IPA and the Freedom to Publish at Frankfurt

Following the call for the protection of the "Trinity of Freedoms," the freedom of expression, to read, and to publish, the International Publishers Association (IPA) is set to host an Open Freedom to Publish Committee Meeting on Wednesday, 16 October from 14:30 - 16:00 in Conclusio 1+2, and a panel on the Freedom to Publish at Frankfurt Book Fair on Thursday, 17 October 15:00 - 16:00 in the Frankfurt Pavillion.

The Open Meeting will see a welcome from IPA President Karine Pansa and the Chair of the Freedom to Publish Committee Kristenn Einarsson. Their welcome will be followed by a presentation and roundtable on the IPA Prix Voltaire Shortlist, as well as updates on the public statement made by IPA and fellow international organisations calling for the protection of the Trinity of Freedoms. Finally, participants will be welcomed to bring in their own updates on the Freedom to Publish in their countries and updates will be given on the Freedom to Publish panel set to be hosted at the 34thInternational Publishers Congress in Guadalajara.

A Freedom to Publish panel will also be hosted at Frankfurt, titled "Democracy Depends on Reading," which will reflect how international organisations representing authors, publishers, booksellers and libraries are working together to resist the attacks on the freedom of expression, the freedom to publish and the freedom to read, working towards the development of literacy skills that can understand complex ideas and filter out mis and dis-information.

Editor in Chief of Publishing Perspectives Porter Anderson will moderate the panel with experts from all around the world set to join as speakers. Confirmed speakers are:

• Jean Poderos, Director of Éditions courtes et longues (France)

• Anke Steinecke, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel US, Penguin Random House (USA)

• Felicia Hofmann, Social media team leader, dtv Verlag and WEXFO Young Expert (Germany)

More speakers will be confirmed soon. You can read our work in protecting the Trinity of Freedoms hereand join us at Frankfurt to hear about concrete actions that the book sector can take to protect our Freedom to Publish!