[NOTD] News Of The Day - 17/07/2007

MADDY POTTER

JK asks for Madeleine poster in every shop selling new book

By Martin Fricker 17/07/2007

THE parents of Madeleine McCann yesterday said they were delighted to link her campaign to the new Harry Potter book - because she adores the boy wizard's adventures.

Mum Kate, speaking as it was revealed posters of Madeleine will be displayed in every shop in the world selling the novel when it is released on Saturday, said: "I got her a DVD and like most kids she is a fan.

"We look forward to reading the books to all three children."

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Dad Gerry said author JK Rowling's decision to throw her weight behind the campaign to find four-year-old Madeleine guaranteed massive worldwide publicity.

He said: "The reach of something like that really will be global. It's such a kind and huge gesture. She has been really fantastic."

Gerry told how JK Rowling got involved after a friend asked if she would help raise awareness of Madeleine, who vanished from her parents' apartment in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz 75 days ago.

She wrote to booksellers and her 65 publishers in 200 countries asking them to display the poster on cash tills when selling Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, the last in the series of seven novels.

Gerry, who has vowed to stay in Praia da Luz with Kate and toddler twins Sean and Amelie until Madeleine is found, said JK Rowling had written personally to them. He added: "We jointly came up with the poster."

The writer yesterday issued a statement that said: "I fervently hope that posters displayed prominently in shops all over the world will help find Madeleine McCann and will raise the profile of the many other missing children in different countries," The posters have three photos of Madeleine, including one showing the distinctive "flash" in the iris of her right eye. They also carry the web address of the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children.

Millions of copies of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows are expected to fly off shelves from Saturday.

Publishers announced a record-breaking 12 million copies for the first print run of the book in America alone.

And it has become online giant Amazon's most pre-ordered product with almost 1.6 million copies bought ahead of the release.

The six previous Potter novels have sold more than 325 million copies in 63 languages.

Initially, it had been planned to insert a bookmark carrying Madeleine's photo into each copy of the new book.

But yesterday's statement from JK Rowling said the plan had been dropped because author and publishers felt "they have a responsibility to protect younger readers and not to expose them to certain issues without their parents' compliance." It was felt the title also made the plan inappropriate.

JK Rowling has already pledged several hundred thousand pounds to a reward.

Source: The Mirror, UK

Bloomsbury at war with Asda

17.07.07 Philip Jones and Joel Rickett

Bloomsbury has cancelled Asda's 500,000 Harry Potter order and declared the supermarket a "Harry Potter free zone". The publisher said that it had taken the decision because it had not been paid by the chain, but it has also been angered by the supermarket's claim that it was holding "children to ransom" over the price of the latest Harry Potter.

Asda spokesman Ed Watson said it was nothing to do with outstanding invoices and claimed the publisher was unhappy that it had criticised the book's price tag of 17.99. He added that it would be stocking the book. But speaking on Radio 5 Live this morning, Bloomsbury marketing director Minna Fry said the supermarket would be a "Harry Potter free zone". "We say hands off Harry, Asda should leave it to the people who really enjoy selling children's books".

The row between the publisher and the supermarket escalated yesterday after Asda issued a press statement accusing Bloomsbury of "blatant profiteering"--it compared the 17.99 RRP of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows against the 11.99 RRP of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1997. But Bloomsbury hit back and accused Asda of trying to "leap on the Harry Potter bandwagon". It has now emerged that Bloomsbury has sent Asda a legal response to its claims, accusing the supermarket of making libellous comments.

Fry has acknowledged the firm had been annoyed by Asda's comments. She told BBC Onine: "Asda have had a problem with our pricing of Harry Potter for a while now, and they sent out a very aggressive press release saying that we were ripping off children." But she also told the Telegraph: "The two matters are completely unrelated. We decided today that we could not risk having arrears with anybody."

But it remains unclear whether Bloomsbury will reinstate the order if Asda pays its invoice. An Asda spokesman told the Telegraph that it owed Bloomsbury 38,000 but claimed that Bloomsbury owed Asda 122,000. He said: "That money will be in their bank account tomorrow. Customers can rest assured that they will be able to pick up a Potter at an Asda price." He claimed: "It looks like Bloomsbury is trying to do everything they can to stop kids getting the latest Harry Potter release at a price they can afford."

In a statement put out yesterday Fry said: "This is just another example of [Asda's] repeated efforts at appearing as Robin Hood in the face of controversy about their worldwide group which would suggest they are perceived as more akin to the Sheriff of Nottingham. Asda may grandstand all they like in their attempts to use poor Harry Potter to lure the public into buying a bag of their groceries, but they seem to attribute no value to Bloomsbury's very serious environmental mission in printing this Harry Potter book for the first time on part-recycled paper which costs more not less; and to fuel surcharges. As people are slowly realizing, there is a price to be paid by the consumer for environmental best practice."

Watson added: "It just seems funny that after we expose the potty Potter price hike, Bloomsbury are trying everything they can to stop kids getting hold of Harry Potter at a price they can afford."

Source: The Bookseller

Asda apologises to Bloomsbury

17.07.07 Philip Jones

Publisher Bloomsbury and supermarket chain Asda have resolved their dispute, after the giant retailer apologised for accusing the Harry Potter publisher of holding children to "ransom" by raising the price of the latest Harry Potter title. A joint statement isssued late today read: "ASDA apologise unreservedly to Bloomsbury for its press release dated 15th July and withdraw their statement. We look forward to a good relationship with Bloomsbury going forward including selling the latest Harry Potter book from 00:01am BST on Saturday 21st July and many other Bloomsbury books in future."

Minna Fry, Bloomsbury marketing director, added: "We are pleased that this situation has been resolved and look forward to working with ASDA in the future."

The row erupted after Asda accused Bloomsbury of "attempting to hold children to ransom" by raising the price of Harry Potter to 17.99. Bloomsbury withdrew the supply of its entire list, including the Potter book, on the grounds of an unpaid invoice, but later said that it wanted the supermarket to withdraw what it regarded as defamatory comments.

Source: The Bookseller