UK. The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie is the subject of the lead interview in this month’s edition of the Professional Publishers Association newsletter.
The interview follows the company’s recognition in being short-listed for Independent Publisher of the Year 2016.
The wide-ranging interview includes Moodie’s views on traditional v digital publishing; his health battles; “disruption” versus the status quo; Corporate Social Responsibility; the virtues and drawbacks of independence; and what keeps him awake at night.
Asked how he judges the mood among independent publishers in 2016 and what he’s optimistic about, Moodie replies: “Independent publishers are by definition paranoid. They mix deep pessimism with constant eureka moments. They wake up in the middle of the night believing the sky is falling. As day breaks, they invariably find the sky remains where it always was and always will be.
“But that paranoia keeps them alert, moving on, and generally far more flexible than their big company competition. I’m optimistic that content will always be king. Get that right and you have a good shot at it, whatever technological developments surround you. Independence remains both a virtue and a sleep depriver.”
“Is there anything in particular that keeps you awake at night?” he is asked, prompting the reply: “The fear of failure. It’s most nights in fact. I’m better in the morning.”
How does he see his company changing over the next few years?
“Constantly! To survive, let alone flourish, in the publishing business these days you simply have to keep challenging yourself, reinventing yourself, disrupting yourself. If you don’t, others will. Every single thing we do has to be challenged constantly. More specifically though I see us diversifying, both by sector and by readership – B2C and, dare I say it, C2B looms large.”
And what does the publisher of the future look like and which channels present the biggest opportunities?
“The publisher of the future will fuse best-in-class content with the optimum blend of traditional and new media formats. Platforms have changed, principles haven’t. Know your audience, and deliver quality, valuable content that makes a difference. Be (and employ) decent people. Be led by your product, not your revenue ambitions.”
What gives you a kick about working in this industry? “The glorious freedom of creation. How many other roles allow a 60 year-old cancer and heart attack survivor to keep behaving like a kid in a candy shop?”
