Al-Diwan brings you the latest news and analysis from the publishing and academic worlds that relate to pedagogy and knowledge production.

Publishing

Amazon finally moves on the Arab ebook markets
By Mark Williams (The New Publishing Standard)

Back in May of this year, Amazon and the Egyptian Publishers Association were in talks to “discuss a range of issues that concern Egyptian publishers about the marketing and publicity of their books.”

How to Write an Anonymous Review
By Kevin D. Haggerty (The Chronicle of Higher Education)

The #ShadowCurriculum conversation is flowing on Twitter, and in this article, Haggerty tackles one of these skills academics are required to have, yet rarely receive formal training on: Anonymous Reviews. From review etiquette to logistics of the review itself, Haggerty provides a comprehensive overview that is valuable for young scholars.
 

4 ‘PEN Translates’ Awards go to Arabic Titles
By M. Lynx Qualey (Arab Lit)

Out of the eighteen books selected for the PEN Translates Awards, four are being translated from Arabic. The books, which come from Lebanon, Sudan, Syria, and Egypt, were selected “on the basis of outstanding quality, strength of the publishing project and contribution to literary diversity in the UK.”
 

8 Tools to Help you Navigate the Pre-Publication Journey
By Kelly Neubeiser (The Wiley Network)

With her simple infographic, Neubeiser gives authors several tips and tools that can help even before submitting a paper for consideration.

Academia 

The Rise of the Promotional Intellectual
By Jeffrey J. Williams (The Chronicle of Higher Education)

“You do not exist unless you fire up your personal publicity machine,” writes Williams. In this piece, he discusses the ascension of promotion. No longer is promoting simply part of being in academia; rather, “it permeates how we understand and conduct our own work and careers.”

The Idea of the Palestinian University
By Sam Bahour (Al-Fanar Media)

“Throughout the decades of Israeli military occupation, universities in the occupied Palestinian territories have not just survived but have grown strong,” says Bahour. He, along with nearly 200 others, began exploring the prospects for returning Palestinian higher education to the hands of Palestinians. Throughout this article, Bahour outlines the history behind this idea, the reasoning behind it, and its importance.

There’s No Pot of Gold in Higher Education’s Financial Future
By Brian C. Mitchell (Academe Blog)

With the financial stability of higher education in limbo, especially private baccalaureate institutions, “leaders of these institutions…will need to rethink their tuition model to survive the chaos and disruption sweeping across American higher education.” Mitchell offers several possibilities for institutions to look into as solutions, ultimately reaching the conclusion that a true solution would require systematic change.

On Being Exceptional: the Trap of Thinking We Can Do (and Be) Diversity “Differently”
By Shana Almeida (Media Diversified) 

Reflecting on her research about diversity in Toronto and her time as a political staffer in Toronto’s municipal government, Almeida saw and “found how racialized staff take up and are produced through diversity discourse to gain authority, legitimacy, and to negotiate belonging.”