P-P-A-thetic

07/11/09: Just been told about the CEO vacancy! “A unique role with substantial opportunity” – not half. If only I wasn’t enjoying the embalming so much I’d send my c.v. in

07/11/09: still no response from any of the Board. Perhaps they don’t have my address.

03/11/09: a good article here from Neil Thackray on what the future of the PPA perhaps should be. Further evidence, if any were needed, at the way the PPA seems to have alienated the people who should be its core members.

 

As the two regular readers of this blog know well, the industry is collapsing around our ears and our industry body is currently completely airtless.

Our companies contribute several dozen poonds of their hard-earned cash to the PPA each year, but the only thing the organisation is providing at the moment is entertainment. But the madderam of firings, resignations, reorganisations and restructuring has been going on for so long now that we’ve lost sight of what the whole point of the PPA is – just where is it going, and what are we paying for?

What passes for our trade press haven’t got any answers from the PPA, so it’s obviously time for this media heavyweight to weigh in. The PPA website states:

“PPA is a company limited by guarantee. It is owned by its members, has no capital and cannot distribute dividends. PPA exists to promote and represent the interests of the UK magazine and business media industry and is governed by an annual general meeting of its publisher members.

PPA strategy is set by PPA’s board of 24 directors. The association has a chairman elected by the board from amongst its number. “

Even though I’ve got neeps to mash, I thought it was time that someone speired oot what was going on from the members of the PPA Board, so I sent them this wee email:

“Following the resignation of Sarah Tunstall and the departure of Johnathan Shepherd, are there any views that you wish to share with the several readers of ma wee blog?

There’s been no comment on the current leadership vacuum from the PPA Board, the body charged with setting strategy, a situation that seems bizarre for an industry that is based on communication.

Our business is threatened more than at any time in our working lives; the PPA not only does not appear to have any answers, it seems not to know what questions to ask.

So, what is the PPA’s strategy?

Anyone want to give odds on how many of the board will reply? Do I hear none of them?

Check back here for any responses that come in.