TODAY'S NEWS

Penguin Launches Online Network
By Jim Milliot
In an effort to give more exposure to underserved books and authors often overlooked by mainstream media, Penguin Group has launched an online network which it is calling “From the Publisher’s Office.” The network will have three “channels” -- one each for video, audio and reading.

Inside the video channel, which Penguin is calling The Screening Room, are four series that will contain a variety of different episodes. Penguin Storytime and YA Central will highlight different children’s and YA books, while Tarcher Talks will feature subjects tied to Penguin’s New Age imprint. Project Paranormal will have episodes on vampires, werewolves and other unholy subjects. The audio channel, or Radio Room, will feature audio programs built around Penguin Classics on Air, Penguin Business Thought Leaders, Penguin Audio Book Break and A Cup of Poetry. The Reading Room channel will feature a different Penguin book each month from which a new chapter will be posted each week with an interactive interview with the author in the fourth week. The channel is kicking off with Jane Green, author of Dune Road. Read on »

Do Indie Lists Really Matter?
By Judith Rosen
When writer and Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Lisa Scottoline (Look Again) asked who she had to sleep with to get on the Indie Bestsellers Lists at the opening panel of the day of education at BEA, she pointed up what some consider to be a flaw in the American Booksellers Association’s bestsellers list: it is weighted so that it doesn’t reflect raw sales. Although Scottoline has over 25 million copies of her books in print and has hit many bestsellers list—including The New York Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly—she has yet to appear on the Indie list. This despite touring to independent bookstores and offering a special co-op promotion in the spring for her local New Atlantic Independent Booksellers. Read on »

Borders Names Arthur Keeney to Marketing Spot

As it looks for ways to boost sales, Borders Group has appointed Arthur Keeney senior v-p of marketing, effective June 29. Keeney, according to Borders, will be charged with supplying strategic direction for the retailer’s “sales-driving initiatives and lead the team responsible for development and execution of effective marketing and promotional programs across all channels, including e-mail, Internet, direct marketing, CRM, advertising, in-store marketing, publicity, entertainment alliances and social media.” While Borders has been able to reduce costs, it has had less success improving sales and CEO Ron Marshall has said boosting revenue is now the chain’s top priority, something he believes can be done in part by better storewide execution. Read on »

Comings and Goings

If you've been laid off recently, left your job or landed a new position and would like to pass along your contact information to others in the business, send details to pwletters@reedbusiness.com. Please include your full name and former title/company.

Chris Kahn, former West Coast ad director for Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and School Library Journal, is now heading up sales and marketing for Nora Rawlinson's site EarlyWord.com, which keeps collection development and reader advisory librarians up-to-date on the books and audio they need to meet patron demands.

Jeffrey Pedone, former email and digital marketing director at Incisive Media, can be reached at jpedone@consultsilverlining.com and www.jeffpedone.com.

You can find a full list of all those who have appeared in Comings and Goings here. Read on »

The PW Morning Report
By Craig Morgan Teicher
Librarians vs. Google; A Pair of Wallace Bios; The Times on Salinger; Teen Books to Burn? Read on »

Blogs

AUTHORS ON THE AIR

Authors on the Air: Danielle Steel; Arthur Laurents; Emeril Lagasse
Today, Good Morning America had a visit from Danielle Steel, whose new book is Matters of the Heart (Delacorte Press, 978-0385340274, $27; Brilliance Audio abridged CD, $26.99). Read on »

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Going Lavender in Hawaii
On Sunday June 7, Tom Arnold stopped by the Lavender Faire, an event held in Maui to support the Muse Elementary School, a local progressive school. Arnold is pictured here with John Evans, co-owner of the California chainlet, Diesel, A Bookstore. Submit your pictures here »

JOB OF THE DAY

PW VIRTUAL EDITION

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