Publishing trip to the Bologna Book Fair

The Book Fair, which concentrates on the children's and young adults' market sectors, also has an emphasis on illustration.

During the trip, students from the MA in Publishing had the opportunity to make contacts with professionals in the children's book world both from the UK and abroad.  Students had meetings with the literary agent Catherine Clarke; the film and TV scout Fiona Kenshole; children's books editor of the Guardian newspaper, Julia Eccleshare; Elizabeth Wright of Usborne; Alyx Price, group publicity director of Scholastic; Robert Seath of Lion Hudson; and Eirin Hagen of the Hagen Agency in Norway.

Students also met with graduates from the Oxford Brookes Publishing courses who were attending the Fair, including Helen Norris (now at Usborne) and Ed Glover (who has his own company Transedition/Camelot).  One of the current students, Sam Hutchinson, was working at the B Small stand during the Fair.

During the visit, the Oxford Brookes contingent also met with counterparts from the University of Bologna's Masters in Publishing course, which is headed by Umberto Eco.  A formal meeting took place in which information was exchanged about the differences and similarities between the respective publishing markets in Italy and the UK, and in which students compared notes on the courses they are taking.  Another meeting between the courses will take place later in the year at the Frankfurt Book Fair.

It wasn't all hard work though - as the temperature rocketed much ice-cream and prosecco was consumed, and there was time for some sightseeing in Bologna and a trip to the seaside at Ravenna.

Next year, there will be a new optional module on Children's Publishing in the MA programme.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 14 May 2007 around 9am

Filed Under #Publishing