Courting Controversy

I just read this in today's Publishers Lunch, and it kind of blew my mind:

Booker Shortlist Announced
What a "shock." As usual, manufactured "surprise" is the fuel of the Booker publicity machine, as the "longlist" turns out to be a head fake for the real shortlist...

I'm so naive that it never occurred to me that courting controversy could be the best way to fuel The Story Prize publicity machine. We foolishly choose the books we think are best. Maybe we'll name an unwed pregnant teen as a finalist this year.