A literary magazine’s use of the ‘c-word’ has led to its ban from Whitcoulls, an excellent decision. Well done James Pascoe (owner of Whitcoulls).
Sue Reid writes that Whitcoulls win with their choice:
Publishing and print media still have a heartbeat, despite the challenges of deals, contracts, monetizing written pieces and ‘getting a cut-through’…it’s a ruthless business and a fickle place to swim in. One week there’s a trend then the next it is something else.
Emily Broadmore, founder and editor of the annual Folly Journal was recently interviewed by Leah Panapa on The Platform and laments the decision by Whitcoulls to withdraw stock and not sell her magazine-literary journal. Broadmore cites the decision by the store group was made ‘due to their family values and offensive content stance’. The communications have ceased according to Emily and she’s demanding an explanation. Whitcoulls wishing to uphold their brand identity as family-friendly and decide if a publication is offensive, is their choice and their business decision does not require an explanation which Broadmore loudly seeks.
“It’s cool to be Conservative again – we’re on trend as a pushback to movements that have been battering the boundaries of good taste and decency for decades…”
Families are deciding which stores and brands they will support. They work hard and to part with their hard-earned dollars, a store like Whitcoulls win when they make a stance.
“There’s an article on the origin of the C word…but it is academic.”
“It’s just a luxury, beautiful literary publication that people are proud to have on their coffee table.”
These are few quotes from The Platform interview but can only be met with a hope there aren’t children around the coffee table! I have read it, and it is certainly not for children or young adults.
Putting on my book-industry-knowledge hat, the journals have been purchased by the store group buyer, supplied and invoiced. No doubt a bill has been paid and they are now under the ownership of Whitcoulls. The choice to display or sell the journal lays with the store-group owners and managers. A decision has been made and Folly wouldn’t be the first book or printed publication that has experienced that decision. Whitcoulls is not Folly’s only stockists – there are other options.
Businesses have the power to make a call on a journal and Folly does look like a magazine and so most likely it would have been displayed in the magazine section of the store. You’re probably also going to notice in many bookstores, the absence of plastic sealed p*rn magazines that used to sit in the same shelved areas. We have moved on and as staff, early in my bookselling career we made a collective agreement as women we did not want to process these magazines for sale. A decision was made to not stock them and if they did arrive from magazine distributors they were promptly addressed ‘return to sender’. We have been battling in the space of decency for many years.
“During The Platform interview, Emily Broadmore made reference to Whitcoulls ‘staff would love to sell it but were scared they would be shot’ …this is a poorly timed comment given recent world events and the assassination of Charlie Kirk.”
Whitcoulls wishes to uphold a brand, they don’t need to be pilloried for it. Like any good bookstore, they have a broad enough range of clearly labeled books with adult content throughout their literary options – no, they’re not a Christian bookstore, but they can be left to their specific choices and in this tight financial market, a magazine-literary journal at $35 doesn’t sit within their scope. This is a magazine editor’s first lesson…some businesses will not uptake your product and consumers will decide if it is a ‘strong brand’ or not.
No explanations are required when the Conservative power is back on trend.
By Sue Reid – Book Industry Specialist and Board Member Family First NZ
Media Insider: A literary magazine’s use of the ‘c-word’ has led to its ban from Whitcoulls:
