March was weighed down with news about book bans and AI, both of which are unsettling, albeit in very different ways. The final word isn’t yet in on either one, but the conflict and confusion surrounding both is fully present. There’s plenty of other news to share about publishing, audiobooks, libraries, and TikTok. So, dig in!
Hopefully, this new look for Getting Down to Business makes it easier to decide which stories to click on and read. (Thank you Keith Cronin for your suggestion.)
AI
You can’t turn on a news channel or checkout a news site without something about AI. Well, here’s some more.
AI Narration of Audiobooks Is Coming
Is it Time to Hit the Pause Button on AI?
AI: The Hair-Raising Topic of 2023
Science Fiction Publishers Flooded with AI-Generated Stories
Google’s AI Doctor is Getting Better
Audiobooks Are Thriving, But Will AI Takeover?
Elon Musk and Others Call for Pause on A.I.
Publishers Worry A.I. Chatbots Will Cut Readership
Audiobooks
Aren’t all audiobooks “Original”? Read and find out.
Just What Makes an Audiobook “Original”?
Book Banning and Censorship
An increase in book banning and censorship is stimulating activism to make it stop.
Florida Screens Math Books for “Prohibited Topics”
Florida Teachers’ Union Sues over Book Banning
A Roundup of Book Banning News and Tips for Action
Activists Figure a Way to Skirt Book Bans
Galvanizing the Public to Fight Back at SXSW
Mississippi Banned Book Festival
Shocking Increase in Attempted Book Bans in 2022
Libraries
Libraries need funding and library lending issues are front and center.
Coalition Forms to Battle Library e-book Bills
Library Supporters Urge Congress to Provide Funds
Internet Archive’s Scanning and Lending Program
Publishing
Women now lead the publishing race, but there are some bad publishing actors out there.
How Bad Publishers Hurt Authors
The Lack of a Living Wage in Publishing
Women Now Publishing More Books Than Men
TikTok
TikTok is still the talk ov the town, where books are concern.
TikTok’s Influence on the Book Market Is Growing
Anything else you’d like to see in future columns? If you have a great free source of news about books, publishing and the business of being an author, please share and I’ll check it out for next month.