‘If publishers become afraid, we’re in trouble’: publishing’s cancel culture debate boils over

Publishing staff, in rows over authors from Mike Pence to Woody Allen, are voicing their reluctance to work on books they deem hateful. But is this really ‘younger refuseniks’, or a much older debate?In the 1960s, Simon & Schuster’s co-founder Max Schuster was facing a dilemma. Albert Speer, Hitler’s chief architect and armaments minister, had written a memoir providing new insights into the workings of Nazi leadership. As Michael Korda, Schuster’s editor-in-chief, recounted in his memoir Another Life, Schuster knew it would be a huge success. “There is only one problem,” he said, “and it’s this: I do not want to see Albert Speer’s name and mine on the same book.”In the liberal industry of publishing, the tension that exists between profit and morality is nothing new, whether it’s Schuster turning down Speer (the book was finally published by Macmillan), or the UK government introducing legislation to prevent criminals making money from writing about their crimes.Too many areas of discussion feel like they’re off limits – which should hardly be the case in an industry that disseminates ideasThis is so often framed as younger editors being oversensitive, rather than acknowledging that what senior editors choose to publish has an impact on the terms of public debateDo we just have to wait for all the people making dodgy editorial decisions with no integrity to retire? Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2021-06-03 12:12:23 UTC ]
News tagged with: #woody allen #huge success #memoir

Other Publishing stories related to: '‘If publishers become afraid, we’re in trouble’: publishing’s cancel culture debate boils over'


‘If publishers become afraid, we’re in trouble’: publishing’s cancel culture debate boils over

Publishing staff, in rows over authors from Mike Pence to Woody Allen, are voicing their reluctance to work on books they deem hateful. But is this really ‘younger refuseniks’, or a much older debate?In the 1960s, Simon & Schuster’s co-founder Max Schuster was facing a dilemma. Albert Speer,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-06-03 12:12:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #woody allen #huge success #memoir


Aaand, Skyhorse is publishing Blake Bailey’s memoir about cancel culture.

While we do not, under any circumstances, have to hand it to Skyhorse, publisher of Sandy Hook deniers, anti-vaxxers, January 6th conspiracy theorists, and Woody Allen—their brand is extremely consistent. To wit: they will be publishing another book by disgraced biographer Blake Bailey (they... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-07-26 20:31:25 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #cancel culture #woody allen— #roth biography #memoir


Sally Rooney won’t release new bestseller in Israel, publisher says, intensifying debate on cultural boycott

The Irish author of "Beautiful World, Where Are You" has been open about her opposition to Israeli government policies. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-10-12 11:46:18 UTC ]
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Sheikh Zayed Shortlists: Translation, Publishing and Tech, and Arab Culture

Selected from a total 469 nominations, these are the shortlists of three of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award's nine categories in its 17th edition. The post Sheikh Zayed Shortlists: Translation, Publishing and Tech, and Arab Culture appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-03-20 09:32:21 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #arab culture #17th edition #zayed book


Indie Comics Publishers Face Year-End Financial Troubles

The end of the year has produced a spike in financial troubles that include at least four independent comics publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-22 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Literary Luminaries Debate Diversity, Publishing's Moral Obligations at PEN Town Hall

During a panel, "Do Publisher’s Have a Moral Obligation to Diversify American Literature?", authors Min Jin Lee, Chris Beha, Roxane Gay and publishing veteran Erroll McDonald weighed in on a central issue in the book business. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-16 05:00:00 UTC ]
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The book that tore publishing apart: ‘Harm has been done, and now everyone’s afraid’

Kate Clanchy’s memoir about teaching won the Orwell prize. Then, a year later, it became the centre of a storm that would engulf the lives of the author, her critics and dozens of people in the book trade. So what happened?At the end of March, a book that had been condemned to die came back to... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-06-18 08:00:13 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book trade #working life #kate clanchy #orwell prize #great fanfare #original text #memoir


Andrew Bolt says Alan Jones’ poetic departure not cancel culture as Sky finds ‘room for Piers Morgan’ | Weekly beast

