'Wilful misreading': Lionel Shriver replies to critics in diversity row

Novelist responds to the reaction against her comments on diversity in publishing, accusing her critics of ‘malicious misinterpretation’Lionel Shriver has responded to the vituperative row that followed her recent comments about Penguin Random House’s diversity scheme, saying that it was not diversity but quotas that she was objecting to and calling out what she described as the “malicious misinterpretation” of her original essay.In a piece for the Spectator this month, Shriver objected to the publisher’s goal for its staff and authors to represent UK society by 2025. “Drunk on virtue, Penguin Random House no longer regards the company’s raison d’etre as the acquisition and dissemination of good books,” she wrote. “Rather, the organisation aims to mirror the percentages of minorities in the UK population with statistical precision.” Related: Diversity in publishing is under attack. I hear the sound of knuckles dragging | Hanif Kureishi Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2018-06-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jamie Oliver Pulls Children’s Book Amid Criticism of Insensitivity

The celebrity chef’s second children’s book, “Billy and the Epic Escape,” faced accusations that it stereotyped First Nations people in Australia. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2024-11-11 15:31:00 UTC ]
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Jamie Oliver pulls children’s book from shelves after criticism for ‘stereotyping’ Indigenous Australians

Billy and the Epic Escape to be withdrawn worldwide after First Nations groups say fantasy novel trivialises complex and painful historiesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJamie Oliver has pulled his children’s book... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2024-11-09 23:13:35 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House Grew Slightly More Diverse in 2024

According to the publisher’s fifth annual demographics report, 68.9% of the company’s entire workforce was white in 2024, down from 70.1% in 2023. The percentage of new hires of BIPOC workers fell slightly in the year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-10-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Black British Book festival founder criticises lack of diversity in publishing

Increasing number of black authors forced to self-publish or promote work on social media, says Selina BrownThe founder of a book festival celebrating black authors has said they are “forced” to pave their own way into the publishing world because of a lack of diversity within the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2024-10-02 16:06:33 UTC ]
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Between the Lines: What Is Missing in the Diversity in Publishing Discourse

On Saturdays in late ’90s, my father, a taxi driver, would pool his tips for the week and take me, a child too precocious for his own good, to a local bookstore in search of my next read. Together, we silently wandered the store, picking up paperbacks and inspecting their pages. On shelves that... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2024-09-17 08:55:21 UTC ]
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New chair Kim Williams says ABC should be ‘last broadcaster standing’ and News Corp’s criticism is ‘unbalanced’

Exclusive: Former News Corp CEO says Murdoch company’s obsession with the public broadcaster is ‘fairly unhinged’ and should largely be ignoredFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastKim Williams, the current... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2024-08-10 20:00:05 UTC ]
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“Examine Every Atom”: The Capacious Career of Poet, Editor, and Critic T. R. Hummer, by Chard deNiord

“Examine Every Atom”: The Capacious Career of Poet, Editor, and Critic T. R. Hummer, by Chard deNiord Interviews [email protected] Wed, 07/31/2024 - 08:31   Right photo by formulanone / FlickrT. R. Hummer, as he is known professionally but Terry to... Continue reading at World Literature Today

[ World Literature Today | 2024-07-31 13:31:02 UTC ]
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What do scientists have to learn from wildlife? The value of diversity.

Jasmin Graham’s fresh and innovative memoir details how her work as a “rogue” shark scientist pushes science to include more diverse perspectives. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2024-07-24 14:20:39 UTC ]
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Authors ask Waterstones to rehire worker fired after tweet about gender-critical writer

Over 500 industry professionals sign open letter to bookseller after employee’s post about ‘tearing up books’ by Christina DalcherMore than 500 authors and book industry professionals have signed an open letter calling on Waterstones to reverse a decision to dismiss an employee who said she... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2024-07-11 10:31:48 UTC ]
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Sinykin and So’s Diversity Article: Double-Edged Swords

An analysis of diversity efforts in US book publishing in The Atlantic raises both successes and concerns for the industry. The post Sinykin and So’s Diversity Article: Double-Edged Swords appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-06-20 21:01:37 UTC ]
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Most freelance book critics are making less than minimum wage.

Since September 2023, the book criticism working group of the Freelance Solidarity Project (a union of digital media workers, organizing to raise labor standards across the industry) has been collecting data on freelance rates. Its findings, published earlier this month, are pretty damn bleak.... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2024-06-20 20:53:12 UTC ]
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Children's Institute 2024: Ensuring Diverse Voices Are Heard

The American Booksellers Association’s Children’s Institute in New Orleans wrapped up on June 12 with an equity-focused “Spotlight on Black Publishing,” an inclusive conversation about “Queer Voices for Community,” and a karaoke extravaganza. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-06-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers’ newest workforce diversity reports reveal mixed results in efforts to diversify newsrooms

The latest versions of annual reports on workforce demographics from Gannett, NPR and The New York Times (as well as Condé Nast, Hearst and Vox) show mixed results in companies’ efforts to diversify their newsrooms. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2024-06-10 04:01:00 UTC ]
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Maria Shriver’s Open Field Imprint Broadens Its Horizons

Penguin Life imprint the Open Field, founded by journalist Maria Shriver with a focus on wellness and inspiration, will now publish 10 books per year Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-06-04 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Terry Robards, 84, Dies; Lifted Fine Wines in America as a Times Critic

In columns and notably “The New York Times Book of Wine,” he introduced Americans to European and premium domestic varieties in the 1970s and ’80s. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2024-06-03 18:35:34 UTC ]
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Book Critics’ Most Anticipated Summer Reads

NPR critics reveal their summer TBRs, Reese brings back the YA book club, and the sexiest book of summer isn't a rom-com. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2024-05-29 16:17:51 UTC ]
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Republic of Georgia: Publishing Industry Criticizes ‘Foreign Agents’ Bill

Georgia's foreign agents bill is drawing criticism from PEN Georgia, the Georgian Publishers and Booksellers Association, and others. The post Republic of Georgia: Publishing Industry Criticizes ‘Foreign Agents’ Bill appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-05-17 19:01:14 UTC ]
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Johann Hari apologises after falsely attributing Ozempic claim to food critic Jay Rayner

Publisher Bloomsbury has promised to correct the error made in Hari’s new book Magic PillJohann Hari and his publisher Bloomsbury have apologised after the author wrongly claimed in his latest book that Observer restaurant critic Jay Rayner had taken the diabetes drug Ozempic.In Magic Pill, Hari... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2024-05-15 16:50:55 UTC ]
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Latasha Morrison: 'God Created Diversity'

PW talks with activist and author Morrison about her goals for 'Brown Faces, White Spaces: Confronting Systemic Racism to Bring Healing and Restoration,' which will be released by WaterBrook May 21. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-05-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Amid Mounting Criticism, PEN America Literary Awards In Limbo

Nine of the 10 longlisted authors for this year's PEN/Jean Stein Book Award have withdrawn their books for consideration for the prize, effectively rendering it unawardable, as the controversy surrounding the freedom of expression organization continues to expand in scope. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-04-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
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