Editing Random House (section)

==Company history==
===20th century===
Random House was founded in 1927 by [[Bennett Cerf]] and [[Donald Klopfer]], two years after they acquired the [[Modern Library]] [[imprint (trade name)|imprint]] from publisher Horace Liveright, which reprints classic works of literature. Cerf is quoted as saying, "We just said we were going to publish a few books on the side at random", which suggested the name Random House.<ref>[http://c250.columbia.edu/c250_celebrates/remarkable_columbians/bennett_alfred_cerf.html C250.columbia.edu] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408223715/http://c250.columbia.edu/c250_celebrates/remarkable_columbians/bennett_alfred_cerf.html |date=April 8, 2016 }}, Bennett Alfred Cerf Biography</ref> 

In 1934, they published the first authorized edition of [[James Joyce]]'s novel ''[[Ulysses (novel)|Ulysses]]'' in the Anglophone world.<ref>{{cite book|title=The most dangerous book: the battle for James Joyce's Ulysses|first=Kevin|last=Birmingham|location=London|publisher=Head of Zeus|year=2014|isbn=9781784080723}}</ref> ''Ulysses'' transformed Random House into a formidable publisher over the next two decades. In 1936, it acquired Smith and Haas, and Robert Haas became the third partner until retiring and selling his share back to Cerf and Klopfer in 1956. The acquisition of Smith and Haas added authors, including [[William Faulkner]], [[Isak Dinesen]], [[André Malraux]], [[Robert Graves]], and [[Jean de Brunhoff]], who wrote the [[Babar the Elephant|Babar]] children's books. 

Random House also hired editors Harry Maule, Robert Linscott, and Saxe Commins, and they brought authors such as [[Sinclair Lewis]] and [[Robert Penn Warren]] with them.<ref>{{cite book|author=Bernstein, Robert L.|author-link=Robert L. Bernstein|chapter=Chapter 3|title=Speaking Freely: My Life in Publishing and Human Rights|publisher=The New Press|location=New York|year=2016|isbn=9781620971727|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZxXfCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT39}}</ref> Random House entered reference publishing in 1947 with the ''[[American College Dictionary]]'', which was followed in 1966 by its first unabridged [[dictionary]]. 

In October 1959, Random House went public at $11.25 a share. This was a factor in decisions by other publishing companies, including [[Simon & Schuster]], to later go public.<ref name="Another">{{cite book|last1=Korda|first1=Michael|title=Another Life : a memoir of other people|url=https://archive.org/details/anotherlifememoi00kord|url-access=registration|date=1999|publisher=Random House|location=New York|isbn=0-679-45659-7|edition=1st}}</ref> American publishers [[Alfred A. Knopf]], Inc. and [[Beginner Books]] were acquired by Random House in 1960, followed by [[Pantheon Books]] in 1961; works continue to be published under these imprints with editorial independence, such as [[Everyman's Library]], a series of classical literature reprints. 

In 1965, [[RCA]] bought Random House as part of a diversification strategy. Random House acquired the paperback book publisher [[Ballantine Books]] in 1973.<ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0362-4331| title = Random House in Deal for Ballantine Books| work = The New York Times| access-date = November 3, 2019| date = January 9, 1973| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1973/01/09/archives/random-house-in-deal-for-ballantine-books.html| archive-date = November 8, 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201108045254/https://www.nytimes.com/1973/01/09/archives/random-house-in-deal-for-ballantine-books.html| url-status = live}}</ref> RCA sold Random House to [[Advance Publications]] in 1980.<ref name=Another/><ref>{{cite web|title=RCA History|url=http://www.bobsamerica.com/rca-history.html|website=bobsamerica|access-date=October 3, 2015|archive-date=February 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224130314/http://www.bobsamerica.com/rca-history.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Random House began publishing audiobooks in 1985.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brooke |first=James |date=1985-07-02 |title=Listened to Any Good Books Lately? |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/02/books/listened-to-any-good-books-lately.html |access-date=2023-02-21 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=February 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220000209/https://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/02/books/listened-to-any-good-books-lately.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 

In 1988, Random House acquired [[Crown Publishing Group]].<ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0362-4331| last = Mitgang| first = Herbert| title = Random House Buys Crown| work = The New York Times| access-date = November 27, 2018| date = August 16, 1988| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/16/business/random-house-buys-crown.html| archive-date = September 1, 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200901163256/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/16/business/random-house-buys-crown.html| url-status = live}}</ref> Also in 1988, [[McGraw-Hill Education|McGraw-Hill]] acquired Random House's Schools and Colleges division.<ref name="mcgraw-hillannounce2">{{cite news|title=McGraw-Hill Is Buying 2 Random House Units|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/29/business/the-media-business-mcgraw-hill-is-buying-2-random-house-units.html |first=Edwin|last=McDowell|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 29, 1988|access-date=February 12, 2017|archive-date=July 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708105901/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/29/business/the-media-business-mcgraw-hill-is-buying-2-random-house-units.html |url-status=live}}</ref>  

