Essence Denies Toxic Workplace Allegations After Anonymous Call for Resignations

As it marks its 50th anniversary this month amid a multi-weekend, virtual edition of its annual music and culture festival, Essence finds itself on the defensive, refuting allegations of a toxic work environment rife with corporate bullying, intimidation and pay inequity made in an anonymous letter released Sunday, which called for the resignations of several of the magazine's executives. Purportedly written by current and/or former staffers who said they withheld their identities for fear of retaliation, the letter, titled "The Truth About Essence," accused CEO and owner Richelieu Dennis and other senior executives of fostering an "extremely unhealthy work culture" at the publication, which they said upheld a "longstanding pattern of gross mistreatment and abuse of its Black female employees," which make up over 80% of Essence's workforce. "The testimonies on Twitter and Instagram by a mighty chorus of brave Black women uncovered the racial bias and discrimination in America’s white-owned mass media organizations. This led to resignations followed by recent corporate promises to do better," the letter stated. "But Black women at Essence have been forced to remain silent. We fear cannibalizing the public narrative for Black Lives Matter and civil rights 2.0. We also fear losing our jobs or being banished from Black cultural spaces." The letter detailed a litany of alleged transgressions by management, including "tactical bullying" and "malignant and histrionic... Continue reading at 'Folio Magazine'

[ Folio Magazine | 2020-06-30 17:51:48 UTC ]
News tagged with: #cancel culture #sexual misconduct

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The Morning After: Senator calls for an end to ‘failed Big Tech self-regulation’

Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts is calling on Congress to pass new legislation to rein in tech companies after Twitter boss Elon Musk ignored an information request. “Elon Musk could respond to my tweets but failed to respond to my letter by yesterday’s deadline and answer basic questions... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-11-28 12:15:18 UTC ]
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Chris Dore resigns as editor-in-chief of the Australian blaming ‘personal health issues’

Dore tells staff he is ‘exhausted’ and is leaving News Corp Australia to ‘concentrate on restoring my health’Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe editor-in-chief of the Australian, Chris Dore, has resigned suddenly, citing “personal health issues”.The... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-11-16 07:28:50 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #news corp #free app #company declined #chris dore


Publishing professionals are calling for PRH to reconsider Amy Coney Barrett’s book.

The Big Five publishers have a history of both publishing and distributing books by people who not only hold abhorrent beliefs, but who wield those beliefs to destroy the rights of people across the world—so it’s no surprise that Sentinel, the conservative Penguin Random House imprint, is... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-10-25 14:43:59 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #penguin random house #distributing books #publishing professionals


Z2 Comics Names New Leadership Team Following Resignation of CEO

Z2 Comics, an indie graphic novel publisher specializing in music and pop culture merchandise, announced that its founder and CEO Josh Frankel has left the company, and a new leadership team has been appointed. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-10-17 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #graphic novel #publisher specializing #indie graphic #z2 comics #leadership team


Josh Hawley, the man who fled from danger of his own making, wrote a book called Manhood.

It was announced yesterday that Josh Hawley, the senator from Missouri who will always be remembered for fleeing the very crowd he’d recently egged on with a fist, has written a book called Manhood.* The book, to be published by Regnery, purports to call on “American men to stand up and embrace... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-09-09 14:22:03 UTC ]
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Area man named Bob Jablonski returns library book called Hitler 77 years overdue.

A New Jersey man named Bob Jablonski has finally returned Hitler to the local library. No, this is not The Onion. Bob Jablonski checked out the 1936 biography of Adolph Hitler in 1947, for a school book report, and presumably kept it all these years just to make sure the Allies had truly won... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-09-02 14:55:57 UTC ]
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How Neuroscience Can Build a Better Workplace: Spotlight on Friederike Fabritius

In The Brain-Friendly Workplace, Fabritius details how neuroleadership can help companies retain top talent, improve the workplace, and help create better work-life balance for all employees. (Sponsored) Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-08-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Coffee House Press Publisher Anitra Budd Resigns

