The publishing world is agog about resignations and the sacking of a foul-mouth
Melbourne University Publishing ‘lost its spine’ with the resignation of chief executive Louise Adler, The Australian, Thursday:
Adler … turned MUP into the leading imprint for Australian political memoirs, contemporary history and serious nonfiction.
Serious nonfiction? Melbourne’s Herald Sun, Thursday:
Adler oversaw the publisher’s move into more mainstream titles during her time as chief executive, including publishing the autobiography of underworld identity Mick Gatto. Gatto has praised Ms Adler for her work on his 2009 book, I, Mick Gatto, which sold more than 90,000 copies. “All I can say is that she was very good at what she did and she will be a big loss for them. They did a very good job, I don’t think they discriminated, they just gave the public what they wanted to read.”
Former Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs gets into the resignation act, The Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday:
Triggs told ABC Radio National on Wednesday that she heard the phrase “airport trash” being used to describe books published by the university. She described it as a “derogatory” phrase that was designed to “denigrate” books of a very high calibre. “I did hear that phrase being bandied around, I don’t know which books it referred to and who used that phrase. I’m afraid once you come up with a snappy phrase like that it takes off like wildfire. It’s a most unfortunate phrase and I don’t think it’s a phrase aptly used for the very fine publications of MUP.
Perhaps Melbourne University might change its mind? Books +Publishing website, yesterday:
Victorian Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley has called on the university to reverse its decision … (to) focus on scholarly publishing … Foley called on the university to “reconsider and reverse” its position … so that it can continue its role as a “cultural leader, not a cultural handbrake … The university can surely walk and chew gum at the one time.”
Tim Blair in Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph, Thursday:
It’s an old-style luvvie literature uprising down south, where several resignations have followed a directive to Melbourne University Press that they no longer publish garbage.
The Australian’s Strewth columnist James Jeffrey tweets, Thursday:
One of my great joys was having a book beaten out of me by Louise Adler at MUP. I’m ecstatic I still get to work with @heath_sally, but the hole Louise leaves will be hefty.
Rosemary Sorensen, Daily Review website, yesterday:
If she didn’t exist, we’d need to invent (Louise Adler). Not a decade had gone by since she took over the loose and gently swaying reins of the perennial plodder Australian Book Review in 1988 … without another dramatic episode featuring brilliant Louise Adler … Another shutting down of what we need, and a serious attack on the value of intellectual debate … There are alternatives … so it’s not as though the last defender of unfettered publishing has been burned at the stake.
More publishing turmoil, The Australian, yesterday:
Nine Entertainment has claimed its first scalp since taking over the Fairfax Media stable, sacking … columnist, self-styled feminist warrior Clementine Ford after she called Scott Morrison a f..king disgrace.
Publicity blurb on Ford’s book from Allen & Unwin, October 2018:
The incendiary new book about toxic masculinity and misogyny (Boys will be Boys) … “Everyone’s afraid that their daughters might be hurt. No one seems to be scared that their sons might be the ones to do it … This book … is the culmination of many years of writing about power, abuse, privilege, male entitlement and rape culture.”