Alice Kemp-Habib joins The Bookseller as news editor

Alice Kemp-Habib has joined The Bookseller as the magazine’s news editor. She succeeds Sian Bayley, who has left to join news fact-checking charity Full Fact.

Kemp-Habib is a freelance arts and books journalist, and her work has appeared in the Sunday Times Culture magazine, the Guardian, FT Life & Arts, the Economist, GQ, Vogue and Stylist among others. She has also freelanced at The Bookseller on the news team.

In 2020, she launched the Style x Black Writers’ Guild essay competition for young Black writers. She also judged the Discover category at The British Book Awards last year. Before that she was editor at Haringey Community Press. 

She reports to editor Philip Jones, and joins deputy news editor Heloise Wood and news journalist Melina Spanoudi, on the news desk.

Jones said: "As well as being a first-class writer, Alice’s background in arts reporting means she brings with her a wide cultural lens alongside excellent knowledge of the books business. I am delighted she is joining the team."

Kemp-Habib said: “I am thrilled to be joining The Bookseller as news editor, taking over from the brilliant and talented Sian Bayley. The team’s passion and understanding of the publishing landscape is unparalleled – I can’t wait to get stuck in.” 

Kemp-Habib can be contacted at Alice.Kemp-Habib@thebookseller.com.