After less than a year in the role, Anitra Budd has resigned as publisher of Coffee House Press. Budd, who had held a number of roles at the press, said on Twitter she was proud of what she and her team accomplished at Coffee House. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-08-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Movie Alert: 'Catherine Called Birdy'

Medieval mishaps and smarmy suitors are afoot in the upcoming film adaptation of 'Catherine Called Birdy,' based on the 1994 Newbery Honor-winning novel by Karen Cushman. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-08-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Poison pens: leading writers call for overhaul of UK’s Society of Authors

Literary world riven by conflict as trade union is accused of inappropriately taking sides in culture warIt is a literary row that threatens to consume the very organisation set up to protect authors’ rights. And, in spite of the involvement of three prominent names in children’s books, it has... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-08-21 09:00:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #literary world #management committee #cast members #dark materials #philip pullman #jk rowling #trade union #protect authors


Rushdie Attack: IPA Calls for ‘Redoubling Our Commitment’

As Salman Rushdie struggles with his injuries, the world publishing industry demands protection for the freedom to publish. The post Rushdie Attack: IPA Calls for ‘Redoubling Our Commitment’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-08-15 14:59:48 UTC ]
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What it was like asking for Salman Rushdie’s work in a Pakistan bookshop | Anonymous

As an aspiring writer I loved many exiled authors, from Márquez to Kundera, but with Rushdie the stakes were raisedIt was more than a decade ago when I was introduced to the work of Salman Rushdie, thanks to the recommendation of a writer in my homeland of Pakistan. As an aspiring writer myself,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-08-14 14:47:31 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #bookshop #decade ago #aspiring writer #salman rushdie


'iCarly' alum Jennette McCurdy alleges Nickelodeon offered her hush money

'iCarly' and 'Sam & Cat' star Jennette McCurdy says in her new memoir that Nickelodeon offered her $300,000 not to talk about her experiences there. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-08-06 01:42:15 UTC ]
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International Literature Festival Berlin Calls for a Day of Ukrainian Readings

International Literature Festival Berlin's day of Ukrainian readings is scheduled for August 7, the festival's opening date. The post International Literature Festival Berlin Calls for a Day of Ukrainian Readings appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-07-27 18:08:34 UTC ]
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Alleged book thief Filippo Bernardini may avoid trial in the US

The Simon & Schuster employee is accused of masterminding a phishing scam to obtain manuscripts from top authors The man charged by the FBI with stealing hundreds of book manuscripts may not face trial, under an agreement between prosecutors and his lawyers.Filippo Bernardini, an Italian... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-07-14 11:21:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #book manuscripts #man charged #top authors #phishing scam #filippo bernardini


Frankfurter Buchmesse and the Börsenverein Join Calls to Protect Ragıp Zarakolu and Other Exiles

Germany's Börsenverein and Frankfurter Buchmesse 'condemn Erdogan's swap deal,' calling on Sweden and Finland 'to stand their ground.' The post Frankfurter Buchmesse and the Börsenverein Join Calls to Protect Ragıp Zarakolu and Other Exiles appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-07-07 18:59:15 UTC ]
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Families of residents who may have been abused at Winnipeg care home disgusted by allegations

Families of people who live in a privately owned Winnipeg personal care home want to know why two care aides were allowed to work for months after allegations were brought forward that they had abused 15 residents. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2022-06-22 20:00:25 UTC ]
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Liberation is having a space to call your own. L.A.'s Reparations Club proves it

For founder and owner Jazzi McGilbert, the concept bookshop and creative space is a physical offering for Black people in L.A. to be themselves. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-06-17 19:58:19 UTC ]
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Seven Seas Calls for Union Election

Seven Seas Entertainment has alerted the National Labor Relations Board that it has chosen to hold an election among its employees to decide whether the staff will unionize. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-05-31 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Colleague feared Craig McLachlan could take his own life after articles alleging harassment, court hears

Rocky Horror Show actor tells defamation trial McLachlan looked ‘very frail’ and ‘in shock’ the day ABC and Fairfax reports were publishedGet our free news app; get our morning email briefingAn actor involved in the production of The Rocky Horror Show has told the New South Wales supreme court... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-05-17 06:54:30 UTC ]
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