The Bookseller.com

7th October 2008

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PA makes age guidance statement

08.07.08 Caroline Horn

The Publishers Association has confirmed that authors will be consulted individually about the inclusion of age guidance on their covers. The PA met with the Society of Authors at a meeting last week, following author opposition to age guidance on children's books. In a joint statement, the associations said "publishers were happy to confirm that there has been, and remains, no question of age guidance being added to a book without full consultation with the author".

However, publishers and authors remain opposed over who should have the final say as to whether or not age guidance is included on a cover, "those speaking for authors feel[ing] strongly that authors should have the right to refuse to have age guidance on their books".

Further information about the consultation process is expected later today. 

The statement in full read as follows: "At a meeting involving the Publishers Association, the Society of Authors, and Philip Pullman (on behalf of the signatories of the online statement), the publishers were happy to confirm that there has been, and remains, no question of age guidance being added to a book without full consultation with the author. The remaining point of difference, which is to be considered further, was that those speaking for authors feel strongly that authors should have the right to refuse to have age guidance on their books."

 

Caroline Horn publishers association children's Home