Decibel Prize Bows to Pressure

After complaints that the Decibel Penguin Prize discriminated against authors who happened to be white, Publishing News reports that the award – originally open to British writers of ‘Asian, African or Caribbean background’, has been altered following discussions with the Commission for Racial Equality. Arts Council Media Relations Officer Rick Behari said: “We do not believe that the advertisement for the first prize was unlawful. However, having entered into a dialogue with the CRE over this issue we understand that this is an area of the law which is open to interpretation and we are in ongoing discussions with the CRE. The second Decibel Penguin Prize, which offers a platform for talented writers to showcase their work, will open shortly seeking entries from new writers on the theme of personal stories of immigration to the UK.” The solution strikes me as a quick-fix measure that will probably endure, but ultimately result in the kind of shortlists originally sought after under the initial premise.

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