John Hitchin obituary

My father, John Hitchin, who has died aged 88, was a marketing and publicity specialist in the publishing industry who spent three decades with Penguin Books, where he was responsible for a number of innovations, including the first paperback gift set and the first display “dump” bin. As Penguin’s development director in the early 1970s he also launched the Puffin school book club and persuaded Sainsbury’s to start selling books.John initially trained in retail at Harrods, becoming the haberdashery department manager there before joining Penguin in 1959. He started in Penguin’s publicity department, becoming the company’s first European representative (under Allen Lane), and then publicity manager in 1962, after which he was its first educational marketing manager, in which role he launched the Penguin Education division. It was after he became development director in 1973 that John launched the Puffin school book club. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2021-10-28 19:33:32 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "John Hitchin obituary"


Why is American book publishing so white?

If squabbles over format, pricing and Amazon have led the US publishing industry to neglect an ever more diverse audience, we have forgotten why people read books in the first placeThe true price of publishingAt the recent National Book Awards ceremony in New York City, presenter and bestselling... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Big Idea: Publishing Must Continue To Diversify

By Marcelle Soviero The publishing industry is busting out of business models as quickly as we can devise new ones. I think in 2015 we will see more product differentiation and more product offerings. These... Continue reading at Publishing Executive

[ Publishing Executive | 2014-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Publishers go back to backlist

Backlist is more important than ever for the publishing industry and the opportunity to use backlist titles to drive the sale of frontlist titles is, according to publishers, “one of the true excitements” of the new era of digital publishing. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


When Politics Gets in the Way of Innovation

Xerox invented Laser printing and copying less than 50 years ago and as a result revolutionized the publishing industry. This innovation was so significant during its time that the outcome was that almost every Japanese electronics product manufacturer, the likes of Canon, Konica, Ricoh and... Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2014-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Americas Authors Guild presses US justice department to get aggressive with Amazon

The literary body, representing 9,000 authors, is calling on the US government to launch a competition investigation into Amazon, following the long-running dispute between the internet retailer and publisher HachetteAmericas Authors Guild has met with the US department of justice to call for an... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Remembering Publishing Great John Mack Carter

John Mack Carter, one of the industry's most influential magazine editors and the longtime voice of McCall's, Ladies' Home Journal and Good Housekeeping, has died at 86 following a long battle with Parkinson's. Mr. Carter was the only person in publishing history to helm all three titles.Mr.... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-09-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Downton Abbey as Metaphor for the Publishing Industry

Amazon Kindle is now a 'proud sponsor' of Downton Abbey. And it suits, as the show's story arc reflects the current dynamic in the publishing business. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Penguin Launches Cartoon Network Imprint

Penguin Books for Young Readers will launch a Cartoon Network imprint that will include books tied to existing and future Cartoon Network–owned shows and serve as a launchpad for new content. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Publishing’s Holding Pattern: 2014 Salary Survey

PW's annual salary survey reveals an eye-opening lack of diversity in the publishing industry, an enduring pay gap between men and women, and an increasingly optimistic workforce. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Von Schilling Takes Over for Applebaum at PRH Communications

Stuart Applebaum, who rose from a publicist at Bantam Books to become the dean of corporate communications directors in the publishing industry, has been named emeritus executive v-p, corporate communications at Penguin Random House. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


How Amazon's bid to bury Hachette has backfired

Amazon's suggestion that the ebook and paperback revolutions are comparable has sparked scorn, satire and indigationWhen Amazon published their rather extraordinary "Message from the Amazon Books Team" at readersunited.com last week, they got a few things right and a few things wrong. Alongside... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


How Data and Editorial Teams Can Work Together

For publishers today, data has become the key to competitive advantage. But executing against data has traditionally been a challenge. Only in recent years has the publishing industry invested in the technology required to make sense of data's complexity and volume. It speaks to a culture shift,... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-08-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Amazon ebook pricing battle intensifies after 'Authors United' ad

Compares Hachette dispute to past paperback fears, but partially quoting George Orwell is a risky moveAmazon has hit back following an open letter from more than 900 authors criticising its licensing dispute with publisher Hachette, which was published as an ad in the New York Times.However, the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Job Moves: August 5, 2014

Louise Braverman has been named director of publicity for Penguin Books and Penguin Classics. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Job Moves: July 31, 2014

Stephanie Wong has been promoted to lifestyle marketing and publicity manager at Chronicle Books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Kindle Unlimited: it's the end of losing yourself in a good book

Amazon's leaked 'Netflix for books' plan will alarm publishers and doom old-fashioned anonymous readingOnce upon a time, 12 years ago to be precise, David Bowie said something very perceptive. "Music itself is going to become like running water or electricity," he told a New York Times... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-07-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Acquisition Activity Picks Up

The first half of 2014 was one of the publishing industry’s busiest six-month periods for mergers and acquisitions since the start of the Great Recession. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Special Report: Digital Printing

Welcome to a special educational series about digital printing solutions and technology. Here, we look at the value proposition of digital printing, and take stock of the current thoughts and practices in the publishing industry in implementing a hybrid printing program. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Amazon's battle with Hachette is a fight for readers, writers and retailers | Hugh Howey

As things stand, Hachette is making ebook discounts impossible, and almost everybody else stands to lose, writes Hugh HoweyNews: New Amazon terms amount to 'assisted suicide' for book industry, experts claimHow much should an ebook cost? And how should that money be split? These two questions... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Malorie Blackman: I love gadgets, but e-reading has to be carefully handled

Childrens Laureate enthusiastic about children reading digitally but thinks publishers should proceed with cautionAuthor and Childrens Laureate Malorie Blackman is enthusiastic about the potential for children to read books digitally, but thinks the publishing industry should proceed with... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-07-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this