Newbery and Caldecott Winners Get Dissed

You may have already heard how The Today Show decided NOT to run interviews with winners of the Newbery and Caldecott Medals. The ALA Youth Media Awards have had a spot on the Today Show for more than a decade, but this year NBC’s morning program aired an eight-minute segment with the Jersey Shore star, Snooki, Tuesday morning instead of its traditional morning-after interview with the winners of the Newbery and Caldecott Medals, which on Monday went to Clare Vanderpool and Erin Stead, respectively.

It’s traditional that Newbery and Caldecott Medal winners travel to New York City immediately after the ALA’s announcement for media interviews and publisher celebrations; this year’s two winners were no exception. Vanderpool flew into New York City from her home in Wichita, Kans., and Stead from her home in Ann Arbor, Mich.; both expected to drop by the Today Show’s studios Tuesday morning.

I thought you would like to see the letter that Lin Oliver, Executive Director at SCBWI sent to the LA Times and NY Times and, if you find it dismaying as well, please consider letting NBC know. 

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/

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LETTER FROM LIN OLIVER

Dear Editor:

As the Executive Director of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, a non-profit international organization of 24,000 professional children’s book writers, illustrators, publishers, editors and agents, I have to express dismay at the decision this week of NBC’s Today Show not to run the traditional interviews with the winners of the Newbery and Caldecott Medals.  The books that are granted these prestigious awards represent the best of what we have to offer children—great storytelling, strong values, a legacy of literature and hope and high-minded ideals.  What they elected to run in that spot, an interview with reality star Snooki, represents the exact opposite.  

In choosing not to run the interviews with Clare Vanderpool and Erin Stead, television has once again underestimated the intelligence of its audience.  Parents are dying to get their hands on good books for their kids.  Booksellers are eager to sell and promote good books for kids.  It’s good business, good broadcasting and good ethics to honor the best books for children.

Lin Oliver

Executive Director, SCBWI

What were they thinking?  Talk about bad PR.  If you haven’t voiced your dismay, perhaps you should. 

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy