Is IPAC a Possibility?

A Saturday Rant 5-25-02


OK, for years and years and years you have heard me rant about the IPAC concept
(Independent Publishers Action Committee) and I know that most of you could care
less. But stay with me for a momentS because maybe I can convince you that this
is something that really is needed.

When I started this, I felt like writing a long Rant about how we independent
publishers are getting screwed left and right by the middle channel, the retail
channel, the media, and even by the vendor channel. But I won't do that now.
Either you understand the problem or you are so dumbed-down by the PMA, SPAN,
and whoever else is out there telling you that "everything is just OK" that you
are starting to believe it.

There has been a lot of discussion on the PUB-FORUM (www.pub-forum.net) board
about starting a new organization; one that is strictly political, one that will
have a voice, one that will announce the position of the small press, one that
will make some waves, one that will do it's best to get us a seat at the table
with our big brothers and sisters, as well as with our retailers (of which we
stock over half their shelves.)

No, I have not come up with a definitive structure or platform yet. I'm working
on it. But what I'm looking at is a lot less of a democracy and a lot more of a
"commune" than you might have expected.

What I want to avoid is getting bogged down in procedure... how votes are to be
held, who is to run the organization, how credit will be given to those who work
in it, and all of the other million and one things that can sandbag a new group
before it even gets started.

What I'm thinking about is a simple organization, one I've written about for
many years, that is headed by one person who work his or her ass off to get
people involved.

What I'm looking at is a group of from 25 to 100 publishers who will constitute
an organization that can, will, and legitimately "speak for" the huge numbers of
independent publishers out there.

What are we going to speak on? What about pricing, or returns, or the Borders
issue, or end-capping, or royalties, or pricing, or distribution, or the
weather?

I'll have more to say about IPAC in the future, but for now I think that there
is a need for a new organization, one that has a sole purpose of speaking out
and up and for the small publisher. We have a story to tell. And it's not just
about our position in the industry. It includes our place as "keepers of the
culture." And that's a large part of what we do. We are important to the fabric
of American society and I think we need to speak up.

Well, you ask, "Why not wait for PMA or SPAN or AAP to speak for us." Well the
simple truth of the matter is that none of the above really care about us. Their
prime objective is to deliver us to their vendors. I know that's a harsh
statement, but having been around this corner for many years, I can look you in
the eye and tell you that it's the truth.

So what I'm doing is looking at all sorts of ways to not only organize
independent publishers, but also for a structure that will be "workable," one
that will entice other publishers to join in a cause to do a bit of writing or
publicity, or advice-giving so that we can raise our voice to a level where we
are heard by the big players.

I keep thinking, "why me?" I mean, where are all the "others" to lead this
movement?  I've been trying for a long time to get Peter Goodman
"http://www.stonebridge.com" to lead this crusade, but I have not had much luck.
So maybe I have to do it myself, unless someone else with good qualifications
comes along and wants to take my place (which they can gladly have!)

Someone has to speak for us. We need to be heard. I have a loud voice and I'm
willing to use it. But if anyone else wants the job, they are welcome to it!
Perhaps Mayapriya Long of Bookwrights (http://www.bookwrights.com) will step in
and take over. Except for Peter, no one I know in this industry has as much
experience and legitimacy as Ms. Long. Maybe Shel Hororwitz, and of course Dan
Poynter. But where are they? Who wants to lead us? Am I the only one who is
willing step forward, to do the work, to perhaps make something happen?

I hope not.


Alan Canton
Adams-Blake Company