The ANF made its first statement about the Alpha magazine situation today and said, well, not much. Indeed, they reported the facts as we know them but proposed no action on behalf of members. Newsagents can now add disappointment with the ANF to their disappointment with News Ltd on the Alpha mess for it seems that a week after the Alpha announcement, the ANF does not have a plan.
To those inside the ANF who complain about what I have written here I’d say that this blog post recording another ANF failure to lead could have been easily avoided. Newsagents are angry. Your constituents are angry. Ask what they want of you and do it. This is what newsagents expect from an association – to have their views robustly represented.
No wonder News Ltd thinks it can get away with treating newsagents in such a poor way.
And so say all of us…..
What do you want the ANF to do – tell News Ltd that they are naughty and force them to reverse their decision? Please, News Ltd has made their decision in their own commercial interests, as we all do, and the best newsagents can do is to follow suit.
This is actually a great decision from News Ltd for retail newsagents in WA who have, by virtue of this change, had their commission doubled. We now get it on direct supply from NDD rather than as a sub from the newspaper delivery chap (who is not as thrilled about this as retail agents are).
Glenn, The ANF had an opportunity to do more than report what we all knew last week. If I were them I would have, on Monday, facilitated a consumer education campaign, let News know what I think in no uncertain terms and asked my members what they wanted me to do. This is what service is about.
Glen
That is what I would want them to tell them and I would tell Newsagents if I were head of the ANF to remove ALPHA from the shelves until consultation and negotiation began.
Where was their commercial interest aspirations when ALPHA was launched?
They completely bypassed all representative bodies because they hold them in contempt.
Derek
How can the ANF ask newsagents what they would like them to do to represent us on this issue when just in these blog posts on this topic you have varying courses of action by different newsagents.
If the ANF did ask the question of 3000 newsagents they might have 20 responses of which each one would likely contain a different suggestion – which one do they choose? The ANF are damned if they do and damned if they dont, and News Ltd doesnt give a toss what any of us think either individually or collectively.
The News Ltd decision is not great by any means, but it should reinforce in every newsagents mind that we each need to secure our own businesses for the future and reduce our reliance on the publishers for an income.
News Ltd has shown very clearly the value that they place on our channel and what we have done in the past with their product. We also need to demonstrate that we dont need them either, and we dont. I could quite happily fill the void left by non performing titles with product that turns a profit, and am in the process of doing just that right now.
We just need to look outside our traditional squares – Diversify or Perish.
Glenn, The ANF could have asked newsagents what they wanted to do by, well, asking them. Instead they annunced, a week late, the Alpha decision. They have missed an opportunity to lead.
If the responses are as lame as you say then why have an ANF at all?
I agree we need to diversify. I am looking at benchmark data for Q1 2009 which shows what a success this can be.
The ANF are a waste of time as their lack of leadership with alpha shows. It is bill express all over again.
Mark,
That the responses would be lame is hardly the fault of the ANF. It typifies the single greatest problem we face as a channel, and that is the apathy of the majority. Many cry over spilt milk, few are willing to get in and help clean it up.
Neither us nor the ANF can change the decision of News Ltd and to try is a waste of energy. Store it in the memory banks and recall it when planning for the future.
For the first time in a long while I am optimistic about the future of the ANF and its leadership. To say it is Bill Express all over again, as Keith does, is incorrect and somewhat inflamatory and does nothing to further our cause.
Earth to Glen – the apathy of the majority as you put it is endemic in any industry made up of independent operators, perhaps more so in “traditional” areas such as newsagencys but that is one of the prime reasons organisations such as the ANF need to be proactive. If your posts on this issue are to be believed then you have provided more than enough argument as to why we don’t need the ANF any more and simply confirms that in most peoples eyes they are a “do nothing” group.
To suggest that any efforts they might make in resolving issues such as Alpha is a waste of energy is just what the News Ltd’s of the world want to hear and begs the question – are you a paid up member of the ANF?
Then you say that you are optimistic about the future of the ANF and its leadership – so am I but in my case I think they have just about sealed their fate and in a word (or three) THEY ARE STUFFED and I can’t wait for them to disappear!
This industry is teetering on the edge of disaster for the thousands of small business owners involved with enough issues to cover Uluru three times over but we can send the CEO on a funded trip to South Africa, have him play a round or three of golf with a 100 or so newsagents on the way home (don’t tell me – he paid his own green fees) and you don’t think the ANF has any role in resolving Alpha-type issues.
P.S. When you are ready to sell your business please contact me at masochist@rootedenterprises.com – I think I can find you a buyer!
Glenn, I did not say that apathy would be the fault of the ANF.
The ANF had an excellent opportunity from Friday of last week on the Alpha issue and blew it – in the timing and substance of their response. That’s how newsagents will see it.
No one forced them to blow it, they did it entirely themselves.
Given the enormity of what News has done, if we were subscribing to so-called representative bodies, at the very least, we would expect them to be seen to be interested, by issuing a statement of their own the minute the situation became known, assuring agents that they would be in touch as to input to a decision for action. Never mind what that decision would entail.
Mark, you’re right, they blew it. Toothless tiger or not, they still have to earn their membership dollars, and at least demonstrate support for agents in light of the clear bullying of the little guy by the big guy.
One of the reasons we can’t justify membership, even if our tiny agency could afford it.
In general, I’ve seen too much of unions screwing sectors of industries in favour of other sectors, in my working life to date. Not interested.
