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Topic: Sales cutting 'editorial' deals
| Author | Message |
| conorpurcell | Posted – 9/21/2007 6:25:46 AM | show profile | email poster Hi...hoping to get some feedback on this issue: Just started a new job as managing editor of a consumer publication. Have found out this week that sales make deals for ads and "editorial content", meaning certain companies have to get coverage. Also there is a whole lot of "PR speak" in most of the articles that do go in. Obviously I want to cut out the PR fluff and get sales to stop cutting deals with editorial involved. Need to convince CEO of value of reestablishing editorial integrity. Any ideas how to go about this. Have thought about walking but have just relocated and want to make the job work - see potential in the magazine. Any advice from people who have been in a similar position? |
| beenthere | Posted – 9/21/2007 12:18:32 PM | show profile I've experienced this in two jobs, and basically, there isn't a lot you can do?familiar refrain at one place: Hey isn't company x's ad contract up for renewal? Write a story about them to get them to sign another contract. Try to use the edit calendar as a guide for content placement whenever possible. I've never known a situation like this where edit takes priority. Money always wins. And if this is a new job, this is probably "how they've always done things." Pick your battles wisely, wait a few issues to see any trends, learn who the favored salespeople are and go from there. One area where you may have leverage is the PR speak in the articles. Start editing it out and see what happens. Do NOT not get in a situation where you are pitted against the No. 1 salesperson. You will lose. |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 9/21/2007 12:47:36 PM | show profile What the person said above. The issue is that the value of establishing editorial integrity probably isn't monetary so the CEO won't care, because if he did care they wouldn't be dong this. --Need to convince CEO of value of reestablishing editorial integrity. Any ideas how to go about this. -- |
| yourstruly | Posted – 10/3/2007 9:51:12 PM | show profile My advice, unfortunately, is find another job. I did. I went through the same thing at my last job at a trade pub. The amount of wheeling and dealing made me want to vomit, the sales department would prostitute my editorial and my time every chance they got. To them, it was effective way to seal the deal. I never signed on to be a salesman. I bashed my head against this policy for a few years before at last I realized it was futile. Their mind was made up on this long before I got there. You can bring your concerns to the CEO or publisher and talk until you're blue in the face. He may smile and nod, but in my experience, he will just see you as a naive idealist who can't fathom that editorial integrity doesn't pay the bills. Sad, but true. |
| yourstruly | Posted – 10/3/2007 9:52:28 PM | show profile BTW, that's why I ask about the relationship between editorial and sales anytime I interview for a job. |
