American Reading Company Board Member, Richard Sarnoff, Named 2009 Person of the Year by Publishers Weekly
King of Prussia, Pa.—Publishers Weekly, the international news magazine for the publishing world, has named American Reading Company Board Member, Richard Sarnoff, the 2009 Person of the Year. Mr. Sarnoff received this honor for the role he played in crafting the landmark settlement of the ongoing Google copyright infringement lawsuit. Mr. Sarnoff is widely recognized as the behind the scenes force that orchestrated an unprecedented settlement that will positively impact the publishing community for many years to come.
“I’m delighted that Richard has been recognized in this way by Publishers Weekly,” says Jane Hileman, Founder and CEO of American Reading Company. “He is such a valuable asset to our own Company, I am not surprised that he would receive such an honor for his positive work that impacts the entire publishing industry.”
Mr. Sarnoff has been a member of the Board of Directors of American Reading Company since 2005. According to Sarnoff, “I am a firm believer in American Reading Company’s approach to reading achievement. This approach emphasizes extensive teacher training and monitoring systems to ensure that students can read and love to read. I have visited many schools which have implemented American Reading Company programs, and the results are truly remarkable.”
Mr. Sarnoff is President of Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments (BDMI) and Co-Chairman of Bertelsmann AG’s US holding company, Bertelsmann Inc. He played a key role in Bertelsmann’s acquisition of Random House in 1998, and has held significant positions in the executive management of both companies. From 2006 to 2009, Mr. Sarnoff served as the Chairman of the Association of American Publishers.
“Being honored in this way by Publishers Weekly is truly gratifying,” said Sarnoff, “but the settlement was, and is, an all-hands team effort, with publishers and authors working as class representatives.”
About American Reading Company
American Reading Company transforms school cultures to create sustainable reading achievement through training, management, and monitoring systems. The company was founded in 1998 and is now based in King of Prussia, Pa. Today, more than a million students in 1,800 schools across 420 districts in 40 states participate in the company’s programs. Extensive research results show that 100 Book Challenge has boosted the standardized reading test scores of students and dramatically closed the achievement gap in participating schools. Action 100 is the company’s most comprehensive intervention program to turn around the nation’s lowest-performing schools under the requirements of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. For more information, please visit www.americanreading.com.