Image – Getty: Jorge Elizaquibel
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
Compliance With the European Accessibility Act
As Publishing Perspectives readers know, the implementation on June 28 of the European Accessibility Act (EEA)—has mandated multiple new standards and criteria for the sale of ebooks in the European bloc, and those obligations are pertinent to anyone selling content into the region.
As Cristina Musinelli, secretary general of the Milan-based Fondazione LIA‘s “APACE” conference directed by Elisa Molinari in Fiesole said in late June, “We’ve had a lot of calls,” as publishing players in many parts of the world become aware that the EEA is now in force.
Today (September 17), Simon & Schuster in New York announced that it has become the only United States Big Five publisher to hold “Global Certified Accessible” accreditation of Palo Alto-based Benetech, with which our international readership is very familiar.
Indeed, in 2019, we had news that Macmillan Learning had earned Benetech’s GCA accreditation, making its educational content “born accessible,” as the saying goes at Benetech.
George Kerscher
A nonprofit, Benetech in 2017 announced that its GCA accreditation was ready.
The idea of ebooks being “born accessible” means that a publisher works the various standards required for accredited accessibility into the publishing workflow so that accessibility is not an afterthought but an integrated element of book production.
The success of the concept is owed, in part, to years of international advocacy by Benetech’s George Kerscher, whose work in the field earned him a White House Champion of Change honor during the Barack Obama administration.
Alex Del Negro
On today’s news from New York City, S&S director of ebook development Alex Del Negro says, “Accessibility has been a focus for us for years, and Benetech’s guidance, expertise, and advocacy helped navigate and shape this new and necessary frontier.
“From our initial conversations with Benetech in 2018, to becoming the first US Global Certified Accessible trade publisher in 2022, to today and beyond, Simon & Schuster is proud to take these steps alongside Benetech and proud of how far our industry has come in this shared accessible journey.”
Michael Johnson
At Benetech, Michael Johnson, the company’s vice-president for content, is quoted, saying, “Benetech congratulates Simon & Schuster for leading the way in accessible publishing.
“As the only GCA-certified major trade publisher in the United States, S&S . . . shows what’s possible when accessibility is built into every book from the start.”
Programming Notes
APACE Presentation and Meet-Up on Accessibility
At Frankfurter Buchmesse, Fondazione LIA’s APACE project (Accelerating Publishing Accessibility Through Collaboration in Europe) presents Voices From the Inside: What’s Next for European Accessible Publishing? Speakers include Kristina Kramer, deputy director for European and International Affairs at the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels, Germany’s publishers and booksellers association.
4 to 4:30 p.m. October 15
Frankfurt Studio, Hall 4.0
Publishing Perspectives moderates this session.
“The European Accessibility Act is no longer on the horizon—it’s here, and it’s transforming the publishing landscape across Europe. In this dynamic 30-minute fireside chat, representatives from the publishing industry will discuss how the industry is adapting now that the EAA is in force. The conversation will dive into the critical areas that still need to be addressed, how national implementations are unfolding, the differences emerging across countries. Join us for a fast-paced exchange on what’s next for accessible publishing in Europe.”
Immediately following that, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., there’s an APACE meet-up in which participants are invited to join a networking event with international colleagues and accessibility experts. This event is in Room Entente, Hall 4C.
Publishing Perspectives Forum Executive Talk
Simon & Schuster UK’s Perminder Mann
Perminder Mann
The opening of three exclusive Executive Talks in the annual Publishing Perspectives Forum features a live discussion with Perminder Mann, CEO of Simon & Schuster UK and International.
In conversation with Publishing Perspectives.
11 to 11:45 a.m.
Frankfurt Studio, Hall 4.0
Perminder Mann had been CEO of Bonnier Books UK in London for nearly eight years when it was announced in February that she would succeed Simon & Shuster UK and International CEO Ian Chapman. She assumed the dual-CEO position at S&S from Chapman’s well-proven hands in May, immediately becoming one of a small number of women CEOs of Big Four (UK) or Big Five (USA) houses. This year, she was named by Vogue as one of the 25 women defining Britain.
On this simplified ground plan of halls at Messe Frankfurt, the location of Frankfurt Studio in Hall 4.0 is indicated in yellow
More from Publishing Perspectives on trends and issues involving accessibility in world book publishing is here, more on the work of Fondazione LIA is here, and more on issues and publishing in Europe is here. More on the work of Simon & Schuster is here. More from Publishing Perspectives on Frankfurter Buchmesse is here, more on international trade shows and book fairs is here, and more on publishing conferences and events in the international trade industry is here.
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