speech and respect - College of Social Sciences and International ...

The Poverty of Civil Libertarianism
Although book publishing is generally less market-driven than other
media, there are exceptions. When Ross Perot announced his candidacy,
four biographies rapidly climbed to the top of the best-seller list, and
several others were scheduled for release. When he withdrew, the books
disappeared. Tony Chiu's Ross Perot: In His Own Words was the most
successful: 19 days from concept to bookstore, a first printing of 300,000,
sales of 500,000. The publisher gloated: "We didn't pay a lot of money
up front and we got out there when the time was right. Listen, it's the
occupational hazard of doing instant books. They have a shorter shelf life
than lettuce." New York Times B5 (July 22, 1992).
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Webster (1990: 26-27).
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New York Times s.1 p.4 (October 14, 1990). Frank Upham has told me
that his highly acclaimed book (1987) will not be translated into Japanese
because it also discusses the Burakumin.
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New York Times B2 (December 6, 1990).
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HarperCollins organised a book signing at Rizzoli's bookstore in New
York's World Financial Center for Bryan Burrough's (1992) expose of the
American Express smear campaign against banker Edmond Safra. The
event flopped because Amexco, which is headquartered in the same
building, pressured Rizzoli not to publicise it. An Amexco spokesperson
denied this but complained that Rizzoli had not been "neighborly." Safra
earlier had won a judgement ordering Amexco to apologise publicly and
pay $8 million to Safra and charities he selected. Harry Freeman, a
former Amexco executive, is now suing Burrough and Dow Jones for $50
million, claiming that Burrough recklessly distorted the truth in a Wall
Street Journal article that secured him a $1 million advance for the book.
New York Times C8 (May 4, 1992); Los Angeles Times D1 (May 11,
1992).
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Edwards (1991); Webster (1990: 26-27); GLC Gay Working Party (1985:
13-14,23).
Earvin "Magic" Johnson wrote What You Can Do to Avoid AIDS,
donating ail profits from the $3.99 book to his AIDS foundation. Nearly
500,000 copies were in print, and it was being translated into 12
languages. The American Medical Association declared: "Everbody—
especially teenagers and parents—needs to read this book. This book
could help save lives." But Wal-Mart's 1747 stores refused to stock it
because "we found some of the material inappropriate." "The language
was not in keeping with what our customers tell us they would want to
read." Kmart also concluded that the book "doesn't fit the family orientation
of a Kmart shopper," although it displayed Jackie Colins's Hollywood
Wives and a Cosmopolitan issue on the etiquette of oral sex. New
York Times A15 (August 3, 1992) (op ed).
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New York Times C8 (March 16,1992). Less than two weeks after the 1992
Tony awards (for best play) the League of American Theatres and Producers
dismissed 9 of the 12 panel members, claiming it wanted more
working professionals and fewer academics. Panel members, who had
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