While the coming together of Magazine Publishers’ of Australia and Publishers Australia is a good thing, the two bodies do not represent all publishers. Indeed, many publishers which give newsagents their point of difference would not be at the new table.
Here is what I would like to see the two publisher groups focus attention on:
- A review of the retail channels from the perspective of the continued dilution of newsagents as the magazine specialists.
- Support for a retail campaign supporting magazines. Currently, Magazine Week is an advertiser centric event whereas it should be consumer centric and run through newsagencies – as is done successfully in the UK. Only newsagents can engage in a way which will drive consumer engagement.
- Provision of more useful data with which newsagents can make business decisions.
- A commitment to requiring magazine distributors to allow newsagents to make business decisions around magazines.
- Recognition and reward for newsagents and groups with a magazine strategy beyond the traditional for a newsagency.