Editoria e Media
Report from the All Party Writers Group 2018 Inquiry into Authors' Earnings Calls for Immediate Action to Reverse Steep Decline in Writers' Incomes
The report's numerous recommendations are designed to ensure better support for authors, while also improving government engagement with creators; protecting the success of the UK publishing industry beyond Brexit and ensuring fairness in the bookselling market.
The recommendations to Government include:
The contribution made to the UK economy by the creative industries, which now employ 1 in 11 working people, continues to grow and is valued at £101.6 billion. However, the most recent piece of research undertaken on behalf of ALCS by CREATe, University of Glasgow, shows that writers' earnings have fallen by 42% in real terms since 2005.
In addition, the 2018 ALCS survey showed that female authors earn around 25% less than their male counterparts; a discrepancy that results both from lower rates of pay and a poorer breadth of opportunities, particularly in film and television.
Contributors to the Inquiry also raised concerns that a decline in authors' earnings could discourage new writers from taking up the profession, exacerbating the lack of diversity in the publishing and creative industries. Figures from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport show that 92.5% of workers in the creative industries and digital sector come from more advantaged social groups, compared with 67.3% for the general UK workforce.
Tony Bradman , children's writer and Chair of the ALCS Board, comments:
Joanne Harris , author and ALCS Board member, said:
The Rt Hon John Whittingdale OBE MP, Chair of the All Party Writers' Group, comments:
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was launched this afternoon at the All Party Writers' Group Summer Reception at the House of Commons, hosted by the Rt Hon John Whittingdale OBE MP.
The Inquiry results publication can be downloaded from the APWG website allpartywritersgroup.co.uk
The All Party Writers Group (APWG) was established in November 2007 . All party groups allow MPs and Lords from all sides of the political spectrum to keep both government and opposition parties informed on specific policy issues, taking on board opinions from both within and outside parliament. www.allpartywritersgroup.co.uk
The APWG Inquiry into Authors' Earnings ran from July 2018 to February 2019 . The Group heard from the following organisations:
Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi)
Association of Authors' Agents
Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS)
Hachette UK
The Publishers Association
The Society of Authors
Writers' Guild of Great Britain
In addition, the Inquiry received written evidence from over 30 professional authors including poets, playwrights, novelists and writers for children.
The following Parliamentarians attended Inquiry sessions:
Rt Hon John Whittingdale OBE MP (Chair)
Giles Watling MP (Vice-chair)
Pete Wishart MP (Vice-chair)
The Earl of Clancarty
Julie Elliott MP
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