Malorie Blackman was appointed Children's Laureate in 2013.
On Sunday, she gave an interview with Sky News about the need for more ethnic diversity in kids' books.
That's not to say that children and young adults only want to read about themselves. Of course not – you want to escape into fiction as well and read about other people, other cultures, other lives, other planets, and so on.
However, these views were misrepresented by the now-deleted headline with which Sky titled the interview.
She was quick to respond.
Not once did the phrase in the banner headline pass my lips because I don't think in those terms. http://t.co/xnoQ2B9U9r
Disappointing but not surprising how many people never get past sensationalist headlines.
Sky swiftly apologised.
@malorieblackman @SkySuchet Our headline writers are changing that Malorie and pass on their apologies. All the best
@SkySuchet @malorieblackman I have read it, and agree. But that doesn't stop Malorie from now being misquoted all over the world...
@Joannechocolat @malorieblackman of course ur 100% right. That's why errors are unforgivable in our industry. An apology rarely suffices.
But it was too late. Blackman received a torrent of racist abuse, and had to leave Twitter. She has since returned to the social network.
