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, which said on Monday that “books shape our culture, and this should not be driven only by people who come from a narrow section of society”.Writing in the Spectator, Shriver took issue with an email sent by the publisher, which lays out its goal that by 2025, its authors and staff will reflect the diversity of UK society. The email said: “We want our authors and new colleagues to reflect the UK population taking into account ethnicity, gender, sexuality, social mobility and disability.” Related: Lionel Shriver: ‘Few writers are willing to put themselves on the line for free speech’ Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2018-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #uk society #lionel shriver #literary excellence #narrow section #account ethnicity #social mobility #free speech

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WNDB Launches Virtual Community for Mid-Level Diverse Publishing Professionals

The We Need Diverse Books nonprofit organization advocating for more inclusion in the industry is launching a virtual community platform for mid-level diverse publishing professionals in an effort to improve retention rates. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-03-10 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Stop moaning about sensitivity readers – if there was diversity in publishing we wouldn’t need them | Juno Dawson

Since 2011, all my book editors have been white. Why wouldn’t I want another perspective on the characters I invent?Until a few years ago, only publishing industry insiders would have understood the role of the sensitivity reader. Then came American Dirt. The Jeanine Cummins novel sold to a US... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-03-08 09:00:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #juno dawson #american dirt #jeanine cummins #seven-figure advance #marginalised groups #publishing industry


Academic Publishing Edition: Amsterdam’s Michiel Kolman on Diversity in STM

In scholarly and academic publishing, Elsevier's Michiel Kolman says, more female leadership is a new and promising development. The post Academic Publishing Edition: Amsterdam’s Michiel Kolman on Diversity in STM appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-01-28 13:07:42 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #michiel kolman #female leadership #academic publishing


As a black literary agent, I despair at UK publishing's lack of diversity | Natalie Jerome

For decades, I sat in meetings with all-white teams. The industry needs an independent body to advise on equalityI’m a literary agent and at the height of last year’s Black Lives Matter protests I was sent a list, with accompanying photographs, of the top editors working across the major... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-01-01 10:00:46 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uk publishing #open letter #guardian reported #lead character #natalie jerome #literature wales #children’s book #penguin random house #major publishing #literary agent


Carthew plans UK tour to address publishing diversity and inclusion

Natasha Carthew, the artistic director of The Festival for Working Class Writers, is planning a UK tour in 2022 to address diversity and inclusion issues in the industry. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-25 12:09:19 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uk tour #address diversity


K-12 Segment Drives Publishing Gains in September

Sales of K-12 materials rose 35.2% in September and were up 32.7% for the first nine months of the year, offsetting declines in several other publishing areas, including adult trade. The K-12 segment was the big driver for industry sales through the first nine months of 2021, rising 32.7%.... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-22 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #industry sales #offsetting declines #big driver


At Sharjah: IPA President Bodour Al Qasimi on Diversity in Publishing

'Sometimes we can become prisoners of our preconceptions,' the International Publishers Association's Bodour Al Qasimi tells colleagues in Sharjah. The post At Sharjah: IPA President Bodour Al Qasimi on Diversity in Publishing appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-11-02 02:24:56 UTC ]
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UK publishers donate 10,000 books to restock Mosul library after ISIS attack

UK publishers have donated more than 10,000 books through Book Aid International to the University of Mosul Library since it was destroyed by an ISIS attack. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-31 21:55:16 UTC ]
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A diverse community, an antisemitic attack and what came next

How Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood grappled with the Tree of Life shooting in 2018. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-10-15 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #diverse community #life shooting


Publishers should emphasise 'joyful' qualities of diverse books, Levine says

Publishers “should stop thinking about BAME talent as fulfilling a school requirement” and “should emphasise the joyful and literary qualities" of diverse books, Arthur Levine, founder of the independent publisher Levine Querido, has said. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-22 04:07:18 UTC ]
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Authors Guild Diversity Webinar Asks: Can Book Publishing Change?

The Authors Guild's virtual panel "Centering Black Voices: Short-Term Progress or Sustainable Change?," held on July 27, offered a wide-ranging examination of the history and potential of the book industry’s continuing struggle to address diversity. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-07-30 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors guild #sustainable change #book industry #address diversity #book publishing


The UK’s Publishers Association Releases Its New Diversity Report

The fourth annual diversity survey of British publishing shows progress in women's leadership, slower movement in BAME employment. The post The UK’s Publishers Association Releases Its New Diversity Report appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-02-12 14:37:25 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #diversity report #british publishing #publishers association


Small Publishers Struggle to Build a Diverse Workforce

Interviews with mainline Christian, Catholic, and spirituality publishers found efforts to build a more inclusive staff bump into tight budgets, small staffs, lack of attrition, and high competition for talent. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-02-09 05:00:00 UTC ]
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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


Commentary: The latest publishing mega-merger might kill off small presses — and literary diversity

The planned merger of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster may be global but it's bad for books both foreign and domestic. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2020-12-04 19:25:12 UTC ]
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Pandemic drives ebook and audiobook sales by UK publishers to all-time high

Printed book sales plunge in first six months of 2020 on back of shop and school closuresSee all our coronavirus coverageSales of digital books by British publishers are set to hit an all-time high this year as the public turns to reading to escape pandemic cabin fever.However, the ebook and... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-11-14 07:00:02 UTC ]
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‘There Are Tons of Brown Faces Missing’: Publishers Step Up Diversity Efforts

The push in book publishing for more authors and workers of color hasn’t abated, and companies are increasingly making lasting changes to the way they do business. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2020-10-29 16:18:17 UTC ]
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Bernardine Evaristo to UK Publishing: Hire More Diverse People

At the Frankfurt Book Fair conference, writer Bernardine Evaristo delivered a forceful keynote on the systemic bias against people of color in the UK publishing industry The post Bernardine Evaristo to UK Publishing: Hire More Diverse People appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-10-14 18:02:09 UTC ]
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Aspen Institute Looks at a Publishing Industry Challenged to Embrace Diversity

Aspen asks, 'Why is the world of publishing so reluctant to offer Black writers the same major book deals typically offered to white writers?' The post Aspen Institute Looks at a Publishing Industry Challenged to Embrace Diversity appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-08-21 18:41:12 UTC ]
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HarperCollins’ Ecco and Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney Create a Publishing Diversity Fellowship

Led by author Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, the publishing imprint sets up a five-year program with the Columbia Publishing Course. The post HarperCollins’ Ecco and Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney Create a Publishing Diversity Fellowship appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-08-19 13:46:28 UTC ]
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