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 author Daniel Handler, better known as Lemony Snicket, made comments intended as humorous – though widely heard as offensive and racist – after presenting an award in the young adult category to author Jacqueline Woodson. Apparently, not even a ripple of discomfort crossed the room as Handler made his comments, which centered on the African American author’s allergy to watermelon. I wasn’t present that night, but I’ve been at past NBAs and countless similar events, and can well imagine the sea of white faces turned up to the podium, the thousand white hands applauding. (Handler later apologized and contributed to a fund for diversity in children’s literature). The matter would never have become public at all if social media hadn’t erupted during the livestream of the event: people were tuning in and listening in a way that mainstream US publishing was not, and hasn’t for some time. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #publishing industry #diverse audience #lemony snicket

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Why is American book publishing so white?'


'Groundbreaking' JFK book promised from L, B

Little, Brown is to publish a "groundbreaking" account of events surrounding the death... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


If Publishers Fail to Self-Regulate Native Ads, FTC May Step In

BuzzFeed is famous for it, Facebook and Twitter embraced it, and The Atlantic got blasted for it. Native advertising may be all the rage, but if brands and publishers aren’t careful, it could trigger some regulatory repercussions, analysts ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #native advertising


Sony's four pillar approach to game publishing on PlayStation 4 aims to level the playing field

Sony's already said that it's making game publishing on PlayStation 4 even easier than it is on the PlayStation 3, but Senior Account Manager of Development at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Agostino Simonetta today explained exactly what that means. Sony's apparently applying a "four... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #playing field #personal relationship #traditional publishers


Survey: Does Apple’s Guilty Verdict in Ebook Trial Damage Publishing?

Apple has been found guilty of colluding to raise ebook prices. Financial ramifications aside, has the judgement damaged publishing's reputation with consumers? Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #guilty verdict #found guilty


Federal Court Finds Apple Guilty of E-Book Price Fixing

A federal judge today ruled that Apple is guilty of violating antitrust law by conspiring with major publishers to raise ebook prices.     Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2013-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #major publishers


Instagram Debuts Video Embeds, Could Alter Publishing Habits

Instagram today made its three-weeks-old videos feature embeddable, giving publishers and marketers another option to Twitter Vine, YouTube and Vimeo when it comes to making content more multimedia. In other words, anybody can now grab an Instagram video or photo and post it on their own... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2013-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hit publish #news organization


Israel Promises Fireworks at Guadalajara International Book Fair

As the guest of honor at this year’s Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL), Israel will bring 36 writers, 10 publishing houses, artists, musicians and more. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


A Polish Publishing Company Dedicates Itself to South Korean Lit

Poland's Kwiaty Orientu publishing company delivers translated editions of South Korean literature to a Polish speaking audience. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Judge Finds Apple Guilty of E-Book Conspiracy

A federal judge ruled today that Apple Inc. conspired to raise prices on ebooks, ordering a trial to decide what damages that the tech giant should pay.In a 159-page decision, U.S. District Court Judge Denise Cote ruled that Apple conspired with a group of five publishers, starting in 2009, to... Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2013-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #apple conspired #raise prices #tech giant #alleged collusion


Apple E-Books Ruling Won't Do Much for Consumers

"I wouldn't expect to see a dramatic effect on consumer prices as a result of this ruling." Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2013-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Chinese E-publishing Platform Shanda Cloudary Takes in $110m Investment

Goldman Sachs and Singapore's Temasek have invested $110 million in Shanda Cloudary, China's leading digital publishing platform, now valued at $600 million. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #goldman sachs #shanda cloudary #$600 million


Apple Loses E-Book Price Lawsuit, Faces Damages

A judge has just ruled that Apple is guilty of conspiring to raise ebook prices. The federal antitrust suit against Apple over ebook pricing has come to a conclusion: The judge has decided that Apple conspired with five major book publishers to artificially push prices up. Apple denied the... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #apple conspired #apple denied #ebook market #ebook pricing


Omnipress Launches New Digital Publishing Platform Using Atex Web CMS Technology

Melbourne, FL – Atex, a leading supplier of Content Management, Advertising and Audience workflow solutions (www.atex.com), is pleased to announce that Omnipress, provider of educational content solutions for associations, has released its ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #content management


Ether for Authors: Is Today’s Book Marketing All in the Algorithms?

Porter Anderson takes in recent discussions about metadata and book marketing, a live, crowdsourced writing experiment, book recommendation culture, and more. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book marketing


Publishers launching fewer magazines in 2013

Fewer magazines were launched in the first half of 2013 than in the same period a year ago, but, on the bright side, a lot fewer folded this year than last, according to MediaFinder.com. The online database of U.S. and Canadian publications released its first-half survey on Monday.And though... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2013-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #content online #top categories #regional interest #growth area #manhattan media


Algonquin sets suite deal for book lovers

Travelers with a literary bent may find the Algonquin Hotel quite compatible. The storied property has teamed with publisher Simon & Schuster to offer a package befitting its literary history. The newly dubbed Simon & Schuster Suite, with prices starting at $459, is stocked with classic... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2013-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #simon schuster #chuck klosterman


Barnsley urges publishers to remember their 'true strength'

The outgoing c.e.o. of HarperCollins Victoria Barnsley has warned publishers against trying to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-07-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #warned publishers


Amazon Patents 'DVD Extras' for E-Books

As far as media delivery goes, ebooks are pretty flat. You get the book and maybe some notes or background info from the publisher, and that's pretty much it. That's not good enough for Amazon. The company was just awarded a patent, which it originally applied for on November 24, 2010,... Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2013-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Genre Fiction and Digital Publishing: A Marriage Made in Heaven

The continuing growth of digital publishing has put even more energy into the flourishing genres of SF, fantasy, mystery and romance publishing, says Wired. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #genre fiction #digital publishing #marriage made #continuing growth #romance publishing


Leaders in Mobile News Publishing Share 8 Keys to Success

If the last decade in news was defined by the migration of audience to the web, the next will be defined by the shift to smartphones and tablets. About 56 percent of Americans now own smartphones, according to the Pew Internet and American Life P ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pew internet #american life