Children’s app and interactive storybook developer Ruckus Media Group is creating a transmedia imprint in collaboration with children’s giant Scholastic, called Scholastic Ruckus. From a service standpoint it looks a bit like a distribution agreement–Ruckus remains fully independent, and Scholastic will handle print, ebook and enhnanced ebook publishing and distribution for intellectual property controlled by Ruckus (and Ruckus will continue to produce and sell children’s apps). But the relationship also allows for more comprehensive joint development and exploitation across all of Scholastic’s sales and marketing channels, with input from Scholastic’s creative and executive teams. Part of “what makes it an […]
Archives for September 2011
Borders Asks For Six-Figure Executive Severance as Next Jump Agrees To Take Down Rewards Site
As Borders winds down business this week, it is contending with final bits of business in federal bankruptcy court. Late last week the company sought permission to pay $125,000 each in severance to former ceo Mike Edwards, former cfo Scott Henry, current evp of store operations (and acting cfo) Jim Frering and head of human resources Rosalind Thompson. Ten other executives already qualify for $125,000 severance payments, according to the filing. Both Edwards and Henry were “voluntarily terminated” on July 29 but Borders said in its motion that the two “continue to work actively on a non-compensated basis to assure […]
People, Etc.
Lance Fitzgerald will join Simon & Schuster as VP, director of foreign rights for the S&S and Touchstone imprints on November 28, so as to allow for a month of overlap with Marcella Berger, who is retiring at the end of the year. He is currently director of subsidiary rights at Penguin. In addition, Marie Florio has been promoted to deputy director of subsidiary rights for the Touchstone, Threshold, Howard, and Simon & Schuster imprints, effective immediately. At Ten Speed Press, Kristin Casemore has been promoted to publicity director, cookbooks, and Katy Brown has been promoted to senior designer. In […]
Wiley Discloses CEO Smith Is Receiving Cancer Treatment
Wiley reported in an SEC filing today that president and ceo Stephen Smith is currently being treated for urological cancer. After what they call “successful surgery,” he is now receiving “preventive chemotherapy…every three weeks for a period of a few months.” The company notes that “Smith’s doctors have advised him that the condition is highly treatable, and a full recovery is expected.” Smith “will continue to handle his day-to-day responsibilities” while undergoing treatment. Chairman of the board Peter Booth Wiley says in the filing, “We fully support Steve every step of the way and give him our full confidence as […]
People, Etc.
At Orion, Kate Mills has been promoted to publishing director, fiction, and Genevieve Pegg moves up to editorial director, fiction. Mills replaces Jon Wood, who is relinquished his responsibilities to focus on his other role as deputy group publisher. In addition, Amanda Harris has been promoted to publishing director, non-fiction. Also in the UK, at Macmillan Children’s Books, Ruth Alltimes takes over immediately as publishing director, fiction. She will report to incoming publisher Belinda Rasmussen, who joins the comapny this fall. Editorial director Rebecca McNally is leaving the company at the end of October. Polly Nolan will join the unit […]
Former Employee Sues Borders Over Layoff Procedure, and More Bookstore News
On the heels of Borders suing marketing firm Next Jump over trademark infringement now Borders is a defendant in a new complaint related to the company’s layoff procedures post-litigation. Former employee Jared Pinsker, who worked in Borders’ Ann Arbor headquarters, said in a suit filed last Friday in federal bankruptcy court that Borders did not adequately give employees notice when they were let go between July 23 and August 23. Not doing so, per the complaint, violates the WARN Act, which requires employers to give 60 days notice before conducting layoffs of at least 33 percent of a company’s work […]