In a response to the wave of book bannings and censorship efforts in schools, bookstores, and libraries, Open Road Integrated Media is launching the Free Voices Geo-Targeting initiative, a marketing service that uses geo-targeting to enable challenged works to be discovered and purchased even in communities where book bans are widespread.
The initiative offers publishers a marketing solution aimed at the 10 states that have the highest frequency of titles targeted for book bans, adjusted for their number of residents, and meeting a minimum population threshold: Texas, Florida, Virginia, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Utah, Iowa, Idaho, and Nebraska.
Each enrolled title will be featured in four weeks of promotions that will reach highly targeted segments of "power readers." Publishers will have the option to overlay an extra segment of readers located in a specific state or region, including areas where book bans are especially prevalent and where specific books are challenged.
Open Road CEO David Steinberger commented: "The First Amendment and the right to free expression applies to every community in this nation. With Free Voices Geo-Targeting, we are placing a special emphasis on reaching places where readers may find their access to books restricted."
Open Road chief marketing officer Peter McCarthy added: "Our message to publishers is that if there is anywhere in the nation where readers are being blocked from getting your book, Free Voices Geo-Targeting can help."
Dominique Raccah, publisher & CEO of Sourcebooks, commented: "This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson is the third most challenged book in America today, and among the most banned. I'm grateful that Open Road is helping to make this important book more accessible to readers. We're excited about geo-targeting as a next step in enabling readers to find and read books wherever they live."
A portion of all proceeds from Free Voices Geo-Targeting will be donated to the Freedom to Read Foundation.