Tuesday, August 02, 2005

International Young Publisher of the Year Award

We're looking for a Malaysian candidate for this award. (Yes, I'm wearing my British Council hat now!) Are you eligible? Or do you know someone who might be?
In 2006 the British Council will award the International Young Publisher of the Year (IYPY) award for the third time – to champion and celebrate the importance of creative entrepreneurs working in the international publishing sector – showcasing individual achievement and potential. The award will be promoted through the British Council’s international network of offices, focussing on transitional and developing economies.

IYPY is awarded in partnership with London Book Fair ), the largest publishing networking event in Europe in the spring.

For the purpose of the IYPY award participants can be from any of the following sectors:
• Publishing (including e-tailing and e-publishing)
• Agents
• Literary festivals
• Retailing

A participant should be:
• Aged between 25 and 35
• Already working within the publishing industry (as broadly defined above)
• Through their character, drive and abilities demonstrate their potential to be a future leader of the sector in their country
• Be entrepreneurial and have shown their ability to promote publishing in their country
• Have English language skills to IELTS 6 - ‘competent user’ or above.

A participant should not primarily be an academic, writer, author or poet.

The finalists will fly to the UK for a fourteen day visit; a tour of the national publishing industry which will culminate in attending the London Book Fair (5-7 march 2006). They will also have a chance to make a book 'pitch' to present a title from their country which they feel deserves to reach a wider international market.

There's a lot more information on the flyer I received, but by now you will have said to yourself "That sounds like me/my friend," or you will have sighed deeply because you'd love the opportunity, but don't fit the bill. (I wish I could enter!!!!!!)

If you fall into the first category, e-mail me at sbakar@streamyx.com and I will forward the information to you.

14 comments:

Chet said...

The font colour makes it a bit hard to read. Can change it to plain white? Thanks.

bibliobibuli said...

Grey as a compromise!

minishorts said...

I WANT THE FORM. I'm emailing you!

iesnek said...

it seems I'm too young to be a young publisher. Why 25 and above.. *sigh* =(

Anonymous said...

LOL.. they say you're never too old to be young, but apparently you can be too young to be young :)

Compromises are always grey. Greyish anyway. Like flannel suits.

bibliobibuli said...

I'm sighing too 'cos i'd love to be eligible for this!!!!

anonymous - very apt on both points!

julianzzz- there's always next year and the next ... if you really are interested start building up your portfolio now ...

minishorts - i don't have form only further info ... this posting was just to gauge whether there was any interest and any possible candidates.

Anonymous said...

I just noticed.. why young "publisher" and not young "writer" ?

This reminds me of something I read. Two er.. "publishers" were celebrating the arrival of their first paycheques.

"So we're writers now."

"No we're not. James Joyce is a writer. C. S. Lewis is a writer. We're pimps. We whore the language for money."

bibliobibuli said...

anonymous - because we're not looking for writers but for folks in the publishing industry! ... people who encourage and promote the writing of others, whether for money or out of the kindess of their heart.

Anonymous said...

Gosh,, but then they shouldn't accept people who self-publish (or maybe they don't already ?) it's not like they're "publishers" in the true sense of the word ?

bibliobibuli said...

Porty - who's the "they"? The bookshops and major distributors positively encourage self-published writers.

One problem with self-publishing is that the writer needs a good editor and few self-published writers are prepared to pay for one.

Anonymous said...

By "they" I mean BC. It's not like anyone can put up something on the net and call himself (or herself, let's not play favourites here) a publisher ? but then they (BC again) seem to accept then. Note that they specifically mention "e-tailing" and "e-publishing".

bibliobibuli said...

Okay, now I understand you, Porty. They will be looking for publishers who publish others. That's not the same as self-publishing, but will include operators of "small presses".

Anonymous said...

.. and why are there awards for "young publishers" but not "old publishers" ? :)

bibliobibuli said...

Good point, Porty. I can think of several people who would be eligible (movers and shakers who know the industry locally and care about book and writers) but who are over the age limit ...