In 1998, [[Bertelsmann AG]] bought Random House and merged it with [[Bantam Books|Bantam]] [[Doubleday (publisher)|Doubleday]] [[Dell Books|Dell]] and it soon went global.<ref>"[http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Random-House-Inc-Company-History.html History of Random House Inc.]", from Funding Universe. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304174822/http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Random-House-Inc-Company-History.html |date=March 4, 2012 }}. Retrieved April 13, 2008.</ref> In 1999, Random House acquired the children's audiobook publisher Listening Library,<ref>{{Cite web| title = Random House Acquires Listening Library| work = Publishers Weekly| first = Shannon| last = Maughan| date = July 12, 1999| access-date = April 2, 2019| url = https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19990712/34516-random-house-acquires-listening-library.html| archive-date = November 8, 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201108185211/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19990712/34516-random-house-acquires-listening-library.html| url-status = live}}</ref>and sold its distribution division.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19990503/40044-executive-group-to-acquire-random-s-distribution-division.html|title=Executive Group to Acquire Random's Distribution Division|first=Jim|last=Milliot|date=May 3, 1999|website=Publishers Weekly|access-date=February 5, 2023|archive-date=January 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128232450/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19990503/40044-executive-group-to-acquire-random-s-distribution-division.html?utm_source=pocket_reader|url-status=live}}</ref>
===21st century===
In 2001, [[Phyllis E. Grann]] joined Random House as vice chairman.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/media/features/5618/|title=Now for the Grann Finale|last=Maneker|first=Marion|date=January 1, 2002|website=New York|access-date=May 23, 2018|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806061904/https://nymag.com/nymetro/news/media/features/5618/|url-status=live}}</ref> Grann was the CEO for Putnam and had grown that house from $10&nbsp;million in revenue in 1976, to more than $200&nbsp;million by 1993 and without increasing their title output.<ref name=":2" /> A publishing insider commented that then CEO Peter Olson was, "I think maybe instead of buying a company he bought a person."<ref name=":2" /> 

In 2003, Random House reentered the distribution business.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20030526/34909-random-house-to-reenter-distribution-business.html|title=Random House to Reenter Distribution Business|first=Jim|last=Milliot|date=May 27, 2003|access-date=February 5, 2023|archive-date=January 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131141023/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20030526/34909-random-house-to-reenter-distribution-business.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Coinciding with the 2007–2008 financial crisis, the publishing industry was hit hard with weak retail sales. 

In May 2008, Random House CEO Peter Olson stepped down and was replaced by [[Markus Dohle]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/21/business/media/21random.html|title=Publishing Outsider Picked to Head Random House|last=Rich|first=Motoko|date=May 21, 2008|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 26, 2018|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=April 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414101358/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/21/business/media/21random.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 

In October 2008, Doubleday, a division of Random House, announced that they would lay off 16 people, representing approximately 10% of its workforce.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/29/books/29book.html|title=Doubleday Publishing Lays Off 10% of Its Employees|last=Rich|first=Motoko|date=October 28, 2008|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 27, 2018|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=November 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107115928/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/29/books/29book.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 

In early December 2008, which became known as Black Wednesday in publishing circles, many publishers including Random House took steps by restructuring their divisions and laying off employees.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/17/new-editor-at-random-house-layoffs-at-doubleday-and-broadway/|title=New Editor at Random House, Layoffs at Doubleday and Broadway|last=Rich|first=Motoko|date=December 17, 2008|website=ArtsBeat|access-date=May 17, 2018|archive-date=September 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928102126/https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/17/new-editor-at-random-house-layoffs-at-doubleday-and-broadway/|url-status=live}}</ref> 

The reorganization consolidated and created three divisions, including Random House Publishing Group, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, and Crown Publishing Group.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20090119/16845-random-puts-its-house-in-order.html|title=Random Puts Its House in Order|website=Publishers Weekly|first=Jim|last=Milliot|date=January 19, 2009|access-date=April 3, 2016|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929192455/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20090119/16845-random-puts-its-house-in-order.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/03/major-reorganization-at-random-house/|title=Major Reorganization at Random House|last=Rich|first=Motoko|website=ArtsBeat|date=December 3, 2008|access-date=April 3, 2016|archive-date=June 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618101421/http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/03/major-reorganization-at-random-house/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Susan Kamil]] was named editorial director for Dial Press and editor-in-chief of Random House imprints reporting to Gina Centrello, the president and publisher of the Random House Publishing Group.<ref name=":1" /> There were layoffs at [[Doubleday (publisher)|Doubleday]], now part of [[Alfred A. Knopf|Knopf Publishing Group]], and [[Dial Press]], [[Bantam Books|Bantam Dell]]. [[Spiegel & Grau]] was moved from Doubleday over to Random House. Random House also has an entertainment production arm for film and television, Random House Studio; which released the film, ''[[One Day (2011 film)|One Day]]'' in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chang |first=Justin |date=2011-08-17 |title=One Day |url=https://variety.com/2011/film/reviews/one-day-2-1117945830/ |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> The company also creates story content for media including video games, social networks on the web, and mobile platforms. 

