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 publisher for a seven-figure advance, was chosen for Oprah’s Book Club, and was touted as “the new Grapes of Wrath”. On release in 2020, early readers noted that the white author’s depiction of Mexican people was, at best, flawed, inaccurate, and riddled with stereotypes and, at worst, simply racist.A sensitivity reader is an additional editor who works alongside the publishing house staffer who acquired the rights to your book. This individual will conduct a very specific read of the manuscript, and offer notes on characters from marginalised groups, or elements which may cause offence. The argument goes that if American Dirt had been sufficiently scrutinised by a reader of Mexican heritage, some of the furore could have been avoided. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

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

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Stop moaning about sensitivity readers – if there was diversity in publishing we wouldn’t need them | Juno Dawson'


Can We Stop Pretending The Publishing Industry Is Fair Now?

Book publishing is an absolute meritocracy, if you disregard all the deeply ingrained misogyny and racism. Wait ... Continue reading at HuffPost

[ HuffPost | 2015-08-06 13:54:21 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book publishing #publishing industry


Diversity in UK Publishing Still a Challenge

The book industry remains largely white and middle class, while efforts are being made to boost socio-economic and ethnic diversity in publishing. The post Diversity in UK Publishing Still a Challenge appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-07-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #challenge appeared #ethnic diversity #post diversity #uk publishing #middle class


Unpaid internships 'should be banned to build diversity in publishing'

Novelist Kerry Hudson is setting out ‘a provocation’ calling for wholesale change to encourage and reflect broader spectrum of voicesThe award-winning novelist Kerry Hudson is set to make a bold call for change in UK publishing, which she believes is failing “to reflect the extraordinary... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing industry #unpaid internships #prize-winning debut #thursday evening #living wage #diverse voices


Viewability: Publishers are taking the brunt, but the buck stops with brands

The buy side has grown fond of blaming publishers for bad viewability rates. But publishers only serve the ads that advertisers design, and those ads are often poor. Now some brands are working directly with publishers to find customs solutions. Last December Burberry teamed with Yahoo to create... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #working directly #buy side #private marketplaces #premium inventory #sponsor content


Crowdfunding, Revenue Diversity, and Legalese: Some Takeaways From the LION Publishers Conference

I spent this past weekend in Philadelphia at the Local Independent Online News Publishers conference with local journalists and publishers from around the United States. Speakers discussed everything from online audience trends, revenue generation id ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-06-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #past weekend #speakers discussed


Publishers need to be braver on diversity

Publishers should “be braver, be too brave” when it comes to taking on new writing if they want to become more diverse, poet and writer Salena Godden told the Stoke Newington Literary Festival. Godden was joined on yesterday’s (7th June) panel, focussing on diversity in the industry, by writer... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishers needed #crystal mahey-morgan #zed books #making books


Brands to Publishers: Let Us Check Your Viewability Rates or We'll Stop Buying Ads

Earlier this month Google announced that video ads running on YouTube have a chance to be seen 91% of the time. That's great, and a lot better than the 46% of video ads that Google runs outside of YouTube that never have a chance to be seen. But advertisers would like to be able to check... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2015-05-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #check google #ad viewability #chief concern #buying online


SoA and HC back call for more diversity in publishing

The Society of Authors has said that a “publishing industry which does not reflect society fails writers, readers and itself”. Nicola Solomon, the organisation’s chief executive, and HarperCollins’ director of people John Athanasiou have backed a new report calling for improved diversity across... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing industry #nicola solomon


UK Authors Force Clean Reader App to Stop Some Book Sales

Creators of the Clean Reader app will no longer sell books after receiving complaints from authors that their works were being altered without permission. The post UK Authors Force Clean Reader App to Stop Some Book Sales appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book sales


DBW Panel : Can Publishers Take Advantage of Reader Data?

Publishers are awash in data about readers' habits. Now: what to do with it all? Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #reader data


No, we haven’t banned books on pigs – but sensitivity is key in global publishing | Jane Harley

At Oxford University Press we have to balance children’s cultural and learning needs, while retaining some healthy common senseGiven that our editorial guidelines that reference pigs and pork have been in place for as long as I can remember, little did I imagine that they would attract... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publish books #positive impact #real difference


Self-publishing 'has revealed readers' true interests'

Self-publishing has made it clear that “readers want very different things to what publishers in London and Manhattan think readers want”, Orna Ross of the Alliance of Independent Authors has said. Speaking at an event debating the best route to publishing for authors, Ross said... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #orna ross #independent authors #including books


Publishers 'must do better' on diversity

The key to achieving real diversity within publishing is to reach out to people from a variety of backgrounds who may not have previously considered the trade as a career path, publishers have told The Bookseller. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #previously considered #career path


'PW' Panel Warns Industry, Lack of Diversity Threatens Publishing

At a panel about the lack of diversity in the book publishing industry, hosted by PW, a number of publishing warned that the overwhlemingly white makeup of the industry threatens its longterm viability. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Indie Publishers: Connecting Books to Readers with IngramSpark

From Eriq La Salle to Dominic Selwood, indie publishers are successfully reaching more readers with the IngramSpark platform, which offers global book distribution and easy-to-use tools. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-09-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ingramspark platform #indie publishers


Amazon vs Hachette: readers and authors take sides in publishing dispute

The tussle between Amazon and the publishing conglomerate has been raging since spring. Heres an update on the fightA corporate boxing match broke from the ring and swelled into all-out rumpus last weekend, as readers and authors took sides in Amazon and Hachettes fight over the publishing... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #online retailer #contract negotiations #giant corporations #lower price


Global Publishing Leaders 2014: Readers Digest

Readers Digest is a multi-brand and multi-platform media and direct marketing company that reaches 145 million customers worldwide through a combination of print, digital and DRTV products. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #readers digest


Diversity in Children's Publishing: A BookCon Panel

Prominent African-American and Hispanic children's book publishers, publicists, agents, and authors were featured on the BookCon panel "Where Are the People of Color in Children's Books?" held on Saturday, May 31. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bookcon panel #book publishers


Reddit Draws Readers, Authors, Publishers

For anyone struggling with choosing the perfect literary present this holiday season, there’s a large, vocal, and opinionated group that just might be able to help: the more than one million subscribers to the Books category on Reddit, the popular social media Web site. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #holiday season #million subscribers #books category


With Readers Still Willing to Pay, Is Publishing Catching a Break?

In the New Republic, Evan Hughes argues that the book business has fared far better than music, movies and other media in sustaining its value to consumers. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book business