On a related matter: Is it not a conflict of interest for

[malaise]

Celebrity Media men to be allowed to peddle their books across M$M when ordinary citizens who write significantly better books do not have this access.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. No

It's how the world works. And who's to say which book is better? It's all subjective, and, like everywhere else, people take care of their own.

There's no conflict.

[stillcool]

2. that's right...

the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. It's how our government works. Who cares?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

4. I don't know about "care,"

but I do know how the world works. Some people get rich, and some people are poor. I don't know what that has to do with an organization publicizing a book put out by one of their employees. When I have a book coming out, the alumni magazines of the schools I went to publicize it. Does that sound wrong to you? If it does, alas, that's difficult, because we are a nation of communal gatherings, and our groups, at the best of times, do everything they can to cheer us on when we do something special.

[readmoreoften]

7. Yep. A nation of "communal groups"

"communal groups of the haves": alumni associations of expensive private universities, executive boards, country clubs, gated communities, business associations=total access to media.

"communal groups of the have nots": local churches, labor unions, economic activist circles=zero access to media.

Meritocracy and the Class Beat-down are like oil and water. The rich get their mediocre achievements applauded. The poor go to waste. How many poor kids who might've found the cure to cancer don't get to develop themselves so that the Jamie Sues of the world can have a 10,000 wedding dress. Whatever.

"some people get rich, some people get poor"...let me guess what side you were BORN into...no credit to yourself.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

8. Not that it's any of your business,

but your ill-founded and offensive assumptions ("... expensive private universities...") leave me no choice.

Not that it's any of your business, but I come from blue-collar roots, both parents proud union members, and was the first member of my family to go to college - on scholarship.

Now, consider that and see how well it plays into your fantasy world.

[stillcool]

11. really? So you don't think there is..

any difference between pimping a book on television or having an ad in your alumni magazine?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

12. It's all publicity,

and that's the name of the game when it comes to promoting your work.

How do you think people know to buy a book unless they hear about it?

[stillcool]

13. but you seem to think that your...

alumni magazine produces the same result as advertising on cable news shows.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

14. How did you come to that conclusion?

Saying "it's all publicity" isn't the same as saying "all publicity is equal." You're making inferences where there are none.

[stillcool]

17. I thought this was about..

whether cable talk show hosts should exploit their positions to sell their wares. By reading the words as they appear on the page it seems to me you believe that there is no difference between your alumni magazine and a television viewing audience.

I don't know what that has to do with an organization publicizing a book put out by one of their employees. When I have a book coming out, the alumni magazines of the schools I went to publicize it. Does that sound wrong to you?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

19. You misunderstood

It was about groups giving a member who had something to publicize a boost.

That's all. No comparison were drawn in terms of significance. It was about how groups worked.

[stillcool]

20. No comparison?

between a media conglomerate and your alumni magazine?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

21. One more time

No comparison.

Now, I'm finished beating a horse that was never even alive..................

[polichick]

3. It would be interesting to see how many of Oprah's book club picks...

...are published by corps with ties to her own enterprises.

Unfortunately, publishing has gone the way of film and music. If a celeb spits on a few pages, they'll fight for the right to publish. If a book has true merit but is by an unknown author, the MBA bean counters will override the editor who'd like to give it a shot. Most houses have been bought up by huge congloms whose execs couldn't care less about books.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

5. I'll tell you how many

None.

Oprah owns her own corporation. Harpo. No one has any corporate ties to her.

It's true that publishers are rather in thrall to the suits, but, if you have a good editor/publisher, your book will get the attention it deserves. There's a lot more to it than just what the marketing people at the publisher do.

[polichick]

6. Which network airs Oprah's show? And which publishing houses...

...fall under the umbrella of that parent corp, or the parent companies of her advertisers??

THAT'S how it works.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

9. Huh?

A contract with someone doesn't put that entity "under an umbrella," which implies ownership.

There's ownership and there are business deals. One is not the same as the other.

[polichick]

10. You need to read up on the congloms who have scarfed up U.S. pub. houses...

Yes, most houses are now owned by congloms (often non-U.S.) that also own many other kinds of businesses ~ so the companies under the umbrella of ownership push the products of the other companies. My pub. contracts are signed by both execs at the house known for publishing books and execs with the parent corp.

[bryant69]

15. Conflict of Interest?

I guess if they tried to sell their books during a news broadcast that would be one thing; if they are invited on another show to sell their book because they are a media figure, well, that's a tricky one.

Assuming interview bookers don't have time to read every book, they book interviewers by picking who looks most interesting. And Tom Brokaw might seem more interesting, intrinsically, than John Doe from Nowheresville, USA.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[lame54]

16. Remember John Gibson's 'War on Christmas'?...

That was a product that was created for Fox News and shilled on every show like a 24 hour infomercial
Luckily few were stupid enough to bite and it tanked

[OneGrassRoot]

18. Not only that aspect....

but a more disappointing development is that publishers (most of the large houses) don't want to consider publishing a book unless the author already has a "platform." They have to do much less work then - as there is a built-in audience - and spend much less money.

That's why so many publishers are focused on nonfiction "written" by celebrities (think Dr. Phil). The majority of those are actually written by ghost writers (I am a ghost writer).

A first-time author not already known to the public is facing a bigger struggle than ever to not only have his/her manuscript read by an acquiring editor, but to even find an agent to represent it! Most large publishers won't allow submissions unless represented by an agent.

Which I really despise. Plus, you pretty much have to show that you have a great marketing plan for them to consider it, if you don't already have a platform.

I could go on and on. I collaborated on a book (my name is not on cover) and implemented the marketing plan (w/video trailer), we now have an agent, and are ready to approach publishers. But, I must say, I tremendously resent the amount of work - beyond the writing - that is an absolute necessity today for those who AREN'T famous. Sadly, IMHO, very little of this business actually involves quality writing nowadays.

If I had the funds, I know what type of publishing company I would establish...I can see it clearly....a "new way"...bringing integrity back into the mix. There are small and mid-size publishing houses with integrity, for certain, but they focus on a very specific genre. I'd like to offer various genres, with one consistent, very unique element.

Oh shit, I'm rambling....lol. Sorry. I'm not proofing this, so I hope it makes sense. :)


Edit to remove link to video. Google picks up on these posts so easily, and I don't want to have the specific project mentioned here, especially since I'm ranting. I always forget that! :) You can go to the link below to check it out there if you'd like.