The decision of the ABC board to drop the Chris Masters investigation on broadcaster Alan Jones was a clear, political act. The ramifications are profound, not least the likelihood that the national broadcaster will be much more cautious in pursuing controversial and contentious work. Board interference is now a real possibility.
The Masters decision struck a personal note, as well. The Canberra Times reported on Saturday:
The proprietor of Australian Literary Management, Lyn Tranter, was appalled by the decision to stop ABC publication of Jonestown.
She said that last year she was in delicate negotiations about My Israel Question by Antony Loewenstein, to be published next month. The book, by a young Jewish writer, examines Zionism.
“It was very hard for me to decide between the ABC and MUP [Melbourne University Publishing].
“Thank God I went with MUP, what if the ABC board had come through and stymied it,” she said.
Ms Tranter was the agent for Dark Victory by David Marr and Marian Wilkinson, which was published by Allen & Unwin.
“They are fearless publishers,” she said.
“The ABC are going to be regarded by agents and authors as a publishing house renowned for Bananas in Pyjamas.”
Too true, Ant. But think of the potential sales you’ve missed by not being banned by the ABC after heavy lobbying.
Last I heard, it’s not doing Chris nor Allen and Unwin any harm at all as they work out the advance orders.
This may yet turn out to be the biggest boost to sales since the good old days of Arthur Rylah. Remember ‘Portnoy’s Complaint’?
These days literary agents may need to be as canny as politicians in devious manoevres.
However, Antony’s sales were already boosted last year when the Australian Federal member for Israel aka Melbourne Ports Michael Danby called for the book to be boycotted and/or banned when he wrote to the Israel Zionist Times aka Australian Jewish News. He also called on Melbourne University Publishing and Louise Adler not to publish the book.
As publication date approaches, there will no doubt be calls again, from other organisations purporting to represent the Australian Jewish community, for the book not to be bought. I think it might be Danby who infamously said all of Loewenstein’s supporters would fit into a phone box. If they felt that way, what were/are they afraid of??
As Israel ramps up its actions against the Palestinians, there is a perceptible change in attitudes towards Israel and its brutal attacks against a defenceless people, and this, too will be publicity for the book and what is in it.
Anyway, the ABC board has been made to look more and more ridiculous – which it is, with all the right wing reactionaries appointed to it – and if this is a taste of things to come – “god save the queen, for nothing will save the ABC!” with apologies to Gough!
And sales of Chris Masters’ book will probably go through the roof! Hope Antony’s book will do the same!
AL
Yes, well done from me as well. I don’t agree with very much of what you write, but at least you’re out there having a go. I am actually quite jealous that I am not about to have a book published. I suppose your example shows that if want it, then just get writing!