Who Needs Book Reviews When Publicists Can Blog?, Huffington Post Asks

by Eric Banks | Oct-15-2009

As Media Bistro noted earlier today, Amy Hertz, the new editor of the Huffington Post book section, posted an open letter to book publicists yesterday about her coverage (and the “direction” guiding the section). Hertz doesn’t seem to think much of book reviewers.

“#1. This is NOT a book review section. Let me say that again, because I know about 72,000 publicists just plotzed because they have no idea what to do other than ask for a review. Huffington Post Books is not a review—there’s a reason those sections in newspapers are dropping like flies. Book reviews tend to be conversation enders, and when you’re living in the age of engagement, a time when people are looking for conversation starters, that stance gets you nowhere.”