Children’s author and National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Mac Barnett has responded to the online controversy caused by an excerpt from his recently published book for adults Make Believe: On Telling Stories to Children. He writes in the book, “I have a nagging fear that children’s literature suffers from a slightly higher crud percentage than literature as a whole…maybe more like 94.7 percent of kids’ books are crud.” Since the book was published on Tuesday, authors and readers in the kidlit community have compared him to pro-book banning organizations and called for him to resign from his ambassadorship. Author […]
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University of Chicago Press Employees Unionize
Employees of University of Chicago Press have formed a union with the Chicago News Guild, TNG-CWA Local 34071. The UPC Workers Guild is seeking recognition from management and “is advocating for nothing less than excellence in the treatment of the press’s workers.” Its mission includes “pay equity, sustainability, and transparency.” “I dreamed for years of getting a job in academic publishing, and I’m thrilled to be working not only in my chosen industry but at one of the most prestigious presses in the country,” said UCP guild member Griffin Reed in a release. “However, that excitement is too often exploited […]
Amazon to Distribute Oprah’s Podcast, Book Club
Oprah’s Book Club, along with the mogul’s podcast, “Favorite Things,” and talk show archive will move to Amazon this summer in a multi-year licensing deal. Starting in July, Amazon’s podcast company Wondery will release two episodes per week of The Oprah Podcast in audio and video, through its Creator Services division (which is now separate from their scripted podcasts, which are part of Audible). The podcast features interviews with celebrities and authors. Amazon will also look for ways to integrate Oprah’s Book Club throughout the company. “Amazon executives think that between Audible, Kindle, Amazon.com and Goodreads, the company can expand […]
Hachette Book Group Employees Unionize
Employees of Hachette Book Group announced they have unionized with Washington-Baltimore NewsGuild-CWA Local 32035, of the AFL-CIO. They have signed up a supermajority of 600 workers, making it the largest union in trade publishing history. The union says it is seeking better benefits, protections, and rights for workers, as well as increased equity, transparency, and agency in the workplace. They write in a release, “The HWC demands a livable wage regardless of work location, better working conditions, a cap on workload hours, a clear and neutral grievance process, AI protections, follow-through on DEI policies, and more.” A coalition of workers […]
NBF To Double Down on Events, Donations in Five-Year Plan
On the newest Open Book podcast, National Book Foundation executive director Ruth Dickey lays out the organization’s strategic plan for the next five years, including events, giveaways, educator support, and greater visibility for the organization. “The new mission of the National Book Foundation is to celebrate the best literature published in the United States, connect books with readers of all ages, and champion literary arts as a vital part of our culture,” she said. The NBF will host 125 literary events around the country within the next five years, at least 10 of which will be in rural or tribal […]
Bloomsbury Streamlines Divisions for Growth, Will Eliminate 55 Positions
Bloomsbury announced a plan to “streamline its structure for further growth,” which includes streamlining approximately 55 employees out the door. After doubling sales from 2020/21 through 2024/25 through a string of acquisitions, and growing headcount from 738 to a current figure of 1,238, the company will restructure into three vertical business units as of June 1, with each business unit operating with its own editorial, sales, marketing and publicity, rights and audio functions. Those three divisions comprise Bloomsbury USA, Bloomsbury Consumer UK, and Bloomsbury Global Academic & Professional. The plan “is designed to streamline operations, strengthen international reach and accelerate […]