Cross-sector body to issue new guidelines against harassment five years on

The cross-industry group which launched in the wake of the #MeToo movement has announced an update to its original list of commitments on industry values, five years on, to “reflect the changes” both in the books trade and in wider society. 

The first sector-wide commitments to tackle harassment across publishing and bookselling were launched in 2018, following a joint effort from the Association of Authors’ Agents (AAA), the Booksellers Association (BA), the Publishers Association (PA) and the Society of Authors (SoA).  

Known as the Industry Commitment to Professional Behaviour in Bookselling & Publishing, the values were based on a year of consultation and were underpinned by principles of professionalism, dignity and respect, and highlighting the power dynamics that can exist across publishing. The commitment was aimed at everyone in the industry, from corporate publishers to individual authors.

The step followed The Bookseller’s survey into sexual harassment in which over half of the 388 respondents reported experiencing harassment, including booksellers, large and small publishers, agents, scouts, authors, events organisers and freelances. Where people had been harassed, it was often been carried out by more senior or high-status male colleagues, professional contacts, authors or clients, and the targets were often young, in junior roles, new in the workplace or working freelance.

Now the collective has revealed there has been progress over the last year to update the original document. 

Natalie Jerome, co-convener of the industry EDI Forum, said: “As we approach five years since the original Industry Commitment to Professional Behaviour in Bookselling & Publishing, we have been working collectively over the last 12 months to update the document to better reflect the changes both in our industry, and in society. We look forward to sharing this in due course.” 

The forum added there will not be any further information available until the launch.

The news comes as the wider subject comes into renewed focus following allegations of rape and sexual assault by comedian and author Russell Brand reported in the Sunday Times and by Channel 4’s "Dispatches". Pan Macmillan imprint Bluebird has now paused all future publishing with Brand while Curtis Brown-owned literary and talent agency Tavistock Wood has stopped working with the presenter. Brand has denied the allegations.