Random House is one of the largest [[English language]] publishers, and part of a group of publishers once known as the "Big 6" and now known as the "Big Five".<ref>The Big Six publishers, which have since been reduced to the "Big Five" by the merger on July 1, 2013 of Penguin and Random House, include Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group/Macmillan, Hachette, HarperCollins, Penguin Books, Random House; and Simon & Schuster.</ref> In October 2012, Bertelsmann entered into talks with rival conglomerate [[Pearson plc]], over the possibility of combining their respective publishing companies, Random House and [[Penguin Group]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Pfanner |first=Eric |last2=Chozick |first2=Amy |date=2012-10-29 |title=Random House and Penguin Merger Creates Global Giant |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/30/business/global/random-house-and-penguin-to-be-combined.html |access-date=2024-08-19 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> 

On July 1, 2013, the merger was completed, and the new company emerged as [[Penguin Random House]].<ref>{{Cite news|title =Penguin and Random House in deal talks|date=October 26, 2012|url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/eaf8eaaa-1eac-11e2-be82-00144feabdc0.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/eaf8eaaa-1eac-11e2-be82-00144feabdc0.html |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription|last1=Edgecliffe-Johnson|first1=Andrew|last2=Wiesmann|first2=Gerrit|access-date=August 12, 2013|work=[[Financial Times]]|department=Media}}{{Registration required}}</ref> When founded, Bertelsmann owned 53% of the joint venture while Pearson owned 47%.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/02/business/media/merger-of-penguin-and-random-house-is-completed.html |title=Penguin and Random House Merge, Saying Change Will Come Slowly |last=Bosman |first=Julie |date=July 1, 2013 |newspaper=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |access-date=April 4, 2016 |archive-date=July 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714165934/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/02/business/media/merger-of-penguin-and-random-house-is-completed.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":6" /> 

Pearson sold 22% of its shares to Bertelsmann in July 2017, and since April 2020, it is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bertelsmann, making Random House division again wholly owned by German parent. At the time of the acquisition the combined companies controlled 25% of the book business with more than 10,000 employees and 250 independent publishing imprints and with about $3.9&nbsp;billion in annual revenues.<ref name=":0" /> The move to consolidate was to provide leverage against [[Amazon.com]] and battle the shrinking state of [[bookstore]]s.<ref name=":0" /> 

In October 2018, Penguin Random House merged two of its most known publishing lines, Random House and the Crown Publishing Group. According to Madeline McIntosh, chief executive of Penguin Random House U.S., the two lines "will retain their distinct editorial identities."<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |first=Alexandra |last=Alter |date=October 18, 2018 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/18/books/penguin-random-house-merges-two-of-its-successful-publishing-lines.html |title=Penguin Random House Merges Two of its Successful Publishing Lines |work=The New York Times |access-date=November 16, 2018 |archive-date=October 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031003509/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/18/books/penguin-random-house-merges-two-of-its-successful-publishing-lines.html |url-status=live }}{{Registration required}}</ref> McIntosh explained some of the motivation behind the merger in a memo to employees, writing, "Book discovery and buying patterns continue to shift, resulting in growth opportunities in the nonfiction categories in which Crown in particular already has a strong foothold: food, lifestyle, health, wellness, business, and Christian."<ref name=":3"/> "We must invest even more aggressively in title-level and scaled marketing programs, capabilities and partnerships", she added.<ref name=":3"/><ref>{{Cite news |first=John |last=Maher |date=October 18, 2018 |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/78369-random-house-crown-merge.html |title=The Random House and Crown Publishing Groups Merge |work=Publishers Weekly |access-date=November 16, 2018 |archive-date=November 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116020118/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/78369-random-house-crown-merge.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 

In 2019, Penguin Random House acquired British children's book publisher Little Tiger Group, including Tiger Tales Press, a U.S. subsidiary, and added it to Random House Children's Books.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79649-prh-acquires-u-k-s-little-tiger-group.html | title=PRH Acquires U.K.'s Little Tiger Group |first=Ed|last= Nawotka |website=Publishers Weekly|date=March 27, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231008102848/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79649-prh-acquires-u-k-s-little-tiger-group.html |archive-date= Oct 8, 2023 }}</ref> Penguin Random House announced an agreement to purchase [[Boom! Studios]] in July 2024, where Boom! would become part of Random House Worlds.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Milliot {{!}} |first=Jim |title=Random House Is Buying Boom! Studios |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/95465-random-house-is-buying-boom-studios.html |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=2024-07-10 |title=Random House Publishing Group To Acquire Boom! Studios |url=https://deadline.com/2024/07/boom-studios-to-be-acquired-random-house-publishing-group-1236006392/ |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>