Diversity needs unions

In response to the discussions around the #PublishingPaidMe and #BookJobTransparency hashtags, and the open letter from the Black Writers’ Guild, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Book Branch recognises that these problems are not new and will not be fixed without ambitious, far-reaching changes to the industry. Continue reading at 'The Bookseller'

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-25 09:04:37 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "Diversity needs unions"


Poetry Foundation Responds to Criticism, Pledges Action

The staff and board of the Poetry Foundation said in an open letter that they are committed to "ongoing action in response to the call to dismantle white supremacy." The pledge came after an open letter highly critical of the Foundation's past treatment of marginalized was released and led to... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-06-15 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Black Writers' Guild tells UK publishing how to get its own house in order

The Black Writers' Guild has issued an open letter, signed by writers including Dorothy Koomson, Malorie Blackman, Candice Carty-Williams, David Olusoga and Bernardine Evaristo, telling British publishers it is "deeply concerned" they are "raising awareness of racial inequality without... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-14 19:50:25 UTC ]
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The arts world is facing a fierce reckoning about diversity. But is it too late? | Arwa Mahdawi

A scandal has exposed massive pay disparities in publishing and journalism. But the information may not help muchThe writer Chip Cheek got paid an $800,000 advance for his erotic debut novel, Cape May. Good for him, right? Even he, however, admits he was shocked by the figure. “But I’m more... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-06-12 09:30:18 UTC ]
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Black US authors top New York Times bestseller list as protests continue

Michelle Alexander and Ijeoma Oluo among those on list, marking first time top 10 entries are primarily titles on race issuesGeorge Floyd killing – latest US updatesBlack American authors, including Michelle Alexander and Ijeoma Oluo, have surged to the top of the latest New York Times’... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-06-11 18:10:43 UTC ]
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"Do better, publishing people": an open letter to the industry

I have to start by admitting that when I began writing this letter last week, I was boiling mad and ready to take everyone on. Now, in its tenth or twentieth draft (I don’t know which) I’m still boiling mad, but most of your gaslighting social media posts that sent me over the edge have gone, so... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-10 12:34:21 UTC ]
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Dorothy Koomson: 'publishing is a hostile environment for Black authors'

Author Dorothy Koomson has written an open letter to the publishing industry, in which she describes it as a “hostile environment for Black authors”.   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-10 06:37:48 UTC ]
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Authors Push for Transparency with #PublishingPaidMe

A new hashtag campaign aims to highlight the disparity in book advances between white and black authors and has garnered well over 1,000 submissions. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-06-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Poets Call for Change at Poetry Foundation

An open letter to the Poetry Foundation signed by more than 1,800 individuals issued in response to the organization's recent statement on the killing of George Floyd and other current events calls for significant change at the organization, including the resignations of its president and board... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-06-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
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This year’s Desmond Elliott shortlist features all black writers.

The Desmond Elliott Prize is awarded annually to a writer whose first novel is written in English and published in the UK. Since 2007, it has supported and heralded new writers; the honor comes with a £10,000 prize. It’s heartening to see, especially right now, that this year the Desmond Elliott... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-06-02 17:58:53 UTC ]
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Weird, Funny, Delicious Books Wanted: A Conversation with Emma Ramadan, by Veronica Esposito

Interviews Veronica Esposito Emma Ramadan is a literary translator based in Providence, Rhode Island, where she is the co-owner of Riffraff, a bookstore and bar. She is the recipient of an NEA Translation Fellowship, a PEN/Heim grant, and a Fulbright... Continue reading at World Literature Today

[ World Literature Today | 2020-05-18 18:20:27 UTC ]
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PubWest to Amazon: Publishing Needs Your Help

PubWest has published an open letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos asking him to support independent publishers by placing a moratorium on certain fees and by making books more of a priority for shipping as soon as possible. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-30 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Italy's AIE asks for delay on new discount limits

Over 200 publishers and publishing imprints in Italy’s Publishers Association (the Associazione Italiana Editori or AIE) have signed an open letter to the country’s government, asking it to delay the implementation of controversial new rules on book discounting, and citing the coronavirus... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-02-25 20:35:16 UTC ]
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Springer Nature points out problems with cOAlition S transformative journals plan

In an open letter sent today (Tuesday 17th December) to research funder consortium cOAlition S, Springer Nature has urged the coalition to make amendments to its proposed framework on transformative journals, currently out for consultation. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-16 23:07:57 UTC ]
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Macmillan CEO John Sargent: 'We're not Trying to Hurt Libraries'

In an open letter to librarians published this week, Macmillan CEO John Sargent struck a somewhat conciliatory note over the issue of embargoing e-books to libraries, but his message remains unchanged: library lending of e-books pose a problem. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-30 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Vice UK staff unionise and urge other online media to follow suit

Move comes after four months of discussions and previous attempt three years agoVice UK has become one of the first British digital media publications to unionise, with staff urging other online-only media outlets to follow their lead while the industry is in turmoil amid financial struggles and... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2019-07-25 17:53:06 UTC ]
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Boris Johnson urged to support creative industries in open letter

Boris Johnson has been urged to support a second EU referendum rather than a no-deal Brexit in order to support the UK's creative industries and protect the sector's public investment, just hours after he was elected leader of the Conservative Party.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-23 11:05:44 UTC ]
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'We choose Europe': Pullman and Gaiman condemn Brexit in open letter

Almost 90 UK authors including Robert Harris, Neil Gaiman, John le Carré and Philip Pullman, have condemned Brexit in an open letter urging people to vote in tomorrow's European Parliament elections.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-05-22 12:21:59 UTC ]
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London Book Fair 2019: Four Questions for...Chad Post

What’s the state of the U.S. market for literature in translation? Ahead of the 2019 London Book Fair, PW caught up with Open Letter and Three Percent founder Chad Post to get a glimpse at where things stand. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Will the watchdog dare dismiss this impartiality case against Newsquest? | Roy Greenslade

The NUJ’s complaint has echoes of a 1975 case, and goes to the heart of arguments about press freedomJournalists often get upset about their bosses. It goes with the territory. What is unusual, however, is the decision by staff at the Cumberland News to make a formal complaint about their... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-12-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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