Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Publishing Controversies




So, Harpers Collins and Newscorp decided to dump the OJ Simpson book and TV interview. Rupert Murdoch sent out a statement saying that it was an 'ill-considered' move on their part. Really now? Let me guess, stock price at Newscorp go tumbling? Too many affliates decided not to run the show. Booksellers like Borders saying they planned to donate all proceeds from the books to charity. Too many independent booksellers saying they wouldn't stock the book?

Let's face it, if Newscorp thought they were actually going to make some money of this book, they would have continued to publish it in the face of the controversy. But when everyone, including the people you are depending on to help promote the book, and to sell it, don't want to, you have to fold up your tent and go.

What sucks the most out of this, is that OJ doesn't have to return the money, since Harper Collins cancelled the book. And he hid his tracks so well (the man has a good team of lawyers) that it will take years for the Goldman and Brown families to find out where the money trail leads.

And Judith Regan? Her contention that she felt that the book was OJ's confession, and that's the only reason why she was interested was ludicrous. Did anyone buy that? And then her statement that well, she was a battered wife and she was publishing the book for them, to prove how a powerful man can hide his crimes? Unfortunately, Ms. Regan will live to publish again.

I hate censorship, but I have to say that in this case, I thought that Harper Collins publishing this book was in poor taste.

In other news, I read today that parents in a town in Illinois want to ban a book about how two male penguins raise a baby penguin because it promotes a homosexual lifestyle. Okay, first of all, the book is based on a true story. Second, they're penguins, people. Not humans, but birds who live in cold climates. Let's forget the fact that the book is a sweet story, or that it shows that two males, whether human or animal, can nuture a baby. Let's just focus on the fact that's it tow members of the same sex.

Oy! Now that kind of censorship really burns my but. When they start picking on innocent picture books.

Thanks for reading.

EKM

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