Statement: International Publishers Back Simon & Schuster Over Trump Censorship Attempts

From the International Publishers Association:

Following the widely reported attempts by President Trump to prevent the release of Ambassador John Bolton’s book, The Room Where It Happened, the IPA has declared its full backing for the American publisher of the book, Simon & Schuster.

Kristenn Einarsson, Chair of the IPA’s Freedom to Publish Committee said: Both the author, Ambassador Bolton, and the publisher, Simon and Schuster are playing their vital roles in a democracy that respects the freedom to publish and enables an informed dialogue about issues of national importance. Such books deserve to be published. 

IPA Secretary General, José Borghino added: The United States of America is a bastion of free speech, a fact exemplified by the strong stance Simon & Schuster has taken against this pressure from President Trump. However, seeing the highest office in the USA attempt to silence an author and a publisher sends a frighteningly negative signal around the world. It reminds us that freedom of expression must never be taken for granted and must be defended whenever it is attacked.

Adam Rothberg, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications at Simon & Schuster said: We are grateful for the support of our colleagues around the world. The ability to publish, unfettered by outside influence or interference, is the most dearly held freedom for every publisher, and we are pleased to work in concert with the International Publishers Association to protect and fight for that freedom.

Filed under: Companies (Publishers/Vendors), News, Publishing