I was talking to an old friend yesterday.  We were discussing my dilemma about whether or not I should publish some stories that I believe to be in the public interest at the risk of incurring the wrath of the subject individual or organisation.  We didn’t agree. 

Most stories in trade magazines are derived from press releases and interviews given willingly by people who have something to gain by publishing their stories or are, at least, happy for the item to appear.  Some, however, are not and by publishing them I run the risk of legal challenges that are distressing, distracting and possibly devastating if I get it wrong.  My friend said that I didn’t have a responsibility to publish those stories at the risk of my livelihood. He was trying to protect me, but I felt that it was my job as the editor of the only independent publication in the industry to advise people about potential threats to them.  Although I have no wish to risk everything I have for the sake of a story, how can my readers treat The Mover as a serious publication if I shy away from the difficult issues? If not me, then who?

I am pleased to report, however, that the government seems to have some sympathy with my problem and, from 1 January, 2014 has changed the law on defamation to make it harder for, in the words of the Justice Minister Shailesh Vara (see page 23) “wealthy people or companies to bully or silence those who may have fairly criticised them or their products".

This doesn’t mean that it is now open season on everyone that has crossed me; stories still have to be substantially true and free of malice.  But it does mean that I am more able to publish the stories I feel should be aired knowing that the law is on my side, not working against me. In consequence, you might notice a slightly more relaxed tone to our reporting as the year progresses.

On another subject, this issue has the first of our regular columns from Tony Richman.  Tony is recognised worldwide as the Oracle on everything Europe.  In my opinion he has been treated appallingly by the industry he has served so long and I am pleased and honoured that he has chosen these pages through which to share his thoughts.  

Your comments on his opinions and any stories in The Mover are welcome, as always.


Steve

I have just realised that during 2014 I will pass my 40th anniversary as both a participant in and a commentator on the moving business. Forty years!  Not even Ronny Biggs got that.  Reflecting, it seems as though nothing has changed, yet everything has changed.

When I first walked in the door at Scotpac in Chesham in August 1974 I had no idea that this industry would have such a dramatic affect and play such an important part in my working life.  Maybe if I had, I would have turned around and walked out, but hindsight is always as clear as a bell.

In those days prices were about the same as today but we still thought we were hard up; road crews and estimators still blamed each other for cubes being wrong; customers still tried it on; members still wondered what the trade association did for them; and road foreman still had an uncanny ability to shake their heads and suck their teeth whenever asked to do something unexpected.

Forty years ago we had never heard of health & safety, political correctness, intellectual property, leveraging assets, human resources, VOSA, NLP or CRB checks.  We had never used a computer and the likes of mobile phones, satnav, iPods/Pads, were strictly for Star Trek.  The Internet and e-mail wasn’t even guessed at.  Music was at 45rpm. And you could say what you liked without having to apologise or risk being sued.

Today it’s a different world.  We have all these wonderful gadgets which make us more efficient.  You can drive your car 100 miles without having it serviced first. Trucks rarely break down. We can fly anywhere in the world for almost nothing.  But are we any better off?  I don’t know.  It’s said that you never miss what you’ve never had and in 1974 we didn’t have much by modern standards but I don’t remember craving technological advancement.  Everything seemed just fine to me.

I won’t be here in another 40 years, but many of you reading this will be. If the rate of technological change continues to accelerate, as it has done for the last two centuries, how will we be working then?  Would we even recognise the world of 2054?  I doubt it. Trying to make predictions is futile but if anyone can guess what’s around just the next corner, the world will be their oyster.  Good luck.    

Steve