‘A Responsibility to Publish? Vocation and Education’*

Sarah Totterdell, Oxfam

Alan Samson, Orion

Chris Brazier, New Internationalist

Robert Sharp,  English PEN

Click here for the speaker list & profiles (not final)

The closing debate will look at whether or not publishers have, or should have, a responsibility towards both global and local society based on a duty to disseminate knowledge and thought.

In particular, the view that publishing can be used as one of the most powerful tools in raising people's awareness of important issues and events, helping to spread new ideas and encourage debate. 

Some questions up for discussion:

1. •Reactive vs. pro-active publishing – namely, publishing which reflects or influences society?
   

2. •Access to knowledge: can publishers do more to increase the distribution of their products, making information more accessible to more communities and people (both locally and globally)?
   

3. •Does the publishing industry have an ethical responsibility to improve literacy and educate readers throughout the global community? What impact can the industry realistically have?
   

4. •How can we develop readership in the developed and developing world?
   

5. •Should UK publishers publish for developing countries? Or should local publishers be given room to flourish?
   

6. •Literature for the masses, bulk discounts for supermarkets and online retailers: are we only reading the bestsellers? Are they ever the ‘best’ books?
   

Explore more of the programme by clicking the boxes below:

*Programme, topics and speakers subject to change

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