Former shock jock Jones tells fans to find him on Facebook as he departs TV. Plus: Seven’s costly Cleo Smith case blunderWhen News Corp unveiled plans for Piers Morgan to headline an international prime time talk show we flippantly said “Move over Andrew Bolt, Alan Jones and Peta Credlin – there... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-11-05 01:29:20 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #andrew bolt #alan jones #cancel culture #piers morgan #weekly beast #peta credlin #conservative loudmouth #news corp


Frankfurt organisers 'regret' authors cancelling over presence of New Right publisher

Organisers of the Frankfurt Book Fair say they "regret" that some authors have decided to cancel their appearances at this year's event owing to the presence of New Right publisher Jungeuropa. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-19 23:36:43 UTC ]
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Global publishing heads debate pandemic impact at BolognaBookPlus

Publishing heads from around the world discussed supply chain issues, the rise of online sales, subscription models and the dominance of Amazon at a round table event this week for BolognaBookPlus, the new general trade arm of the Bologna Book Fair.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-06-09 10:29:37 UTC ]
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The Philip Roth biography is canceled, Mike Pence’s book could be next — and publishing may never be the same

Blake Bailey’s precipitous fall is proof that publishers can no longer ignore their authors’ behavior. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-04-28 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mike pence #blake bailey


Mike Pence’s publisher refuses to cancel memoir after staff protest

Simon & Schuster president Jonathan Karp says seven-figure book deal will go ahead, after open letter from employees accuses publisher of being ‘on the wrong side of justice’Simon & Schuster has said it will not pull out of a seven-figure book deal with Mike Pence after some of its... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-04-21 12:05:44 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #open letter #mike pence #wrong side #simon schuster #marginalised groups #book deal #memoir


France’s Publishers and Reed Announce Cancellation of Livre Paris 2021

The latest in international book fairs, festivals, and trade shows, France's Salon du Livre Paris cnacels its 2021 iteration. The post France’s Publishers and Reed Announce Cancellation of Livre Paris 2021 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-03-18 18:39:13 UTC ]
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Column: The Dr. Seuss 'cancel culture' backlash is a distraction. Here's the real issue

Why are many Americans committed to preserving words and images associated with forces bent on preventing fellow citizens from living freely and equally? Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-03-03 17:59:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #cancel culture #real issue #dr. seuss


‘I’m afraid of repercussions’: Publishing industry members question Google’s motives in paying off News Corp

Google's News Corp deal may pacify Australian lawmakers, but publishing industry members worry about repercussions for smaller publishers. The post ‘I’m afraid of repercussions’: Publishing industry members question Google’s motives in paying off News Corp appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2021-02-18 05:01:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #smaller publishers #news corp #publishing industry


‘I’m afraid of repercussions’: Publishing industry members question Google’s motives in paying off News Corp

Google's News Corp deal may pacify Australian lawmakers, but publishing industry members worry about repercussions for smaller publishers. The post ‘I’m afraid of repercussions’: Publishing industry members question Google’s motives in paying off News Corp appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2021-02-18 05:01:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #smaller publishers #news corp #publishing industry


Josh Hawley finds new publisher after Simon & Schuster cancels book

Simon & Schuster severed ties with senator after Capitol attackPublisher distributes titles by conservative imprint RegneryThe rightwing Missouri senator Josh Hawley has found a publisher for a book dropped by Simon & Schuster over his role in attempting to overturn the US election on... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-01-18 16:02:10 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #simon schuster #josh hawley


Josh Hawley: publisher cancels book in wake of Capitol attack

Simon & Schuster says it ‘cannot support senator after his role in what became a dangerous threat to our democracy and freedom’Publishers have cancelled a planned book by Senator Josh Hawley, who objected to Joe Biden’s presidential election win and backed baseless claims that the vote was... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-01-08 05:50:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #joe biden #josh hawley #capitol attack #simon schuster


Publisher cancels Sen. Josh Hawley's book over insurrection; Hawley responds 'we'll see you in court!'

Simon & Schuster canceled "The Tyranny of Big Tech" over the Missouri Republican's efforts to overturn election; Hawley threatens to sue. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-01-08 00:31:31 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #josh hawley #big tech #missouri republican