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☆ Penguin Random House, Authors Sue Iowa Officials Over School Book Ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Kim Reynolds, seen with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, signed a state law earlier this year that bans books in school libraries or classrooms that depict or describe sex acts. Photo: rachel mummey/ReutersPenguin Random House has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block school book banning in Iowa, the latest effort by publishers, authors and teachers to counter the removal of works from school classrooms and libraries. The legal action, filed Thursday in federal district court in the Southern District of Iowa, was prompted by a state law passed earlier this year that bans books in school libraries or classrooms that depict or describe sex acts. The law also bans books that address gender identity or sexual orientation for students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

Persons: Kim Reynolds, Ron DeSantis, rachel mummey Organizations: Iowa Gov, Florida Gov, Random, Southern District of Locations: Iowa, Southern District, Southern District of Iowa

☆ Small Bookstores Shun Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Upcoming Book
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg | Eliza Collins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Some booksellers have decided not to stock Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s latest book, ‘The Wuhan Cover-Up,’ citing concerns about the presidential candidate’s past positions. Photo: Ronen Tivony/Zuma PressIndependent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a member of the most famous political family in the U.S. and a bestselling author. But it may be hard to find his newest book at the local bookstore when it comes out next week. Some booksellers have decided not to stock Kennedy’s latest, “The Wuhan Cover-Up and the Terrifying Bioweapons Arms Race,” citing concerns about the author’s past positions.

Persons: Robert F, Kennedy Jr, ’, Ronen Tivony Organizations: Zuma Press Locations: Wuhan, U.S

☆ Scholastic Planned to Segregate Diverse Titles at School Book Fairs. Then Came the Backlash.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Scholastic, one of the world’s largest publishers of children’s books, has operated book fairs for decades. Photo: Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group/Getty ImagesScholastic has reversed a decision to put certain books about gender and race into a separate collection that elementary schools can choose whether or not to offer during book fairs, after the publisher faced criticism that the move helped facilitate censorship. The company on Wednesday said the new collection—which it had created out of concern for its book-fair hosts after some U.S. states put restrictions in place about what kinds of books could be made available in schools—would be discontinued starting in January.

Persons: Lindsey Nicholson Organizations: Getty Locations: —

☆ A Murdoch Heir’s Start-and-Stop Climb to the Top
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Joe Flint | Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/business/media/a-murdoch-heirs-start-and-stop-climb-to-the-top-539ea625

Persons: Dow Jones, murdoch

☆ Biographies of Elon Musk and Sam Bankman-Fried Headline Fall Push for Publishers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/business/media/biographies-of-elon-musk-and-sam-bankman-fried-headline-fall-push-for-publishers-64cb42c4

Persons: Dow Jones, 64cb42c4 Locations: elon

☆ Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg — Reporter at The Wall Street Journal
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +2 min

Jeffrey A. TrachtenbergJeffrey Trachtenberg covers the book industry and is part of the Journal’s Media and Marketing Bureau in New York. Other topics in Jeff’s coverage have included the popularity of political books, debates over “cancel culture” within publishing houses and other literary trends. Jeff co-authored a 2021 series on the succession drama at Scholastic, following the unexpected death of the children’s publisher’s longtime boss. Jeff has also covered the magazine industry for the Journal, chronicling how giants such as Condé Nast have sought to pivot from a focus on glossy print titles into online publishers. Previously, Jeff covered the retailing, consumer electronics and music industries for the Journal, reporting on such big retail chains as Federated Department Stores and Saks Fifth Avenue, and the music arms of Sony, Bertelsmann and Polygram.

Persons: Jeffrey A, Trachtenberg Jeffrey Trachtenberg, he’s, Barnes, Noble, Jimmy Carter, Philip Roth, J.K, Rowling, Jeff, Condé Nast, Barry, Meredith, Ralph Lauren, Jacqueline Bisset, Kirk Douglas, Lew Wasserman Organizations: Journal’s Media, Marketing Bureau, Scholastic, IAC, Better Homes, Gardens, Federated Department Stores, Saks Fifth, Sony, Bertelsmann, Polygram, Forbes, Franklin & Marshall College Locations: New York, Westchester, N.Y

Anne SteeleAnne Steele covers the music industry for The Wall Street Journal's entertainment bureau in Los Angeles. She was previously a breaking corporate news reporter in New York, and got her start at the Journal as an intern in the Detroit bureau covering the auto industry. Anne writes about the people and the companies that release, distribute and license music; the concert business and live-event ticketing; and podcasting, radio and the changing ways listeners consume audio. She has covered extensively the rise of streaming and subsequent soaring value of music assets, including the catalog acquisition space and new money pouring into the business. She grew up in Massachusetts and graduated from Northeastern University.

