Informed 12


Recruitment Update


Why the NUJ could be the next bestseller


Poor pay and lack of diversity make the books sector ripe for recruitment Te London Book Fair was buzzing. With more than 25,000 visitors over the three days and 1,500-plus exhibitors, the industry was networking, making six-figure deals, showcasing new authors, promoting already-famous ones and discussing trends in publishing and its workforce. Catherine Brereton, NEC member for


books, and Fiona Swarbrick, national organiser, were flying the NUJ flag, puting forward the union’s case during seminars on age discrimination in publishing and the need for greater diversity. Seting up shop in one of the cafes at the Olympia venue in London, they welcomed anyone who wanted to find out more about the union. Te digital revolution has not had the same devastating effect on the book trade as it has in the newspaper industry; the e-book has not killed the printed book star. Benedicte Page, deputy editor of Te Bookseller, said the publishing sector was relatively stable, while not showing much growth. “E-books are well-established, but readers still love the printed book. Publishers are making the printed book a beautiful object, with lovely jacket designs and gorgeous production. So the balance has setled between the two formats, each with its own strengths. In academic publishing, businesses are having to adapt to the digital transformation under way in scholarly communications. “Although a few big publishers dominate the publishing scene, particularly since the merger of Penguin with Random House five years ago, the independent publishing sector is really vibrant. Indies feature strongly on the literary prize shortlists and there are lots


London’s Book Fair atracts 25,000 visitors


of start-ups doing interesting things, plus a flourishing trade in regional publishing outside London.” Publishing was ripe for NUJ


recruitment and pay was proving a huge issue for editorial staff, said Catherine Brereton. “For many, pay is poor and there is a real problem with the gender pay gap.


“It is an industry dominated by women, but with mainly men at the top. It is also an industry where unpaid internships have been rife and geting a step on the ladder, say with work experience, has been the preserve of the rich and well- connected,” she said. “I went to a seminar about the need


for more diversity in the characters portrayed in books, but until you have a more diverse workforce, with people from a much wider range of backgrounds commissioning authors, this will not happen.” Last year, when companies with more than 250 employees were forced to published data on their gender gaps in pay and bonuses, there was nowhere to hide for the publishing industry. Hachete reported a 30 per cent pay gap (mean) between men and women and Elsevier Ltd 29 per cent; whereas for Penguin Books Ltd it was 6 per cent. “Tere have since been moves to tackle this issue,” said Catherine, “and it hasn’t all been a box-ticking exercise. But there is great room for improvement and the union can play an important role by working with managements to put in place policies promoting more women to top management roles. It is bewildering to see so many very talented women who don’t get to the next level.” Fiona Swarbrick believes lack of unionisation has been a factor in the poor pay.


She said: “Tere is not the same union culture in publishing that there has been in newspapers. But where the union is strong, say at Penguin Random House, Faber and Usborne, the conditions are much beter. We now need to boost our profile in the books industry – we’ll be back at the Book Fair next year and plan to speak at a seminar on the future of the publishing workforce.”


Bread & Roses chapel


bar news Te NUJ has a new partnership with the Workers Beer Company, which is running the bar on the ground floor of


the NUJ’s London HQ with a range of pop-up kitchens providing a variety of food. It’s a great place to meet contacts and network. Te Chapel Playhouse, in the basement, is London’s newest fringe theatre,


puting on stand-up comedy, play, cabaret and quiz nights. Tere is a discount for NUJ members on food, drink and tickets. For details, see What’s On: htp:// www.chapelplayhouse. co.uk/whats-on.html


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