:11 UTC ]

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Reidy supports CBS head Moonves following sexual misconduct allegations

Simon & Schuster US president and c.e.o. Carolyn Reidy has spoken out in support of CBS head Leslie Moonves, following multiple allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google and Facebook are strangling the free press to death. Democracy is the loser | Barry Lynn

As gatekeepers to the news, Google and Facebook pose dangers to even the most successful outlets. Legislators need to speed the process of bringing them to heelAfter Europe’s top monopoly buster Margrethe Vestager fined Google more than $5bn for abusing its dominance over mobile phone... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-07-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Richard and Judy recommend 200th novel with W H Smith

Simon & Schuster and Pan Macmillan have scored two titles each on the next Richard and Judy Book Club with W H Smith. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In the age of Trump, ignore women's magazines at your own peril

No one can predict with certainty the direction of women's magazines, which have struggled to maintain print circulation as newsstand sales continue to fall. But if you're placing bets on a strategy that might help them flourish, look no further than Samantha Barry, the 36-year-old woman who is... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2018-07-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Industry Notes: Germany’s De Gruyter Buys Düsseldorf; S&S Distributes Skyhorse

The 10-year-old Düsseldorf University Press is acquired by Berlin's De Gruyter, while a US independent publisher of Mo Yan and Octavio Paz is to be distributed by Simon & Schuster.  The post Industry Notes: Germany’s De Gruyter Buys Düsseldorf; S&S Distributes Skyhorse appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-07-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book by rising Democratic star Kamala Harris coming in 2019

Sen. Kamala Harris of California, a rising star in the Democratic Party who is sometimes cited as a possible presidential contender in 2020, has a book deal. Penguin Press announced Tuesday that Harris' "The Truths We Hold: An American Journey" will come out Jan. 8. According to Penguin, Harris... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-07-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Unagented former teacher wins 'up-lit' book deal with Ebury

An unagented former primary school teacher-turned academic Jane O’Connor has signed a world rights deal with Ebury Press for her “quirky, charming” up-lit novel. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Industry Notes: Simon & Schuster’s New Book Club; GraphicAudio Plans Audiobook Tie-Ins

In a new direct-to-consumer curated outreach effort, Simon & Schuster will promote content across all its imprints. And Privateer's games are the basis for new GraphicAudio audiobooks. The post Industry Notes: Simon & Schuster’s New Book Club; GraphicAudio Plans Audiobook Tie-Ins... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-06-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Copyright and piracy explored at IPA Nigeria seminar

The threat to copyright, and thereby to African publishers, posed by "big tech" was raised by International Publishers Association President Michiel Kolman at the IPA’s first seminar on African publishing held in Lagos, Nigeria. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Q&A: Former Times critic Robert Hilburn on writing about Paul Simon and the struggle to protect art

Pop music writer Randy Lewis and pop music critic Robert Hilburn worked together at The Times for a quarter-century before Hilburn retired in 2006. They sat down recently to talk about Hilburn’s latest book, “Paul Simon — The Life,” to be published by Simon & Schuster on Tuesday, just ahead... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Junot Diaz #MeToo Accusations Surface

A number of authors have taken to Twitter to accuse Junot Díaz, author of the Pulitzer Prize–winning novel 'The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao,' of sexual harassment and other misconduct. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-05-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S Has Earnings Gain in Q1

A 43% increase in digital audio sales in the first quarter of 2018 helped lift earnings 7% at Simon & Schuster over the first period in 2017. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-05-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Librarian wins £10k Cheltenham Literature Festival First Novel competition

A Bristol librarian has won the inaugural Cheltenham Literature Festival First Novel competition with her “clever, pulsing story”, scooping a book deal with Borough Press. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BookExpo Announces CEO Panel and Copyright Roundtable

BookExpo announced two panels that will be held at its forthcoming trade show featuring a number of industry CEOs and leaders, including the top executives at Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster and Macmillan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-04-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Malala's father strikes memoir deals in multiple territories

Malala Yousafzai’s dad, Ziauddin Yousafzai, has signed a book deal with Penguin Random House UK imprint WH Allen. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Judith Curr joins HarperCollins US

Judith Curr, formerly president and publisher of Simon & Schuster's Atria Publishing Group, is joining HarperCollins as president and publisher of HarperOne, Amistad, and Rayo. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Russo Retires from S&S

Seth Russo, v-p and director of international sales at Simon & Schuster, will retire from the publisher. His retirement takes effect on April 20 at which point Colin Shields will step into Russo's role. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S Shuts Crimson Romance

The digital imprint, acquired as part of Simon & Schuster’s purchase of Adams Media in 2016, is being closed, the publisher said, due to “changing consumer reading habits." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-03-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lemony Snicket cancels graduation speech amid harassment allegations

US children’s author Daniel Handler, who writes under the pen name Lemony Snicket, has cancelled a speech he was due to give at a graduation ceremony amid allegations of sexual harassment. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Karp Tapped as New Head of S&S Adult Trade Publishing

Simon & Schuster has appointed Jonathan Karp president and publisher of its adult publishing group. In his new role, Karp will oversee the house's New York-based adult trade imprints: Atria Books, Gallery Books, Scribner, Simon & Schuster and Touchstone. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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