Publishing Company Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a publishing company business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for book, magazine, digital, and hybrid publishers. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual list and markets.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media / Publishers Liability | Covers defamation, privacy, and copyright claims over what you publish. | Core | |
| Author Coverage (Named Insureds) | Extends media coverage to authors — often required to sell rights. | Prevalent | |
| General Liability | Covers office premises and events. | Core | |
| Business Property / Inventory | Covers printed inventory in your warehouse or at distributors. | Prevalent | |
| Workers' Compensation / Employer's Liability | Covers staff. | Core | |
| Cyber / Privacy Liability | Covers subscriber and customer data. | Prevalent | |
| Errors & Omissions (Services) | Covers hybrid and author-service claims for failed deliverables. | Situational | |
| Employment Practices Liability | Covers claims by staff. | Situational | |
| Product Recall / Withdrawal | Covers costs to pull and destroy a title. | Situational | |
| Worldwide Territory Extension | Confirms claims filed outside the U.S. are covered. | Prevalent |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by publishers is the author. Defamation and copyright suits name the publisher and the author together, and an author's indemnity is only as good as their bank account — Jesse Ventura went after HarperCollins' profits after winning $1.8 million against an author's estate. Carry media liability that can include authors, confirm it covers suits filed abroad, and vet memoir and true crime titles before release.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your publishing company coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Publishing Company Insurance · Publishing Company Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a publishing company business need?
The core coverages for a publishing company business are Media / Publishers Liability, General Liability, Workers' Compensation / Employer's Liability. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my publishing company coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.