Joining Peter Cox this week are Donna Ballman, Beverly Gray and Dave Bartram and special guest Carolyn Soutar.

In this week’s show the panellists share their views on a multitude of news items. How do they feel about Zadie Smith’s attack on Literary Prizes? What lessons can the Publishing Industry learn from the impending death of the newspaper? And Self-Publishing, is this just a new, legitimate name for Vanity Press? Numerous other topics are discussed and as the discussion becomes heated, things are said, and conclusions are reached, not least about whether Aliens Love Underpants is the real title of a book.

Zadie Smith Attacks Literary Prizes

In The Telegraph, Nicole Martin reports that Zadie Smith has ‘launched a blistering attack on Literary Prizes.’

Comments from the panel include:

• She’s biting the hand that feeds her. (Carolyn)
• I think she should have some class and support her prize if she wins it. If she doesn’t want it, don’t accept it. (Donna)
• The more prizes the better chances aspiring writers have. (Beverly)
• There’s no such thing a free lunch, the money has to come from somewhere. (Dave)

Watersone’s waive charges

Publishing News reports that Waterstone’s is to waive charges to Publishers in its New Voices promotion in contrast to Borders which will charge for inclusion in its New Authors Promotion.

Comments from the panel include:

• I’m just disappointed that when you go to Airports and bookshops that they’re promoting products that have been heavily paid for rather than with integrity. (Carolyn)
• Bookstores are businesses, are they supposed to put up displays out of the goodness of their hearts? They’re in it to make money. (Donna)

The long lingering death of the Newspaper

By year’s end the New York Times will cut 100 newsroom positions, executive editor Bill Keller has announced and Tribune CEO Sam Zell announced in an email to employees that he’ll be cutting 400-500 positions.

The Economist says “The business of selling words to readers and selling readers to advertisers, which has sustained their role in society, is falling apart.”

What has lead to the demise of the newspaper? And what will replace the newspapers’ role in society?

Comments from the panel include:

• I think at the moment everyone is tightening their belts. (Carolyn)
• I no longer consider newspapers a reliable source of anything but local news. (Donna)
• The internet is simply cheaper, isn’t it? (Dave)
• Where else would we find that ‘Voice of the Nation talking to itself’? (Peter)
• I think the Internet and the bloggers have broken it wide open again. You’re not getting your news source directed from one group or one policy. I think we’re seeing a whole new evolution taking place because of the internet. (Beverly)
• Do you think a blogger could bring down a President or a Prime Minister? (Peter)

Celebrity Law Suits

The panel give their views on Nicholas Cage suing Kathleen Turner over allegations made in her Biography and the Tolkein estate suing New Line Cinema.

What Use are Directors anyway?
An exclusive on Litopia After Dark – A leaked contractual clause shows one of the unmodifyable standard terms from a TV director’s contract:

(c) promptly and faithfully comply with all instructions of the Company as may be given in accordance with these Conditions including but not limited to those involving artistic taste and judgment;

part of The PACT Conditions of Engagement for Directors (2006 edition).

So how do we feel about that? And how would we feel if Publishers imposed a similar contract on authors? (Peter)

How far would you allow yourself to be pushed by an editorial director? (Peter)

Has Vanity Publishing gone Legit?

“Now you can break into the publishing world and see your work in print,” the Gather.com press release says enthusiastically, as it announces the launch of Gather Community Press. This is a collaboration with AuthorHouse (which recently acquired iUniverse) providing, for a fee, publication of your literary work. Their program includes six free review copies, which you’re encouraged to confer on other Gather members, and 50,000 free ad impressions to promote your book on the site.

Why is this not a Vanity Press? And why is this new name of ‘self-publishing’ now legitimate and why are we no longer hearing voices of outrage being raised? (Peter)

Are Americans Hostile to knowledge?

DISCLAIMER: This discussion topic applies to all Western civilisations, not only Americans.

In an article in the New York Times, Patricia Cohen reports on a new book by Susan Jacoby called ‘The Age of American Unreason’ in which she zeroes in on what she feels is general hostility to knowledge.

Comments from the panel include:

• We have massive polarising swings [...] I suspect it’s just one generation grating against another. (Beverly)
• With the use of the internet information is no longer sought and found and digested and then represented, it is copied and simply regurgitated on demand. There is no engagement with knowledge the way there should be. (Dave)
• I think as a country Americans tend to be anti- intellectual but I think we’re really dying for knowledge. (Donna)
• It’s quite a paradox isn’t it? (Peter)
• Knowledge has to be made attractive again, hasn’t it? (Dave)
• Celebrity culture, I feel, is at the root of this entire problem. To be famous you do not need to know things. (Carolyn)

Download the show as mp3 file

Photo by Zach_ManchesterUK

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