Persons: Anne Steele Anne Steele, Anne Organizations: Journal, Northeastern University Locations: Los Angeles, New York, Detroit, Massachusetts

☆ Spotify to Offer Paying Subscribers Free Audiobook Trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Anne Steele | Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/business/media/spotify-to-offer-paying-subscribers-free-audiobook-trial-80e9eb68

Persons: Dow Jones

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/business/media/cnn-expected-to-tap-ex-new-york-times-chief-mark-thompson-as-ceo-765c18c7

Persons: Dow Jones, 765c18c7 Organizations: cnn

Persons: Dow Jones Organizations: cnn

☆ News Corp Swings to Loss Amid Revenue Drop, Book-Publishing Struggles
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/news-corp-nwsa-q4-earnings-report-2023-2bcd28c5

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ Paramount to Sell Simon & Schuster to KKR for $1.62 Billion
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg | Jessica Toonkel | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/paramount-para-q2-earnings-report-2023-b4308cc6

Persons: Dow Jones

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/kkr-in-advanced-talks-to-buy-simon-schuster-for-roughly-1-65-billion-da69ba0b

Persons: Dow Jones, schuster Organizations: kkr

☆ KKR to Sell Audiobook Publisher RBmedia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg | Laura Cooper | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/kkr-to-sell-audiobook-publisher-rbmedia-62dc3914

Persons: Dow Jones Organizations: kkr

☆ Fox Settles Litigation With Former Producer for $12 Million
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/fox-settles-litigation-with-former-producer-for-12-million-fe9f52b6

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ Two Tucker Carlson Biographies Are in the Works
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/two-tucker-carlson-biographies-are-in-the-works-41b22e68

Persons: Dow Jones, tucker, carlson, 41b22e68

☆ Simon & Schuster Draws Bid From Investor Backed by Abu Dhabi-Based Sovereign Fund
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg | Jessica Toonkel | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/simon-schuster-draws-bid-from-investor-backed-by-abu-dhabi-based-sovereign-fund-2787adf

Persons: Dow Jones, simon, schuster Locations: dhabi

☆ The Latest Must-Have Taylor Swift Merch Is This Children’s Book
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-latest-must-have-taylor-swift-merch-is-this-childrens-book-7720cf59

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ HarperCollins, KKR Emerge as Bidders for Book Publisher Simon & Schuster
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Jessica Toonkel | Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/harpercollins-and-kkr-emerge-as-bidders-for-book-publisher-simon-schuster-9e2a7fc5

Persons: Dow Jones, simon, schuster, 9e2a7fc5 Organizations: harpercollins, kkr

☆ ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ Author Elizabeth Gilbert’s New Book Is Withdrawn by Penguin Random House
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/eat-pray-love-author-elizabeth-gilberts-new-book-is-withdrawn-by-penguin-random-house-38c2bed

Persons: Dow Jones, elizabeth

☆ Your Favorite Book Won’t Be Turned Into a TV Show Anytime Soon
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Sarah Krouse | Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/hollywood-writers-strike-halts-book-adaptation-deals-d5aad4c1

☆ AI Is Bringing the Voice of the Dead Back to Narrate Your Audiobook
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Edward Herrmann, a prolific actor who narrated dozens of audiobooks, has been dead for almost a decade. But that hasn’t prevented him from being the voice of several recent audiobooks. Mr. Herrmann’s latest work is generated by DeepZen Ltd., a London-based artificial-intelligence startup that was given access to the actor’s past recordings with his family’s permission. From that trove, DeepZen said it is able to generate any sound and intonation that Mr. Herrmann would have used if he were narrating these new books himself.

☆ He’s Been Dead for Nearly 10 Years. Now He’s Narrating Your Audiobook.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ He’s Narrating Your New Audiobook. He’s Also Been Dead for Nearly 10 Years.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Online-Books Lawsuit Tests Limits of Libraries in Digital Age
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Erin Mulvaney | Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Internet Archive, in San Francisco, lends digital versions of physical books it has scanned to readers worldwide. A federal judge on Monday will weigh pleas by four major book publishers to stop an online lending library from freely offering digital copies of books, in a case that raises novel questions about digital-library rights and the reach of copyright law that protects the work of writers and publishers. Nonprofit organization Internet Archive created the digital books, building its collection by scanning physical book copies in its possession. It lends the digital versions to readers worldwide, with more than three million digitized books on offer. Titles range from Stephen King ’s scary bestseller “It” to Kristin Hannah ’s historical novel “The Nightingale.”

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