Hi Guys,
I dont want this post to be taken as defomatory in any sense before I start.
If the mods feel it is in any way, then please delete it!
As I said in one of my other threads, I used to work for EMAP from 1996 to 2000. In that time I worked mainly on Sea Angler Mag and Improve Your Course/Angling Times/Match Angling Plus (No longer!), on the ad sales side of things.
That was when the wages were through the roof ridiculous (VERY good!!!) that we, the staff, got into our banks on pay day!!! And that was even without the commissons that we got when we hit our targets each month!!! Even back then, the 'Pirks' (Charter Trips, Tackle, Etc) of the job far outweighed anything else that we could get anywhere else!!!
But then, In 2000, EMAP then decided to merge all the sporting titles - Angling, Golf, Football, Moutain Biking, Etc mags into one department and all hell broke lose with the staff as they lowered wages, cut back on positions, etc, and that was the end - oh them were the days of free lunches, parties at Ally Pally every May paid for by EMAP, 'All Day Meetings', Freebies - all gone but not forgotten!
It even got to the stage of me and one of the Ad Managers used to spend all weekend fishing together and then go out for nights on the town EVERY weekend without fail, nothing else mattered, but that soon stopped when the uproar started. A true friend that was very sadly lost!
The only people to come out on top of all that change were the departmental directors as usual!!!!
I subsequentley left of my own accord after rowing over £850 that was owed to me in bonuses that I never got to this day, leaving a VERY bitter taste with me about EMAP. I have over the past couple of years benn offered a couple of positions back with the company but blatantly refused them on the spot!!
I know back then there was a lot of corruption going on, but I dont know about now to be honest.
I do keep in touch with 2 old friends that still work there but on different titles, and they say that the company although moving forward fast with the way that technology is going, but the company itself is going down hill and losing many of it's 'Key Accounts' due to the way the staff are pushed into corners with customers, and targets to be met, etc.
Back then, a major manufacturer was almost sponsoring the magazine as they had every 'spare' page with an advert, editorial, mention on it, to the stage where there was a VERY heavy bias on that manufacturers products, it almost seems the same now to a degree. Like I said, nothing changes except who the bias is towards, and this has been mentioned before in this thread with another major manufacturer taking on the new bias.
I know the mags have to earn the money somewhere and somehow, but to have the reviewers blatantly saying this is what NEEDS to or MUST be in your rod bag or box rather than having an independant review done on the product is bordering on them saying there is nothing better out there to be purchased, etc. What happened to free choice?
Why cant they get lower priced products reviewed as much so that us anglers on the lower wage brackets get a fair chance?
The way the reviews are done really get my back up and have done for a long time.
The other sea fishing mag doesnt wantanly 'PUSH' certain manufacturers goods in your face all the time does it? It's also not so heavily biased is it? Why do you think more of us read that one?
I personally think that Sea Angler is geared to the top end of the sea fishing marketand always has been, it is aimed at those who do nothing but spend thousands on gear just because it is there to have and not because they want to use it for it's correct purpose, merely just to show off!
It's all well and good being able to afford that kind of gear and show off with it, but there are those of us who simply cant afford to buy it or justify having it, but what Sea Angler says must be had - must be had then, right eh?!
This annoys me beyond belief!!!
The mag sales stats stood at round 48,000 2 years ago, and that was READERS.......NOT sales! They reckoned that for every single who bought the mag, then at least 1 of their mates read that copy when it was passed onto them.
Have a look at the ABC (Audit Bureau Circulation) website to see what it is now.
Oh, and the problems that we were having with the customers subscriptions, Well, I wont start on that one now. That will need a page to itself!
Right, thats it, rant over!
I hope that this has been put across in the correct manner and given you an insight. Like I said to start with, I do not want to cause offence with this post, or cause trouble and if any of the mods feel that it has or will do, then please delete it!
Thanks Guys.
Rich
