Monday, 20 October 2025 Books+Publishing @booksandpublishing
Murdoch Books has acquired world rights to Screen Wise by Madonna King.
Screen Wise will address screen time and online safety, “the biggest issue facing parents today”, said the publisher. “Madonna King comes to this topic with the level of authority and thorough research that will make this the most comprehensive parenting book on raising kids of all ages in the digital age.”
King is a journalist and speaker, and the author of several nonfiction books including Being 14, Fathers and Daughters, Ten-Ager and Saving Our Kids (all Hachette).
She said, “When 57 percent of Gen Z say they wish social media had never been invented, we know the struggle our children have in this digital world. This book is a plea by our children for help navigating their way through a global experiment. And it’s our job as parents to do that. I can’t imagine a more important issue for parents to navigate than the digital world, where many of their children live.”
Murdoch Books publisher Melissa Kayser said, “Madonna has conducted hundreds of interviews over the last few months and her book will bring together the latest advice, including thoughts on the government’s social media bans, which come into effect in December. This is Australia’s own version of Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation.”
Screen Wise is planned for publication in April 2026.
Category: Local news Rights and acquisitions