Business Ethics and CSR

CASE o t

STUDY
To pub l is h or n
to pub lis h ? S W O T
an d Im ag e
Analysis rategies
Repair St rial
in Edito ing
Decision Mak
 1 The Jonathan Mattingly Book About Breonna
Taylor

2 The Josh Hawley Book

Contents.... 3 Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats

(SWOT) Analysis

4 Image Repair Theory

5 Conclusion and As a Manager of Simon & Schuster

what should we do in that Situation?
This case study examines Simon & Schuster's
decision to publish a manuscript based on social
and economic factors. It challenges students to
make decisions on publishing controversial figures,
such as Senator Josh Hawley and police officer
Jonathan Mattingly. The case demonstrates how
business interests and public image collide,
allowing organizations to maintain social
consciousness while still seeking commercial
interests. The case invites students to act as
publishing and editorial team executives, tasked
with decision-making on publishing projects
involving polarizing and controversial figures in the
21st century.
The Jonathan Mattingly Book About Breonna Taylor

In April 2021, Simon & Schuster, a publishing company owned by Viacom CBS, announced
it would not publish a book by Sgt Jonathan Mattingly, a police officer who was acquitted
of the Breonna Taylor shooting.
The book, titled The Fight for Truth: The Inside Story behind the Breonna Taylor Tragedy,
was slated to be published by Post Hill Press, a conservative publisher. Simon & Schuster
stated that it had no editorial control over titles released by smaller publishers for which it
provides distribution.
After online and public criticism, the publisher distancing itself from Mattingly's book led
to the business relationship ending.
This social backlash affected the author and publisher, as the project began to dissolve.
In 2021, Post Hill Press informed Mattingly that the book could not be distributed without
the partnership with Simon & Schuster, resulting in the author and Post Hill Press
cancelling the book deal.
Mattingly decided that without distribution, he could not publish the book to a wide
enough audience.
 The Josh Hawley Book

Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican Senator, was contracted to publish a book with
Simon & Schuster in June 2020 titled The Tyranny of Big Tech.
However, the publisher announced in January 2021 that it would no longer be publishing
the title due to Hawley's objections to certifying the 2020 U.S. presidential election
results.
The decision was made after the 6 January insurrection in Washington DC, where a mob
stormed the U.S. Capitol.
Simon & Schuster weighed political activities against editorial decision making, stating
that they would not support Hawley after his role in a dangerous threat to democracy
and freedom.
Hawley's book was eventually published by Regnery, a conservative house with ties to
Simon & Schuster. The company handles distribution for Regnery titles in all markets and
territories worldwide, including sales in Canada and export markets.
 STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

S W
O T
OPPORTUNITIES THREATS

SWOT Analysis
A SWOT analysis is a strategic decision-making tool used to identify strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in an organization and its business
environment.
It aids in strategic planning by isolating critical facts, providing strategic insights.
In the publishing industry, it involves considering cultural and political
environments, business objectives, and mission.
 Image Repair Strategies
Simon & Schuster's handling of controversial authors' books highlights the need for
organizations to employ image repair strategies, as part of image repair theory.
This theory includes strategies such as denial, evasion of responsibility, reducing the
offensive act, transcendence, attacking the accuser, corrective action, and mortification.
The goal of image restoration is to manage the situation while maintaining a frame of
innocence to the offensive act.
In the Hawley case, Simon & Schuster strategically delivered a statement for image
restoration, as the company had supported the author before his actions to nullify the
U.S. presidential election.After the insurrection, Simon & Schuster sought to restore its
image by using mortification and corrective action.
In the Mattingly case, Simon & Schuster reduced the offensiveness of the event by
stating it had no editorial control over titles released by smaller publishers. After online
and public criticism, Simon & Schuster decided not to be involved in the distribution of
the book.
 Monishka Bhardwaj
23GSOB2010317

Anushka Bhardwaj
23GSOB2010318

Presentation by: Harsh Singh

MBA (SEC-4)
23GSOB2010423

Abhinav Dubey
23GSOB2010422