by Ann Kjellberg, editor Bookstagrammers have created thriving communities of previously isolated readers longing for connection, while selling many many books. Should they be paid?
Great article. I do think Bookstagrammers should be compensated for their work- as well as freelance reviewers and editors, MUCH more than they are now. How this is supposed to happen, I don't know. Perhaps there could be a fund like BINC (that supports booksellers) for Bookstagrammers (or even freelance book reviewers for that matters) - publishers can pay into this, and then it gets distributed. This would feel less like publishers paying directly for a review or coverage, but I don't see how the situation changes otherwise. Publishers used to spend much more on print advertising...and now they don't , but then spend on Google, Facebook and INstagram ads.
But this does make me think beyond the disappointment of more and inevitable commodification of internet creativity. At first it was cool—wow, tiktok selling books!
But moving through that, I notice that I always learn something from Book Post. Sometimes, as in posts in the past weeks, it’s hearing a grownup voice dethroning the authors I worshipped last time I thought of them, sometimes it’s just how deep the product placement runs. The perspective always opens my understanding, letting me into the space to see and evaluate and enjoy the written word that much more.
Great article. I do think Bookstagrammers should be compensated for their work- as well as freelance reviewers and editors, MUCH more than they are now. How this is supposed to happen, I don't know. Perhaps there could be a fund like BINC (that supports booksellers) for Bookstagrammers (or even freelance book reviewers for that matters) - publishers can pay into this, and then it gets distributed. This would feel less like publishers paying directly for a review or coverage, but I don't see how the situation changes otherwise. Publishers used to spend much more on print advertising...and now they don't , but then spend on Google, Facebook and INstagram ads.
This is a really interesting topic to contemplate. You have raised questions I hadn’t thought of. Looking forward to more discussion!
I wish I was shocked.
But this does make me think beyond the disappointment of more and inevitable commodification of internet creativity. At first it was cool—wow, tiktok selling books!
But moving through that, I notice that I always learn something from Book Post. Sometimes, as in posts in the past weeks, it’s hearing a grownup voice dethroning the authors I worshipped last time I thought of them, sometimes it’s just how deep the product placement runs. The perspective always opens my understanding, letting me into the space to see and evaluate and enjoy the written word that much more.
Thank you, Book Post!