Jim,
I think the point of my posts have quietly passed you by. I did not, and still do not, say that the ANF handled the News Ltd situation well. My point was, and still is, that each of us need to make the decision that is right for our business, be it remove the title altogether or put it in pride of place at the front of shop. Complaining to News Ltd is a waste of time, just as complaining to the bank about their new ATM fees is also a waste of time – they have made their decisions and we must make ours.
Why should any industry body have to hold the hand of the apathetic majority and try to show them the light? I want an organisation representing me to spend its time on doing just that (and granted the ANF does not have a great track record in recent times in this regard), not spoon feeding the constituents. If the ANF and key partners/suppliers are proactive with those in the industry that are likewise, then the rest can follow at their leisure. Those that cannot keep up can fall by the wayside and stop holding the rest of us back. For far too long our industry, suppliers and associations alike, has tried to cater for the lowest common denominator and it is part of the reason our industry is where it is today. If the “apathetic majority” want their voice heard then they need to get off their arses and speak up, not wait for someone to come and hold their hand and tell them what to do or say.
More than ever we need a strong, representative national body and whilst there are certainly challenges and a “history” that the ANF need to overcome and build from the only alternative to the ANF at the moment is to go it alone, and we know the likelihood of success under that model. What do you do if your wish comes true and the ANF does disappear? Yes, I am a member of the ANF and I am going to support it in the hope that the new leadership can get it to where I want to be. If not I will reassess my position
When you get to the point where you have issues with the CEO joining in a round of golf with newsagents in WA and whether or not he paid his own green fee it may be time to reconsider your choice of vocation. I was at the golf day and was heartened by what I heard from the CEO about the work the ANF was undertaking, but I am also conscious that it is going to take time to see the fruits of the work being done.
i dont care about their golf day either or what they have to say for that matter, the ANF no longer has the support of the industry, be they newsagents or suppliers. Their inability to function as a national industry body has them destined for the scrapheap, just a matter of time.
Glen,
We would probably agree on your first point – it is our decision to decide what magazines we carry but I don’t agree on your point re complaining though. Firstly, banks have recently reversed decisions on ATM fees and the only reason they did that was because customers complained. Why, as an industry, shouldn’t we complain to News Ltd about a decision that affects every newsagent in Australia in one way or another, not only this time but every time News or some other publisher decides to make unilateral decisions in the future. And as paid up members of representative associations we have every right to expect those associations to act on our behalf!
This is not about holding the hand of the apathetic majority – it’s about associations meeting their responsibilities to members. The ANF has a miserable track record and this is just one more failure in their part.
The only proactivity the ANF needs to show is in representing all of their members whether those members be strong, weak or “apathetic” – the latter will fall by the wayside as you say. The ANF should in no way be involved in commercial areas because of the inevitable conflicts that will arise and the fact that they have more than demonstrated their inadequacy in this area.
On my point with the CEO playing golf, I really don’t care who he plays golf with and who paid his green fees, he could have played tiddlywinks with the WA Librarians Association for all I care – my beef is that with so many domestic issues needing urgent resolution, including the Alpha decision, that the members would be better served by a CEO who took time to work on those issues rather than jetting off (on ANF member funds) to take part in a talk-fest on commercial activities that should have no role in ANF activities.
As to being heartened by the CEO’s words and being prepared to take time to see results, I would be more heartened to see results NOW because the ANF is out of time.
Finally, to your point on me taking up another vocation – YOU’RE RIGHT – the reason I haven’t replied earlier is that I took yesterday off to go to the races to work in my other vocation as a bookmaker. Hard day, bit of a gamble, came out in front but far less stress, didn’t start until 9.00am, home by 5.30pm and that included time for a few beers at the end of the day (and the horse we are partners in ran a strong 2nd from a crook barrier as well).
Makes me wonder what I’m doing here this morning!
Glenn,
If we think we can achieve nothing then why complain about anything. I know you have been quite vocal about the magazine distribution system. You must believe that compliants will count for something. This is the obligation the ANF had/has to its members about Slpha. It is why it continues to demonstrate that it does not put newsagents first.
The departure of Alpha magazine from “premium space” once again frees up this space for any other title willing to pay 50% commission.
Publishers shouldn’t underestimate the value of the position next to the newspapers. It took Alpha from startup to become one of the nation’s most successful magazines.
I’d personally prefer 50% comission on a magazine worth more than $2.95
Glen,
You’re on the right thought process in that we are on our own now. With News Ltd doing a deal with Office Works (our biggest stationery competitior to sell newspapers) it makes one wonder if the ANF Nana or anybody else has had direct talks with NEWS Ltd Are the outlets to be sub agents to the network after all Coles Myer own them and they are?
Ok Ok, i concede that a considered complaint backed by facts does have its place, i just dont expect that they will always be fruitful, but no harm in trying 🙂
All I see these days from the ANF and it’s CEO is, give us your views and we will act. The problem is in many cases they already have the information and they fail to act. There has been no work coming out of that organization now for over a year. Before that, there were informative ANF News, Policy Papers, Submissions to Government, Media Releases etc. Now, there is nothing. Have a look on their webpage. The proof is there. There was a time when you knew what was going on, what they working on. Now there is nothing. Let’s take delivery fees and the viability of delivery runs. The ANF spent over $50k on a consultant to put together that cost benchmarking study. What have they done with it? The organization put together a comprehensive discussion paper on newspaper distribution and magazine supply. This was starting to be discussed with suppliers. What have they done with it since? The organization has lost its way, lost its direction and momentum. There is nothing now but a vacuum.
Daniel, What could have been a political win for the ANF has been passed over.
Thankfully, the Alpha issue is gaining traction regardless of their disinterest.