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Jan 17, 2025 | 
societyofauthors.org | Jasmine Scott
On 13 January 2025, the Prime Minister announced the government’s artificial intelligence (AI) Opportunities Action Plan. In his speech, Sir Keir Starmer, said that government using AI across the UK will boost growth and help them deliver services more efficiently.
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Jan 15, 2025 | 
societyofauthors.org | Jasmine Scott
The Society of Authors (SoA), alongside the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (WGGB) and Equity, are calling for the BBC to reconsider its planned cuts to BBC Radio 3 audio drama programming. Together, we have launched a petition to gather support, addressed to BBC Director-General Tim Davie.
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Jan 8, 2025 | 
societyofauthors.org | Jasmine Scott
Three Society of Authors Fellows were recognised on the list: Sir Kazuo Ishiguro OBE has been made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for services to literature, Dame Jacqueline Wilson DBE has been awarded Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire and Sir Stephen Fry has been knighted for services to mental health awareness, the environment and to charity. Novelist and SoA member Sir Alan Hollinghurst was recognised for his services to literature with a knighthood.
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Nov 28, 2024 | 
societyofauthors.org | Jasmine Scott
The Society of Authors is delighted to announce the launch of the John Calder Translation Prize, an annual award for translations into English of full-length ambitious, groundbreaking works of literary merit and general interest. The prize, which opens for submissions in January 2025, will see the winner awarded £3,000 and a runner-up awarded £1,000 at the Society of Authors’ Translation Prizes ceremony in February 2026.
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Nov 22, 2024 | 
societyofauthors.org | Jasmine Scott
Thank you to all the SoA members who participated in the 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) – to the members who joined us online, to those who spoke, and to everyone who voted. Our AGMs are an essential part of the SoA’s democratic process. They provide a space where views can be shared and debated and for the SoA membership to have a say in key decisions and future plans. We hope that everyone who participated felt that the agenda was managed with fairness and clarity.
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Nov 7, 2024 | 
societyofauthors.org | Jasmine Scott
The Society of Authors (SoA), the British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA) and the Publishers Association (PA), co-claimants on the Judicial Review relating to Oak National Academy, have announced this week (5 November 2024) that the proceedings will be put on hold with immediate effect. The Judicial Review had previously been granted permission to proceed in November 2023, with a substantive hearing due to take place this week.
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Oct 29, 2024 | 
societyofauthors.org | Jasmine Scott
Society of Authors’ members have elected Helen Epega, Charles Harris, Juliet McKenna and Simon Michael to join the union’s Management Committee. The Management Committee is the SoA’s board of directors, voted for by the union’s members, and responsible for the strategic direction of the organisation. It will be the second term for both Charles Harris and Juliet McKenna who have been re-elected by the membership.
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Oct 22, 2024 | 
societyofauthors.org | Jasmine Scott
A statement on AI training has been launched today (22 October 2024) with 10,500 – and counting – signatures from across the creative industries, including SoA Fellows Kate Mosse, Kazuo Ishiguro and Ian Rankin. Other Fellows who have signed the statement include Malorie Blackman, William Boyd, Tracy Chevalier, Antonia Fraser, Roger McGough, Margaret Drabble and Joanne Harris.
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Sep 9, 2024 | 
www2.societyofauthors.org | Jasmine Scott
The 2024 Management Committee elections are underway, with nine candidates standing for four seats on the SoA board. If you are a Full Member, you should receive your ballot materials by post from 11 September. These will be sent to you directly by Civica, who are administering our 2024 elections. In line with trade union governance, only postal votes are eligible. Please cast your vote by post using the reply-paid envelope enclosed with your ballot paper.
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Aug 29, 2024 | 
www2.societyofauthors.org | Jasmine Scott
Bookshop.org, the online book marketplace that financially supports local, independent bookshops, has launched ‘Bookloop by Bookshop.org’, a scheme that allows customers to exchange their pre-owned books for store credit which can be used on the platform. Customers can scan their books, be offered a price and arrange collection or delivery of the books on the Bookloop website. They will then receive store credit to use on new books within a few days.
