Founded in 1973, the Media Coalition is highly regarded as a shrewd, tireless frontline advocate in monitoring and opposing legislation that impinges upon the freedom of expression, freedom to publish, and the freedom to read.
Around the Book World: Monday, September 21, 2026
Publishing analyst Carlo Carrenho kicks off the week with a review of the headlines from across the international publishing world.
Luiz Schwarcz on 40 Years of Companhia das Letras, and the Editor’s Craft
As Companhia das Letras brings its anniversary celebrations to the Frankfurt Book Fair, its founder discusses the publisher’s evolution, Brazil’s changing book market, and the English-language release of ‘The First Reader.’
IPA Announces Shortlist for Inaugural Freedom of Expression Defenders Award
“These are all initiatives showing how we can fight for freedom of expression, for the freedom to publish and for the freedom to read,” said IPA President Gvantsa Jobava.
Judges Reveal the Longlist for the 2026 Booker Prize
“It’s been an extraordinary seven months,” said Mary Beard, Chair of the Booker Prize 2026 judging panel, in a statement accompanying this year’s longlist. “The five Booker judges have each read 163 books, discussed and debated them, and sometimes re-read them, to whittle them down to a longlist of just 13.”
Penguin Random House Urges U.S. Congress to Reject Republican Book Banning Bill
“The bill creates strong incentives for schools to remove or avoid a wide range of books and materials,” wrote PRH SVP Skip Dye in a letter to lawmakers, adding that, if passed, the law would also force educators and librarians to self-censor, resulting in “further marginalization of vulnerable communities.”
U.S. Appeals Court Deals a Blow to the Freedom to Read
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled that school officials and politicians have broad discretion to order the removal of books from school libraries as long as the removals are “reasonably” related to “legitimate pedagogical concerns.”
Bertelsmann Reports Slight Revenue Increase Amid a Tough Global Economy
In a year-end letter to employees, PRH CEO Nihar Malaviya sounded an optimistic note and praised the company’s ‘agility and adaptability.’
Around the Book World: Monday, March 16, 2026
Among the headlines this week: Brazil’s Livraria Leitura reports solid growth in 2025; in a translation milestone, Penguin Random House Peru publishes its first book in Quechua; the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is postponed; and more on the digital shift in Sweden.
London Book Fair 2026: In Opening Keynote, PRH U.K. CEO Talks Book Fairs, AI, and ‘Red Lines’
In a wide-ranging 45-minute opening keynote, Penguin Random House U.K. CEO Tom Weldon addressed a wide array of issues.