BTW News Briefs

Riverdeep Acquires Houghton Mifflin

On November 29, HM Rivergroup PLC, a newly-formed Irish public limited company, announced that it had signed an agreement to acquire Houghton Mifflin Holding Company, Inc. The purchase price of approximately $3.4 billion consists of approximately $1.75 billion in cash plus the assumption of approximately $1.61 billion in net debt. In addition, as part of the transaction, certain Houghton Mifflin management and employees will roll over $40 million of their equity into the equity of HM Rivergroup.

"We are excited about the future of HM Rivergroup and the ability to capitalize on the convergence of print and digital education platforms," said Barry O'Callaghan, executive chairman of HM Rivergroup, in a statement. "The combined business will leverage Houghton Mifflin's brand names, established relationships, and large sales force to provide customers with an unrivaled product offering." Along with the acquisition of Houghton Mifflin, HM Rivergroup will acquire Riverdeep Holdings Limited, a publisher of branded interactive educational and personal publishing products.

FBI Drops Patriot Act Demand in ISP Case

After more than two years in a legal battle with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), on November 22, the FBI announced that it had abandoned a Patriot Act demand for the subscriber records of a small Internet Service Provider. The ACLU welcomed the decision but criticized the FBI for refusing to lift a gag order that prevents the provider from disclosing its identity. The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression had joined with librarians in filing amicus briefs in support of ACLU's challenge, at both the district court and court of appeals levels.

The national security letter provision of the Patriot Act allows the government to demand, without court approval, records of people who are not suspected of any wrongdoing. Anyone who receives such a demand is prohibited from disclosing even the mere existence of the request. More information about national security letters is available at www.aclu.org/nsl.

Nominations Sought for PEN/Newman's Own First Amendment Award

For the 15th consecutive year, Newman's Own, the food company whose founder and president, actor Paul Newman, donates all after-tax profits to charity, and PEN American Center will be awarding $20,000 to a U.S.-based First Amendment champion. The $20,000 award, established by Paul Newman and his long-time business partner, literary biographer A.E. Hotchner, is presented to a U.S. resident who has fought courageously, despite adversity, to safeguard the First Amendment right to freedom of expression as it applies to the written word.

The award is open to any U.S. resident who has fought to protect freedom of expression as it applies to the written word. Nominations are being accepted via the PEN website, from November 28 through December 29, 2006.

Book Expo America Expands Podcasting

On November 29, BookExpo America (BEA) announced that it would expand its free podcasting service to become a year-round "convention without walls" by offering publishing industry content to users before and after its annual convention. According to a company press release, this is just the first stage of an aggressive program by BEA to provide digital and online services and entertainment to book industry professionals and the general reading public.

The first podcasts as part of this expanded service will be released on Thursday, November 30. As part of the launch, BEA will release its podcast coverage of the 57th National Book Awards presentation, which was held earlier this month in New York City. Anyone can access BEA's free podcasts and video streaming at www.bookexpocast.com. Users have the option of listening to the podcasts through their computer, or subscribing for free through iTunes and other podcast portals so they can be downloaded automatically to an iPod or portable player.

Event to Examine the Future of the Free Press

On Thursday, December 7, at the National Press Club, in Washington, D.C., the impact and implications of confidential sourcing in journalism will be the focus of journalists, lawyers and legal scholars, at the panel "The Future of the Free Press: Should Journalists Be Able to Use Confidential Sources and Seek Secret Information?" Though efforts to enact a federal shield law have stalled in Congress, 49 states recognize some form of "reporter's privilege" to protect confidential sources. The program is sponsored by the National Press Club, Olsson's Books, the MLRC Institute, the Newseum and the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression. Information and reservations are available from the National Press Club at (202) 662-7501.

A Great Book Giveaway

The Children's Book Council recently announced that, in honor of Children's Book Week 2006, 19 children's book publishers and the Children's Book Council are donating 137,566 books to 31 nonprofit organizations across the country. In a statement, CBC noted that the smallest to the largest publishing companies in the country have come together as CBC members to support day care centers, Head Start programs, and other local and national literacy programs.