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Publishing bodies update behaviour charter, expanding online and mental health standards
An updated industry statement on professional values has been announced by a coalition of major trade bodies significantly expanding its original commitments five years on, particularly around online behaviour and mental health, presenting "a zero tolerance approach" post BLM and MeToo.
The new charter launched today Thursday (2nd November) on behalf of the Publishers Association (PA), Society of Authors (SoA), Booksellers Association (BA) and Association of Authors’ Agents (AAA) following consultation with members.
The original charter was created by the industry representatives a year after The Bookseller’s harassment survey in which over half of respondents reported sexual harassment. The original team behind the forum included Lizzy Kremer, then president of AAA, Auriol Bishop, formerly of Hachette, Meryl Halls from the BA and Nicola Solomon from the SoA. The updated statement - from a group formed in 2022 known as the Book & Publishing Industry EDI Forum - has expanded the recommendations from four to 10 and widened the scope of discussion.
A number of new organisations have also endorsed the statement, including the Association of Illustrators, the Translators Association, Publishing Scotland, the Independent Publishers Guild (IPG) and Writers Guild of Great Britain.
The coalition of organisations said: “The statement offers a clear, updated and robust set of professional values aimed at uniting and taking the industry forward. The overall structure of the document has been changed so that it now encompasses 10 points, with additional emphasis on areas such as mental health. More reference to online behaviour and social media discourse has also been incorporated.”
The new structure of the document also takes the original document beyond the legislative framework of equality. The organisations said: “We have clearly stated that discrimination is not limited to those characteristics in the Equality Act 2010, but socio-economic status, educational background, caring responsibilities, and geographical location, and that hatred of any kind is not tolerated.”
The forum said the document “lays out in unambiguous terms the values and behaviours we share and seek to encourage in our professional interactions across our industry”. It is limited to professional behaviour in work environments (both online and offline) and does not include or cover authors’ work.
The organisations added: “This document is intended to be top-level, aspirational and collegiate. It is a clear statement of what we expect from ourselves and others in our professional communications, regardless of whether those behaviours take place online or in the workplace.”
Literary agent Natalie Jerome, co-convener of an industry EDI Forum in which the updated statement was developed, said: “Building on the foundations of the original 2018 statement, this new version lays out our commitment to celebrating and actively promoting diversity and inclusion in all its forms, and a zero tolerance approach to abuse and the incitement of hatred of any kind.
"Post BLM and Me Too, we wanted to address the need for an expanded and robust set of professional values and we hope this will unite and take the industry forward. We will continue to look at ways in which together, we can improve upon, amplify and engage the industry with this vitally important, ongoing work.”
The full list of commitments, as laid out in ’An Industry-Wide Statement on The Book & Publishing Industry’s Professional Values’, are as follows:
1. We in the sector (booksellers, agents, authors, and publishing professionals) support and are champions of creative expression and freedom of speech. We understand the power of what is printed and published and will endeavour to protect the passion, imagination and creativity of everyone in our industry.
2. Authors, publishing professionals, agents and booksellers are colleagues and collaborators in business and we expect a high standard of professional behaviour from one another.
3. Our professional communication will be respectful to all parties. We understand that at times we may not agree with one another but understand how and what we communicate might impact others positively but also negatively.
4. We celebrate and actively promote and cultivate diversity and inclusion in all its forms, including but not limited to the nine protected characteristics cited in The Equality Act 2010 as well as socio economic status, educational background, caring responsibilities, and geographical location and we condemn abuse and the incitement of hatred of any kind.
5. We will endeavour to ensure that everyone in our industry is treated with dignity and respect so that individuals are supported and are able to speak out. We recognise that power is situational and that we can all be in a position of greater relative power over others.
6. We support and are sensitive to the mental health of our colleagues and other industry professionals as well as those experiencing chronic illness, neurodiversity, disability and other physical challenges. We recognise that not all disabilities are visible.
7. We are working towards improving inclusion and access for everyone to our industry across all the areas mentioned in 4 above.
8. Our professional behaviour is thoughtful and anticipates consequences – and is required in every environment where people interact for work reasons, including but not limited to: offices, bookshops, parties, committees, lunch meetings, awards ceremonies, rights fairs, festivals and any other venue, formal or informal; as well as online and in all communications.
9. We have a right to personal privacy, and to feel safe and valued in the working environment.
10. We will support one another and take action by: Listening: If someone tells us that they find something racist, sexist, bullying, threatening, or uncomfortable, they have a right to that feeling. We will behave with empathy, respect and understanding. Being Allies: We will not remain silent in the face of unacceptable behaviour. We will listen to, speak up for and empower those who have experienced such behaviour. We will bear witness and support appropriate action being taken, regardless of the status or the relative status of the individuals involved. Being Aware Of Company Policies: If you do not think there is one, ask. As industry associations, we encourage our members to promote and implement the standards of professional behaviour set out in this document and to create and endorse company policies which reflect these principles.
For more information, read the statement here.
