Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [1950]- 2008 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
83 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Launched in 1979 by founders Fred Newman (Born Manfred Neumann in Austria in 1932. Was editor of the student newspaper 'Cherwell' at Oxford, where he met co-founder Labovitch. His first job was with the Daily Sketch. He went on to work at University of Sussex and Phoebus Partworks, part of the British Printing Corporation, where he was Managing Director. He left in 1979 to form Publishing News) and Clive Labovitch (Born 1932 in Leeds. Attended Oxford where he also worked on 'Cherwell'. He went into business with Michael Heseltine in the 1960s, winning the contract to publish the British Institute of Management magazine and forming Cornmarket Press (later Haymarket Publishing. He split from Heseltine and co-founded Publishing News in 1979 after a failed independent venture. He died in 1994.)
Newman and Labovitch’s first venture was Skateboard Weekly, formed in 'Harry’s Bar' in Park Lane Hotel’s vacant basement. It was also here that Publishing News was established, and the location lent its name to the paper’s long-standing diarist, 'Harry Barr' (a fictional character who many believed to be real). Publishing News focused on the people of the book trade. Many thought the venture would be short-lived: The Bookseller only ever referred in print to its competitor as 'Skateboard Weekly'.
Publishing News was a fornightly (later weekly) magazine reporting on all aspects of the book trade. It was commended for giving coverage to the independent sector and self-publishers, and innovations such as daily issues for the London Book Fair, and later the Frankfurt Book Fair. In 1983 the company moved to offices in Museum Street, and in 1990 they launched the first British Book Awards, also known as the 'Nibbies'. The first awards ceremony, held at the Park Lane Hotel, was a sell-out, and the ceremony continued to grow year on year and attract press and television coverage. In 2001 Publishing News launched a website covering news and features relevant to the book trade as a companion to its print magazine, and bought research agency BML (Book Marketing) in 2003.
The 25th July 2008 of Publishing News was the last. Fred Newman died in November 2008.
Repository
Archival history
GB 2108 KUAS67 [1950]- 2008 Collection (Fonds) 83 boxes Publishing News magazine
Launched in 1979 by founders Fred Newman (Born Manfred Neumann in Austria in 1932. Was editor of the student newspaper 'Cherwell' at Oxford, where he met co-founder Labovitch. His first job was with the Daily Sketch. He went on to work at University of Sussex and Phoebus Partworks, part of the British Printing Corporation, where he was Managing Director. He left in 1979 to form Publishing News) and Clive Labovitch (Born 1932 in Leeds. Attended Oxford where he also worked on 'Cherwell'. He went into business with Michael Heseltine in the 1960s, winning the contract to publish the British Institute of Management magazine and forming Cornmarket Press (later Haymarket Publishing. He split from Heseltine and co-founded Publishing News in 1979 after a failed independent venture. He died in 1994.)
Newman and Labovitch’s first venture was Skateboard Weekly, formed in 'Harry’s Bar' in Park Lane Hotel’s vacant basement. It was also here that Publishing News was established, and the location lent its name to the paper’s long-standing diarist, 'Harry Barr' (a fictional character who many believed to be real). Publishing News focused on the people of the book trade. Many thought the venture would be short-lived: The Bookseller only ever referred in print to its competitor as 'Skateboard Weekly'.
Publishing News was a fornightly (later weekly) magazine reporting on all aspects of the book trade. It was commended for giving coverage to the independent sector and self-publishers, and innovations such as daily issues for the London Book Fair, and later the Frankfurt Book Fair. In 1983 the company moved to offices in Museum Street, and in 1990 they launched the first British Book Awards, also known as the 'Nibbies'. The first awards ceremony, held at the Park Lane Hotel, was a sell-out, and the ceremony continued to grow year on year and attract press and television coverage. In 2001 Publishing News launched a website covering news and features relevant to the book trade as a companion to its print magazine, and bought research agency BML (Book Marketing) in 2003.
The 25th July 2008 of Publishing News was the last. Fred Newman died in November 2008.
Records were held in the publishing News offices in London before their transfer to Kingston University.
Documents created during the publication of Publishing News magazine. This includes a complete run of the magazine, copies of other publications by Publishing News, research files on companies and individuals associated with the book trade pulled together by the editors of the magazine, photographs used in the magazine, documents relating to the British Book Awards, reference books on the book trade, and some digital records. Publishing New's website has also been archived and can be searched at http://www.ehaus2.co.uk/pnarchive/ .
Files are held in original order within their series.
Available to view via appointment in the Kingston University Archives and Special Collections search room.
Copying may be restricted due to copyright law or to protect the items in the Collection. Please refer any copying requests to a member of staff who can advise.
English
Full catalogue of archival documents will be accessible at http://adlib.kingston.ac.uk. Books can be searched on our library catalogue at http://icat.kingston.ac.uk.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. 2014 Book industry Textbook production Visual materials Photographs Leisure time activities Clubs Communication development Book development Book design Communication personnel training Book production training Shops Bookshops Communications media Publications Periodicals Publishing industry Bookselling Literature publishing Publishing Book distribution Information dissemination Printing Booksellers Communication personnel Editing Printing paper Print media Publishing of periodicals Electronic publishing Book costs Economics of communication Publishers Books Book reviews Literary criticism Communication industry Research Commercial premises Literature Information media Communication planning Communication policy Leisure Personnel Information sciences Vocational training People by occupation Training People
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Records were held in the publishing News offices in London before their transfer to Kingston University.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Documents created during the publication of Publishing News magazine. This includes a complete run of the magazine, copies of other publications by Publishing News, research files on companies and individuals associated with the book trade pulled together by the editors of the magazine, photographs used in the magazine, documents relating to the British Book Awards, reference books on the book trade, and some digital records. Publishing New's website has also been archived and can be searched at http://www.ehaus2.co.uk/pnarchive/ .
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Files are held in original order within their series.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Available to view via appointment in the Kingston University Archives and Special Collections search room.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copying may be restricted due to copyright law or to protect the items in the Collection. Please refer any copying requests to a member of staff who can advise.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Full catalogue of archival documents will be accessible at http://adlib.kingston.ac.uk. Books can be searched on our library catalogue at http://icat.kingston.ac.uk.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Publishing industry » Book industry
- Publishing industry » Book industry » Textbook production
- Visual materials
- Visual materials » Photographs
- Leisure time activities
- Leisure time activities » Clubs
- Communication policy » Communication development
- Communication policy » Communication development » Book development
- Vocational training subjects » Communication personnel training
- Vocational training subjects » Communication personnel training » Book production training
- Periodicals
- Publishing industry
- Publishing industry » Book industry » Bookselling
- Publishing industry » Publishing
- Information dissemination » Book distribution
- Information dissemination
- Printing
- Communication personnel » Booksellers
- Communication personnel
- Publishing industry » Publishing » Editing
- Information media » Print media » Printing paper
- Information media » Print media
- Publishing industry » Publishing » Electronic publishing
- Communication planning » Economics of communication » Book costs
- Communication planning » Economics of communication
- Communication personnel » Publishers
- Books
- Literature » Literary criticism » Book reviews
- Literature » Literary criticism
- Communication industry
- Research
- Literature
- Information media
- Communication planning
- Communication policy
- Leisure
- Personnel
- Information sciences
- Training » Vocational training
- Training
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English