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Making publishing 'sexy'

15.04.08

Culture minister Margaret Hodge, UK Publishers Association c.e.o. Simon Juden, Random House UK c.e.o. Gail Rebuck and MP Tony Baldry are set to unveil a new strategy aimed at raising awareness of the value of publishing to society.

Although publishing is the largest media industry in the UK, it is not perceived as "interesting" or "sexy" in the way film and television are, said Juden. "That's a perception we need to address, both in terms of creating a context for public policy, but also in terms of our diversity issue - if we want to reach out to different parts of the community to attract them to come and work in publishing then we need to start communicating why they might want to."

The new advocacy strategy, due to be unveiled at the PA's keynote seminar The Value of Publishing in Society Today, will help to "define messages about the value of publishing and what publishers do, with a view to getting those messages out to opinion formers, thought leaders and the public in general," Juden said.

The seminar will see Rebuck speak about the "transformative power of reading", and "reading as a route out of poverty". Professor Sir John Enderby, an academic from Bristol University, will tackle the scientific value of publishing. Other speakers include Hodge and Baldry, a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Publishing.

London Book Fair - Day Two

Gail Rebuck London Book Fair Simon Juden Home LBF Margaret Hodge Tony Baldry

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By Huxtable

Publishing is deffo sexy when I come around. Woof woof!

15 Apr 08 09:44

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By RobC

Will making publishing appear "sexy" or "interesting" help to address the fact that publishing only attracts those who can afford to work within its confines? When you're required to (a) live in London, and (b) get your foot in the door by doing unpaid "work experience" or know someone already in the industry, it's perhaps not a surprise that 'diversity' in publishing remains low. Address those issues and we may get somewhere. Vacuous talk of making publishing "sexy" only makes the industry and government look clueless.

15 Apr 08 11:17

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By June Austin

It is not in my opinion about making publishing look sexy or even interesting, but more about raising its profile and changing the publics perception re the value of books, which at the moment, let's face is, is shockingly low. The abolition of the nba didn't help, as it was a sanction to give books away and devalue them even more. It is though here to stay. Books though in the main are not seen as an educational tool or anything other than a simple distraction - something to be thrown away when the reader has finished with it or given to a charity shop. This is merely a reflection of what is going on within the industry itself, for both authors and publishers and indicative of how little we actually value ourselves and the contribution that we make. It is not just the public perception that needs to change, but our own too. Changing public perception and making things more transparent is the only way to really affect long lasting changes which seem to be so desperately needed.

15 Apr 08 14:07

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