BEA Keynote to Address the Future of the Book

Next month’s BookExpo America will include the keynote panel discussion “Shaping the Future of the Book –– Insight From Leaders Who Are Transforming How We Read.” Ingram Content Group Chair and CEO John Ingram will moderate the panel of four industry leaders: ABA Vice President Steve Bercu, co-owner of Austin, Texas’ BookPeople; Jane Friedman, CEO and co-founder of Open Road Integrated Media; Barbara Marcus, president and publisher of Random House Children’s Book; and Michael Pietsch, CEO of Hachette Book Group. The discussion will focus on how the shift from print to digital has altered the way books are acquired, developed, distributed, sold, and read.

“This panel of industry leaders represents different parts of the industry, but at the end of the day they all have the same goal in mind, and that is to encourage reading,” said BEA Education Director Sally Dedecker. “With so many changes in the industry and in society, it is important for BEA to have this discussion. Booksellers, publishers, and others aligned with the book industry are seeking new ways to engage readers, build communities, and encourage reading at every age.”

“Shaping the Future of the Book” is open to all BEA registrants. The event will be held on Wednesday, May 29, from 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., in Rooms 1E14 – 1E16 at the Javits Convention Center.

Programming will kick off on the 29th with the ABA plenary “Publishing, Bookselling, and the Whole Damn Thing: A Conversation With John Sargent” at 10:00 a.m. in Rooms IE14/1E15/1E16. ABA President Becky Anderson will talk to Macmillan’s CEO about the book industry, the challenges it faces, recent key events, and what the future may hold. All BEA registrants are invited to attend and to participate in other ABA educational programming throughout the trade show.