Further to my post today looking at what newsagents could spend the $60 a month is costs to be in the ANF, consider this promotion by the ANF of Hubbed. I think the ANF promotes Hubbed because of a commercial relationship, the details of which are not disclosed.
My view is that industry associations ought not promote commercial activities. They should not play favourites because when this happens they leave themselves open to a claim of bias.
they will say they need to engage in commercial activity to fund their activities. I disagree with this. Newsagents either want an association or not. Direct funding by newsagents should be the only source of income, for the sake of transparency and trust. Such a move would make the association a genuine servant of members.
Hubbed has competitors who do not get a look in with the ANF and the various communication channels of the ANF because they are not a commercial partner of the ANF.
Criticism I make of the ANF for their selective promotion of suppliers to newsagents is seen by some here as criticism of the association. Rather, I am critical of the use of the association as a commercial activity supporting newsagent suppliers they like for reasons that are not clear and transparent.
Totally agree Mark.
The ANF cannot have their hand in the money pot of others and at the same time represent newsagencies.
Newsagents cannot trust the ‘articles’ in the National Newsagent magazine as editorial choices for years have bene tainted by ANF commercial deals.
They also cannot represent newsagents with fresh air , they need money to function . Lack of paying members so money has to come from somewhere
Shaun it is better if it comes from member support as that has clear purpose. Getting it from commercial operations that rely on endorsements from the association taint the association. If newsagents want an association they can pay for it.
The lack of ANF members and our personal choice to withdraw from membership reflects the inaction for years on matters that are most important to newsagencies.
We can’t expect them to fight for a better magazine model or anything else for that matter if they have agreements/sponsorship with members of the MPA and others, so we won’t be a member until the ANF decide to represent NEWSAGENTS best interests and not their own.
Will gladly pay more if than $60 if they choose to represent newsagents unconditionally, which they should be doing now!