The Bookseller.com

4th July 2009

Agents 'lazy' about new media

31.03.08 Benedicte Page

"Lazy" literary agents must educate themselves about new media as a matter of urgency, according to David Miller of Rogers, Coleridge and White. Miler's comment came during the latest Bookseller seminar, 'Winning the Non-Fiction Battle', in a panel debate on negotiating serial deals in the world of new media. Robert Hahn, who handles editorial rights at the Guardian, predicted that in 10 years newsprint would only be the Guardian Media Group's "second, third or fourth activity". "Platform is increasingly irrelevant to a news media organisation," he said.

Penguin rights director Chantal Noel noted new opportunities opening up for book serialisation, with less accessible titles made more enticing by extras such as author podcasts and filmed interviews, targeted to different channels. But Miller said that "podcast rights" needed more careful definition, adding: "Agents are going to have to get less lazy so they are thinking about podcasts and online, and engaging more with the world of the rights director."

Meanwhile in a separate seminar strand, Jeff Norton, director of brand development at Chorion, urged publishers to include all markets when acquiring rights to properties and to offer experiences connected with their brands. Citing examples such the New York Times Freakonomics blogs, he said: "Often experiences, and inviting people to interact with your brand, are the most important element [in development]."

Norton also said publishing houses could capitalise more on building their own brand identities: "They need to consider, is there a way to have a direct relationship with consumers outside of book publishing, through services and experiences such as being known for bringing readers together with great authors?"

The seminar was chaired by Caroline Kean, partner at media law specialists Wiggin, who offered an update following from last year's landmark High Court case over Bent Coppers (Orion). She said the judgment in that case meant publishers can be bolder in their publishing decisions, but advised careful phrasing, warning: "Make sure you defend the book you can defend, and not what the author wants." Kean also noted a "huge" growth in privacy claims following the case of McKennitt v Ash.

She concluded: "There is no book that cannot be published, if you write the facts you have, not the facts as you would like them to be."

Rights Benedicte Page digital Agents Home

Comments on this article