Penguin Random House released their “phase one” U.S. publishing programs audit, which investigated the identities of contributors — authors, illustrators, and translators — of titles published between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2021. Contributors were asked to self-identify, and 3,415 people participated. Initial conclusions were clear: “Our Contributor demographics do not reflect U.S. reader demographics when it comes to race and ethnicity. Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous representation is low, while white representation is overindexed. Significant growth in the underrepresented contributor populations is required to accurately reflect U.S. demographics.” The company noted, “The data also show a correlation between workforce […]
Archives for November 2021
Baillie Gifford Prize
People 11/17
Alison Goff has been named group chief executive officer, effective January 2, following the departure of Polly Powell in July and taking over from interim group ceo C.K. Lau. Goff was chief executive at the Octopus Publishing Group until 2020.
Distribution: Additions to IPG
Beginning January 1, Independent Publishers Group (IPG) will distribute Phoenix Books, Stygian Sky Media, and Imagine and Wonder‘s print titles (IPG already handled Imagine and Wonder’s digital distribution). Overcup Press will be distributed by IPG beginning March 1. Kitchen Ink Publishing is now distributed by IPG, as well.
Today At Noon at PM Discuss: Ghostwriters Agent Madeleine Morel
Don’t miss Madeleine Morel online at this Publishers Marketplace link today at noon Eastern. The latest guest on our Discuss forum, Madeleine will answer your questions on how to break into the ghostwriting business, how having an agent works for a ghostwriter, and more. Just sign in and post your questions.
Chatham Offers Higher Bid to Acquire RR Donnelly
Chatham Asset Management, which kicked off the bidding to take RR Donnelly private and already owns just under 15 percent of Donnelly’s stock, offered a fully-financed bid to acquire the printing company for $9.10 per share in cash. They say their bid is worth approximately $48 million more than the deal from Atlas Holdings (which bought LSC Communications in bankruptcy). Chatham also filed suit in a Delaware Chancery Court, asking for the termination fee due Atlas if they do not prevail and certain other provisions to be declared unenforceable. Chatham indicated that they will pay $9.34 a share if the termination fee […]