Diversity in publishing – still hideously middle-class and white?

Two years ago, we called publishers to account for the glaring lack of diversity in the industry. Pledges were made and initiatives set up. Have things improved?Find out about the new projects to encourage inclusivity in the book businessIn December 2015, British publishing stood accused of woeful blindness to diversity, and not for the first time, after World Book Night (WBN) announced its titles, and none of the 15 books was by a writer of colour. An apology was issued by organisers but a wider malaise had already set in, and along with it, the troubling feeling that WBN’s oversight was less an isolated incident and more a recurring pattern of exclusion that stretched across the literary establishment.A report on the state of the books industry had been published earlier that year by the development agency Spread the Word, which drew attention to how intransigently white, middle-class (and further up the ladder, male) it remained, from literary festivals and prizes to publications and personnel. Then, last autumn, there was more embarrassing exposure when World Book Day – which focuses on children’s titles – issued its own all-white book list and an independent publisher flagged up the fact that only one black, British male debut novelist had been published in 2016. Earlier this year, there was talk of a boycott when the Carnegie medal for children’s literature revealed its all-white longlist. Related: Only 4.8% of TV writers are black. As one of them, I know the system... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2017-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #literary festivals #carnegie medal #tv writers #bame writers

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UK Publishers’ 2018 Diversity Report: ‘More Needs To Be Done’

The Publishers Association's second annual diversity survey found that racial and ethnic criteria were where progress is slowest in the UK industry. The post UK Publishers’ 2018 Diversity Report: ‘More Needs To Be Done’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-01-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Futurebook: Shelley urges against 'complacency' in publishing on diversity

Hachette chief executive David Shelley has called for greater strides in inclusion and diversity in his Futurebook keynote. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New Internationalist to publish Middle East journalist Matthew Teller

New Internationalist has bought a title about the Old City of Jerusalem by reporter and Middle East specialist Matthew Teller. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Diverse Louisville teens come together to publish book on shared struggles

As part of the Louisville Story Program, Iroquois High School students in Louisville, Ky., hailing from Cuba, Pakistan, Iraq, Africa, and the United States collaborated on a book of personal essays. The result? A book filled with stories of love, fear, and triumph.  Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2018-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishing in Québec 2018: Middle Grade and YA Lit from Québec

The YA scene in Québec today, says literary translator Arielle Aaronson, is grounded in strong characters and good old-fashioned storytelling. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Non-fiction and middle grade the growth areas for children’s publishing

Children’s independents say they are seeing growth in the market, particularly in non-fiction and middle grade. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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North of England publishers on obstacles to regional diversity in the book industry

Independent publishers based in the north of England explore the problems faced by such presses in a market dominated by London-based corporate publishers in a round-table discussion chaired by The Bookseller at Bradford Literature Festival. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lionel Shriver dismissed as contest judge after her dismissive comments about diversity in publishing

Writer Lionel Shriver, best known for her novel “We Need To Talk About Kevin,” has lost her spot as a judge for a writing contest after she published a column in the Spectator mocking a diversity drive in Britain’s division of Penguin Random House. Shriver was responding to an email she’d seen,... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-06-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publisher defends diversity drive after Lionel Shriver's attack

Penguin Random House has responded to the novelist’s criticisms, saying it aims to ‘reflect the society in which we live’Lionel Shriver’s blistering assertion that, “drunk on virtue”, Penguin Random House is putting diversity ahead of literary excellence has been dismissed by the publisher,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Report finds £23k 'class pay gap' in publishing

A report slamming representation in the arts has highlighted a "class pay gap" in publishing of up to £23,000 a year and found that people of working class origins make up just 12.6% of the sector. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Canongate to publish Think Like a White Man

Canongate has snapped up the "definitive self-help gospel on how to understand, overcome and overthrow the White Man", by Penguin WriteNow graduate Nels Abbey. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hybrid Publishing, Diversity of Voices Focus at IBPA Conference

The growth of hybrid publishing and the diversity of voices independent presses bring to publishing were among the topics at this year's IBPA Publishing University. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-04-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bologna 2018: Middle Grade Fiction and Diverse Titles Remain Hot

At this year's Bologna Book Fair, scouts and agents said middle grade fiction remains hot, and the political upheaval in the United States is driving a global interest in titles, both fiction and nonfiction, that speak to this tumultuous moment. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Romance so white? Publishers grapple with race issues amid author protests

New report exposes decline in diversity in romance writing, as editor resigns after telling author they avoid putting non-white characters on covers ‘because we like the book to sell’Readers, writers and editors of romance books are grappling with the genre’s record on diversity, after a week... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-03-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Political class has 'sold out' on Brexit, Clarke tells publishers

The entire political class has "sold out" on Brexit, Ken Clarke MP has told delegates to the IPG Conference, as he discussed the government's current "astonishing and complex" task in negotiating a new relationship with the European Union and rest of the world. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishing Perspectives’ Spring Magazine: Call for Stories on Diversity

With challenges to so many voices becoming shrill in so many markets, Publishing Perspectives' Spring Global Overview Edition will spotlight the book industry's champions of diversity and efforts to promote it. The post Publishing Perspectives’ Spring Magazine: Call for Stories on Diversity... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-02-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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White Lion Publishing: Quarto Announces Reorganization of Its UK-Based Trade Imprints

With an aim of 'breaking down silos and embracing new ways of communicating with our target readers,' The Quarto Group consolidates three imprints into one master entity headed by Richard Green. The post White Lion Publishing: Quarto Announces Reorganization of Its UK-Based Trade Imprints... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-01-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New Conferences Aim to Bring Diversity to Religion Publishing

Brian Allain, director of the Frederick Buechner Center, is launching a new series of conferences for under-represented groups of spiritual authors such as African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-01-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Good Agency wins major grant to boost diversity in publishing

The £580,000 Arts Council England funding will support new initiative to find and develop black and minority ethnic, disabled and LGBTQ writersA new literary agency, which aims to discover “the next generation of diverse writers” and “blow open the pipeline” for them, is being launched by the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-12-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Weldon 'sick' at lack of working class people in publishing

Penguin Random House chief executive Tom Weldon has urged the industry to respond to the "really urgent commercial imperative" of reflecting working class experiences in books. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-11-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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