Moderated by Porter Anderson, Editor in Chief of Publishing Perspectives, the well-attended session opened with Mary Glenn summarizing the current status of SDGs and shared examples of how publishers have adapted their business practices and publishing programme in support of the SDGs. She also called on publishers to sign the SDG Publishers Compact which is a great way of joining a network of publishers who are already taking action. Jobava used this opportunity to celebrate the great work of publishers on the dashboard and to encourage those in the room to add their own work and contribute to the 1000 Actions Campaign.
Anderson, then guided the conversation to the keynote topic of UN Under-Secretary-General Melissa Fleming at the 34th International Publishers Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico in December – dis- and misinformation. Glenn paid tribute to the longstanding and valued commitment of publishers to reliable and responsibly published works. This sits in contrast with the modern social media environment where verifiable information competes with misinformation.
Jobava underlined the important role of publishers and her believe from that publishers cannot be passive but must be active. She shared how the book has become a symbol of resistance in her own country, Goergia, and urged publishers everywhere to continue to drive conversations, to educate and to challenge ideas through the broad range of books they publish.
Jobava and Glenn will be on stage again soon with the forthcoming Sustainability Summit hosted by IPA Patron Member the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.
https://www.bolognachildrensbookfair.com/en/events/event-programme-2025/14430.html?event_id=4935