About this Video

• Video Title: Entretien Bérengère Baucher - 10 avril 2025
• Channel: Aurore Jqr
• Speakers: Bérengère Baucher (likely), Aurore Jqr (likely)
• Duration: 00:50:32

Introduction

This video is an interview with Bérengère Baucher, likely conducted by Aurore Jqr. The main topic is Bérengère's experience as an editor of the "Tant de paroles" collection, focusing on its creation, author selection, thematic choices, promotional challenges, and the broader context of publishing in the humanities.

Key Takeaways

• Collection Genesis: The "Tant de paroles" collection originated from a desire to make academic research on language and societal issues accessible to a wider audience.
• Author Selection: Bérengère prioritized authors with both academic expertise and a talent for clear, engaging communication, often identifying them through platforms like The Conversation. Academic background was important, but the ability to vulgarize was key.
• Thematic Focus: The collection explores complex societal issues through the lens of language, aiming to encourage thoughtful reflection on how we communicate about significant topics.
• Marketing Challenges: Promoting the books, particularly the one on inclusive writing, proved difficult due to internal concerns at the publishing house (Robert) about appearing overtly political during a period of internal debate (the "crise du Yel"). The marketing team, accustomed to dictionaries, struggled to adapt its strategies for these more niche academic titles.
• Publishing in the Humanities: The interview explores the challenges faced by publishers of humanities works, including financial constraints, competition, evolving reader habits, and the tension between maintaining editorial independence and responding to market demands. The speaker highlights the importance of a clear, strongly held editorial vision and the potential advantages of independent publishing houses in this context.