I was talking with a distribution newsagent yesterday who said the problem of overweight newspapers was fading. He reminded me of a blog post I published in November 2006 about a study into OH&S issues surrouning heavy newspapers. The Nery Report, named after its author, David Nery, raised a range of concerns about the weight of newspapers and their handing by those involved in wrapping and delivering these to homes. My key concern at the time was that newsagents were not informed of the report recommendations and therefore did not have an opportunity to address what were clearly OH&S breaches in their businesses.
While there are still some editions of some newspapers which are ‘heavy’, the newsagent I was speaking with yesterday says that they are getting lighter with time. This may be why the Nery Report was never widely circulated among distribution newsagents.
The ANF spent a fortune on this report. It went to News Ltd and got stuck at their legal. The CEO at the time was told if they went public with the recommendations to newsagents, News Ltd would walk away and have no further discussion on the issues. News Ltd did nothing more than it usually did, just stall it while at the same time prevent the ANF from doing what it should have.
Daniel, I was imploerd by the ANF to not publish the report in November 2006 because of discussions with the publishers. I should not have held off making it available for so long. Kudos to the ANF of 2006 for commissioning the report. Brickbats for not being transparent with member newsagents.
Its about the lack of advertising, Mark. And that is down to the economic crisis.
I have been weighing Saturday editions for years in the UK and weight and size of newspapers is directly linked to advertising content whether that is printed within the paper itself or loose. The advertising collapse of the past year of so will pass and then paper, those that are left that is, will grow in size again.
Publishers know that newsagents are ‘caught’ and will put up with most things thrown at them with not much more than a grumble, so give it another year or two and the advertisers will return because the print media can offer a known audience and that is what advertisers like about them.
Steve