Nominations are now open for the sixth annual PW Star Watch program. Organized by Publishers Weekly and Frankfurter Buchmesse, PW Star Watch celebrates talented emerging professionals in the U.S. and Canadian publishing communities, showcasing their accomplishments for a global audience.
This year, in response to the global pandemic and its impact on publishing, Star Watch will donate 10% of sponsor proceeds to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc), which offers financial support and assistance to booksellers and comics retailers. "We continued to be humbled by the generosity of the publishing industry,” said Pam French, Binc executive director.
Publishers Weekly editorial director Jim Milliot said, “PW Star Watch is a valuable launchpad for creative individuals who will continue to support and advance the publishing industry.”
This year PW Star Watch will identify 40 exceptional members of the North American publishing industry. Nominees can be from any area of the industry—publicity and production, bookselling to new technology—and can include any person driving innovation in publishing that is not yet in an executive role. The panel of judges who will identify these 40 individuals will be comprised of members of PW, Frankfurter Buchmesse and noted industry leaders.
Out of the 40 publishing people chosen, the panel will select five top honorees. And those honorees and one Superstar will be revealed in September 2020 and will be honored with a sponsored trip the Franfurter Buchmnesse. The 40 stars will also be featured in the September 7, 2020 issue of PW.
At the Buchmesse, the winning Superstar will receive a career-enriching experience networking on the Buchmesse's international publishing platform with book professionals and publishing peers from Frankfurt’s Young Talent Initiatives from around the world.
“Over the past six years, it has been fantastic to watch the PW Star Watch program grow and get to know these innovative members of the U.S. and Canadian publishing community, particularly this year with Canada being the book fair’s Guest of Honor," said Matthäus Cygan, director business development trade international at Frankfurter Buchmesse.
"We have been pleased to help the Star Watch nominees build global networks and share their ideas with their peers around the world in Frankfurt,” he said,
To nominate yourself or a colleague, please visit the PW website. Deadline for submissions is May 31.
