Borders is eliminating another 124 positions from their corporate staff–about two-thirds of those from the company’s Ann Arbor headquarters–along with 40 positions at their warehouses, announced by e-mail, and confirmed to the Ann Arbor News. The company had signaled earlier in an internal memo we cited last week the need for further “adjustments to our cost structure.” Spokesperson Anne Roman says, “This is a situation where the company is adjusting its payroll to the realities of what its sales situation is.” SVP of human resources Shereen Solaiman wrote to employees, “While at this time we do not plan further wide-scale […]
They're Back: Amazon, Hachette and Others File New Google Books Objections
With today’s filing deadline, the court has registered a wave of new opt-outs and objections to the revised Google Books settlement agreement, though so far it’s a fraction of the over 400 objections to the original agreement. Though Judge Denny Chin made it clear that he wanted to hear objections to the revised provisions only, some parties couldn’t help themselves and have repeated earlier points lightly clothed in new language. Amazon’s objection follows a middle line, reiterating many basics points from their first filing but also addressing some of the new issue. They believe the agreement continues to constitute illegal […]
People
Summer Smith has joined Houghton Mifflin Harcourt as publicity manager. She was previously a senior publicist at Putnam and Riverhead. Whitney Peeling is leaving Public Affairs and Jaime Leifer is returning to the company as publicity director from her stint in the pr department at The New Yorker. Lisa Degroff has been promoted to senior marketing manager, hardcover at Penguin Children’s. Esi Sogah has been promoted to associate editor at the Morrow/Avon imprint. In the Morrow-Avon-Eos-Morrow Cookbooks publicity department, Brianne Halverson has been promoted to associate director; Danielle Bartlett has been promoted to senior publicity manager; and Adam Rochkind has […]
The Five-Minute iBooks Presentation
“We’re going to open up the floodgates for the rest of the publishers starting this afternoon.”
Barnes & Noble Subpoenaed by NY Attorney General; Assures Customers their Data is Private
Barnes & Noble noted in a release that the New York State Attorney General subpoenaed the company as part of an investigation into online retailers who link customers to discount clubs that charge hidden fees. BN “said that it wants to reassure customers that it is not one of the retailers who turns over personal or credit or debit card information to discount clubs.” BN.com president William Lynch said the investigation “will show that Barnes & Noble does not, nor has it ever, shared customer debit or credit card information with discount clubs. Customers should be reassured that their personal […]
Random House On their Ongoing "Conversations" with Apple
Random House welcomes Apple’s iPad and iBooks app and we look forward to our continuing conversations with them about how we might best work together.