Amazon vs. Hachette: Delays, Protest & Analysis Continue

Shelf Awareness

As the Amazon/Hachette delayed shipment dustup enters its second week, more voices have joined the tense discussion, ranging from a number of people calling for more coverage of the affair by the Amazon-owned Washington Post to protesting agents. Author James Patterson weighed in as well, expressing concern for the long-term effects. 

Politico noted that the Post "is drawing attention from media critics who question whether the paper's new owner Jeff Bezos is influencing coverage of his company," though no one is accusing the newspaper directly of foul play. Post executive editor Martin Baron cited time pressure and low staffing for the delay, adding: "Having now become aware of the subject, we're looking into it. We don't discuss what we might publish or when. But, as always, coverage decisions are based on available resources and our own independent editorial judgment." He also said Bezos has no influence on coverage decisions at the Post.

At almost the same time, the newspaper's Wonkblog offered a piece headlined "Just like big cable, Amazon wants to charge more for access to its pipes." After recapping details from last Saturday's New York Times article, Wonkblog noted: "Amazon, which didn't respond to a request for clarification from the Washington Post, is by no means unique in employing this tactic," comparing the online retailer's strategies to other multi-brand retailers like Wal-Mart and Whole Foods before asking: "So, what to make of this? It depends on how you want to think about Amazon as a middleman."

A letter sent to Amazon from the Association of Authors' Representatives, which was signed by president Gail Hochman and obtained by Publisher Weekly, stated "in the strongest possible terms that the AAR deplores any attempt by any party that would seek to injure and punish innocent authors--and their innocent readers--in order to pursue its position in a business dispute. We believe that such actions are analogous to hostage-taking to extort concessions, and are just as indefensible.... This is a brutal and manipulative tactic, ironically from a company that proclaims its goal to fully satisfy the reading needs and desires of its customers and to be a champion of authors."
In a post on his Facebook page, James Patterson, one of the authors affected by the Amazon vs. Hachette controversy, addressed the current face-off, then looked to the future:

"More important--much more important--is the evolution/revolution that's occurring now in publishing. Small bookstores are being shuttered, book chains are going out of business, libraries are suffering enormous budget cuts, and every publisher--and the people who work at these publishing houses--is feeling a great deal of pain and stress. Ultimately, inevitably, the quality of American literature will suffer.

"If the world of books is going to change to e-books, so be it. But I think it's essential that someone steps up and takes responsibility for the future of American literature and the part it plays in our culture. Right now, bookstores, libraries, authors, and books themselves are caught in the cross fire of an economic war. If this is the new American way, then maybe it has to be changed--by law, if necessary--immediately, if not sooner."