Diversity in Publishing Network Newsletter
From the spark of an idea to the launch of the Diversity in Publishing Network (DipNet) in February 2005, it has been a relatively short walk but a strenuous one. Heartfelt thanks for your enthusiasm and support without which the spark would have remained just that.
DipNet is expanding and is already having an impact, so now and not next year is a great time to get involved and have a hand in shaping what we do, what we say and how we say it, as we move forward. We would love more members, more voices, to bring new energies, ideas and momentum to this important growth phase. If you know people who have either expressed an interest in the network or would, if only they knew about us, please don't be shy - spread the word. A great start is to forward this newsletter far and wide! Membership fees are set deliberately at a low level - £10 for full-time employees, £5 for part-time and free to students.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Expanding the book market - how can marketing departments appeal to today's society?
This event takes place on 7 July 2005 at the London College of Communication.
The Diversity in Publishing Network has brought together leading practitioners to discuss how we can modernise our marketing strategies and how these strategies can impact on the publishing industry. Our host is Desmond O'Rourke (Director of the MA Publishing Programme at LCC), Raphael Mokades (responsible for diversity at the international media group Pearson), Alison Morrison (UK Marketing Director at Walker Books) and Alastair Giles (an Independent Marketing Consultant with a focus on ideas that help expand the general market for books and reading. After a fifteen-year publishing career culminating in Group Marketing Director of HarperCollins Publishers, he left to set up the agency in 2002).
There are 2.2 million people of working age in Great Britain that belong to ethnic minorities. In London they comprise 29% of all residents. As the publishing industry talks about expanding the market - how can marketing departments appeal to this market?
Visit http://www.diversityinpublishing.com/Events/Expanding-the-Book-Market-7-July-2005 for more details
Members receive first option on entry and free attendance to all of our events, so please e-mail info@diversityinpublishing.com to reserve a space. To encourage discussion and healthy debate, we have issued guidelines that can be found at http://www.diversityinpublishing.com/Events - anyone attending our events agrees to abide by these principles.
PAST EVENTS
Diversity in Publishing Network Launch
The organisation was launched on 8th February at The Bridge SE1 and was a great success. All who attended enjoyed the evening and we had a lot of positive feedback. The speakers included Christine Martin (Managing Director of The Bookseller), Samenua Sesher (decibel's Programme Manager at Arts Council England), Diran Adebayo (author and journalist), Margaret Busby (co-founder of Allison & Busby) as well as Alison Morrison and Elise Dillsworth (Co-chairs of DipNet). Andrea Levy sent the following message: `I am sorry not to be able to attend the evening, but I just wanted you to know how wholeheartedly I support the aims of the network and how pleased I am that it now exists. I am sure it will prove an effective agent for change. Good luck with it all.'
Diversity in Publishing Network first event
Do Large Publishing Houses have too much power and too little responsibility?
Penguin Books played host to a range of voices discussing the role of larger publishing houses on Tuesday 8th March 2005. A mixed audience of publishing staff, authors, arts practitioners, journalists and academics joined the debate. We would like to thank Joanna Prior (Penguin Books) and Verna Wilkins (Tamarind Press) for appearing on the panel and Joy Francis for chairing the event.
Reports on the events can be found at http://www.diversityinpublishing.com/Events and clicking on the relevant event.
DIPNET NEWS
Mentoring
At the request of Arts Council England (ACE), DipNet has established a mentoring system to provide support for the recipients of their positive action traineeships hosted by Random House and Faber & Faber. Danielle Weekes and Bobby Nayyar are the first two trainees and their mentors are senior publishing staff and will help them make the most out of their traineeships by providing them with guidance and a broad level of support.
We wish Bobby and Danielle the very best of luck.
If you are interested in finding out more information about these traineeships, please contact Gina Antchandie, Diversity in Publishing Co-ordinator at Gina.Antchandie@artscouncil.org.uk
Committee Members
Our last committee meeting was attended by existing members Alison Morrison and Elise Dillsworth (Co-chairs),Gina Antchandie (Events Officer), Nicole Gale (Education Officer), Jasmine Richards and invited guests Carol Russell, Emma Lindsey and Donna Payne. As a result of the meeting the following positions have been proposed: Carol Russell, Membership Officer; Donna Payne, Recommended Reads; Emma Lindsey, Newsletter Editor. As we have no other people standing for these roles, they have been formally accepted into these positions.
Sponsors
We would like to thank all the sponsors who have financially contributed to the organisation, who provided an essential foundation for our establishment: Arts Council England, Ethedo Press, Frances Lincoln, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Mantra Lingua, Profile Books, Random House Group Ltd, Screenbase Media Ltd, Tamarind Books, The Islamic Foundation, Time Warner Books and Walker Books.
For weblinks to all of these organisations visit http://www.diversityinpublishing.com/About-Us/Sponsors
NOTICEBOARD
Below is a selection of items relevant to the issues around diversity and/or literature that you may be interested in.
Renaissance One at the Arvon Foundation Totleigh Barton : Opportunities for Writers
A week-long course from 11-16 July 2005 for writers focusing on the craft and performance. Suitable for poets, fiction and prose writers who are engaged in a work in progress. Please contact Melanie Abrahams for more details 07956 110330 or email events@renaissanceone.com
Diversity Marketing Forum
Marketing Week are holding the first ever diversity marketing forum on Wednesday 22nd June. An impressive line-up of speakers include the Head of Diversity at the BBC, the National Diversity Manager from Ford and the BME Communications Manager from COI Communications amongst others. Tickets are £699 for the private section.
Visit http://www.marketingweekconferences.com for more information
The Ethnic Diversity Fair - Manchester University
A specialist national event for Black and Asian students and graduates aimed at supporting and encouraging more ethnic diversity in graduate recruitment. Wednesday 12 October 2005.
Visit http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/events/fairs/ethnicdiversity/ for more information
Black and Asian Poetry Research
Arts Council England have launched an online survey into publishing opportunities for black and Asian poets. The council commissioned new writing initiative Spread the Word to manage the research following concern that only one black writer featured in the 2004 Next Generation Poets list.
Visit http://www.spreadtheword.co.uk for details