Here is a round-up of some of the latest writing news in the world of journalism and publishing.
What Happens When a Publisher Becomes a Megapublisher?
The merger of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster has the potential to touch every part of the industry, including how much authors get paid and how bookstores are run. (NY Times)
Writer's Blockdown: After a Year Inside, Novelists are Struggling to Write
A spell at home is surely a good opportunity to write, so why are so many authors struggling? (Guardian)
Amazon ‘Outing’ Author Pen Names!
Many authors write under pen names to hide their true identities, and until now have done so under the perfectly reasonable assumption that Amazon would keep that identity secret. There are plenty of good reasons why an author would want to maintain their privacy, and no good reasons for Amazon (or any other publishing company) to put that privacy at risk.
Despite this, late last week a number of authors started reporting that Amazon Ads had sent physical letters to their homes, addressed to their secret pen names for anyone in the household picking up the mail to see. (Hidden Gems Books)
Australia: Facebook Re-friends Australian News but Doubts Remain
Facebook announced it would reverse its decision to block Australian news from the platform after a breakthrough in negotiations with Australia’s government over its proposed News Media Bargaining Code. The IFJ and its Australian affiliate the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) welcome the outcome, but remain concerned at the failure of the code to support smaller media organisations and freelancers. (IFJ)
