'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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Book industry figures condemn abuse of Clanchy critics in open letter

An open letter, signed by more than 150 figures from the book industry, has condemned the abuse suffered by Monisha Rajesh, Professor Sunny Singh and Chimene Suleyman following their criticisms of Kate Clanchy.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-11 17:31:27 UTC ]
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Kate Clanchy to rewrite memoir amid criticism of ‘racist and ableist tropes’

Poet and teacher has apologised for ‘overreacting’ to scrutiny of book’s portrayals of autistic pupils and children of colourKate Clanchy is rewriting her critically acclaimed memoir after widespread criticism of her portrayal of her pupils, particularly children of colour and autistic... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-08-10 18:58:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kate clanchy #ableist tropes #widespread criticism #memoir


Keeping a Critical Eye on Brazil: A Conversation with Emilio Fraia, by Anderson Tepper

Interviews Emilio Fraia’s Sevastopol, out this summer from New Directions, is the sort of book that beguiles and dazzles in equal measure. Consisting of three disparate stories—of a mountain climber attempting to scale Mt. Everest, a mysterious loner... Continue reading at World Literature Today

[ World Literature Today | 2021-08-09 20:31:30 UTC ]
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Kate Clanchy book may be updated to remove racial stereotypes after criticism

Publisher Picador says it is looking at changing passages in prize-winning memoir, which Clanchy intially claimed were not in the book at allPicador, the publisher of Kate Clanchy’s award-winning Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me, is in discussions to update future editions of the book... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-08-09 15:36:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kate clanchy #autistic students #prize-winning memoir #time working #state schools #picador


Anglia Ruskin launches bursary to improve children's book illustration diversity

Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) has launched a new inclusivity bursary worth £11,200 to study for a masters degree in children's book illustration.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-04 15:16:55 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 ]
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Diverse Book Awards longlists features Zephaniah, Lawrence and Wilson

The longlists for the second Diverse Book Awards have been revealed, recognising inclusivity in children’s, YA and adult fiction. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-07-27 07:16:05 UTC ]
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Agencies’ latest DE&I initiatives aim to dig deeper into systemic challenges for diverse and minority media

Publicis, Nielsen and Havas Media all took steps to advance DE&I efforts in the last 24 hours. The post Agencies’ latest DE&I initiatives aim to dig deeper into systemic challenges for diverse and minority media appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2021-07-08 04:01:00 UTC ]
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Baker & Taylor reveals 'diversity analysis' tool for libraries

US-based book distribution service Baker & Taylor has announced it will be offering libraries a "diversity analysis tool" to help them discover, manage and report on diversity-related topics. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-07-08 00:26:16 UTC ]
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B&T to Offer ‘Diversity Analysis’ Tool for Library Collections

Powered by the wholesaler's collectionHQ technology, Baker & Taylor’s “Diversity Analysis” tool will help identify opportunities for libraries to evaluate their collections against industry-accepted diversity subjects. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-07-07 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Benjamin Zephaniah calls for more diversity in GCSE texts

Less than one percent of authors studied at GCSE English Literature are from an ethnic minority background. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2021-06-29 18:52:35 UTC ]
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Books in the Media: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex sits comfortably in critic's picks

Last week, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex published her first children's book The Bench with Penguin Random House Children's. It picked up reviews from the Evening Standard, the Irish Times, the Telegraph, the Independent and the New York Times, making it one of the most reviewed new titles. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-06-13 20:19:26 UTC ]
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Chris Matthews’ new book catalogues his front-row seat to history

The former ‘Hardball’ host has proven insight into politics, but this volume doesn’t dig deep Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-06-11 12:00:00 UTC ]
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What death row looks like when you’re on it

We’ve heard stories about how people earned death sentences. Now here are stories about how they came to that moment. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-06-11 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Hodder removes Hilderbrand’s Anne Frank reference after criticism

Hodder has removed a passage from American author Elin Hilderbrand’s latest novel after criticism over its reference to Anne Frank.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-06-10 01:28:19 UTC ]
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Hachette Book Group Announces Diversity Progress in 2020

The Hachette Book Group workforce in 2020 was 3.9 percent black, the company says, 6.7 percent Asian, 20 percent Hispanic or Latinx. The post Hachette Book Group Announces Diversity Progress in 2020 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-05-13 15:32:17 UTC ]
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Hachette Book Group Saw Diversity Gains in Staff, Book Acquisitions in 2020

BIPOC employees represented 47.8% of new hires by the Hachette Book Group in 2020, and the percentage of titles acquired from BIPOC authors and illustrators increased to 29%, from 22%. CEO Michael Pietsch acknowledged that despite the improvement, much more work needs to be done. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-05-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Rethinking diversity... together

Germany is as much a multicultural country as the UK – with these words, the tone was set for a day of exchange between British and German publishing experts, almost one year after the publication of the "Rethinking ‘Diversity’ in Publishing" report in the UK. The aim was not to see who is doing... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-05-12 20:18:21 UTC ]
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BA launches action group to improve diversity in bookselling

The Booksellers Association is launching an Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Action Group, as part of its work to improve diversity within bookselling and the wider trade. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-05-10 15:18:27 UTC ]
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YA Anthologies Bring Diverse Voices Together

We spoke with the editors of five recently published and forthcoming anthologies for teens about the origin of their collections, how they built their lists of contributors, and their hopes for these volumes as they reach readers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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