SELLING SOCIALIST WORKER IN THE MOVEMENT ...
AnonymouSWP | 13.06.2005 22:35
Sometimes it ain't what you do it's the way that you do it! We've talked a lot about the role that Socialist Worker can play inside the movement. The papers coverage of Respect and the anti war movement is second to none and we should be proud of the impact Socialist Worker has made. But we also have to think about how we
use the paper. In the old days it was simple. If there was a big event we'd stand outside a meeting or rally and sell. That was OK then but what happens now when in Stop the War, Respect etc we're helping to run the meeting?
Of course if there are big rallies we should still run stalls
outside (better that people see Socialist Worker than some loony tune rag)...but the key here isn't standing outside with the paper, the key is what we do inside a meeting. No trade unionist would ever finish a union meeting and go off and stand by the door waving a Socialist Worker around. As you chat to friends, finish off union business etc you'd sell Socialist Worker...one to one. That's exactly how we should use the paper inside movement events. We don't have to wonder round the room with Socialist Worker strapped to our chests, we wouldn't in a union meeting so why do it in the rest of the movement?
Just as Socialist Worker has changed to relate to the new
movement how we use Socialist Worker has to evolve too...we're inside the tent now not outside it and how we use Socialist Worker should reflect this. To get this right we have to break the separation between comrades who "sell" and comrades who are "in the movement". This method of selling only works if we really are all doing it. Just as we are all out to build Respect, not just a section of the party, we all need to have 4-5 papers on us to sell to activists we are working with.
And by the way...this works. At event after event we sell more copies of Socialist Worker to activists during the event than we do outside the front door.
use the paper. In the old days it was simple. If there was a big event we'd stand outside a meeting or rally and sell. That was OK then but what happens now when in Stop the War, Respect etc we're helping to run the meeting?
Of course if there are big rallies we should still run stalls
outside (better that people see Socialist Worker than some loony tune rag)...but the key here isn't standing outside with the paper, the key is what we do inside a meeting. No trade unionist would ever finish a union meeting and go off and stand by the door waving a Socialist Worker around. As you chat to friends, finish off union business etc you'd sell Socialist Worker...one to one. That's exactly how we should use the paper inside movement events. We don't have to wonder round the room with Socialist Worker strapped to our chests, we wouldn't in a union meeting so why do it in the rest of the movement?
Just as Socialist Worker has changed to relate to the new
movement how we use Socialist Worker has to evolve too...we're inside the tent now not outside it and how we use Socialist Worker should reflect this. To get this right we have to break the separation between comrades who "sell" and comrades who are "in the movement". This method of selling only works if we really are all doing it. Just as we are all out to build Respect, not just a section of the party, we all need to have 4-5 papers on us to sell to activists we are working with.
And by the way...this works. At event after event we sell more copies of Socialist Worker to activists during the event than we do outside the front door.
AnonymouSWP
Comments
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rubbish!
13.06.2005 23:23
Selling The Paper
14.06.2005 06:01
If the content of your paper is good, and it is made accessible, it will sell itself, surely.
Being approached or accosted a dozen times in a day with a heavy sell approach is a pain in the arse and cant help your sales that much, or recruit new potential members many of whom must not like things being shoved down their throats, or hectored.
Ed
Oh please..
14.06.2005 08:36
On yer bikes!
Danny
Interesting
14.06.2005 09:40
anarchoteapot
Giving the Paper
14.06.2005 09:42
[I have nothing to do with SchNews -- I just think its better than SW.]
EvilEmpire
thanks
14.06.2005 11:22
i agree that socialists should try to make proper human relationships with people rather than treat them all as opportunities to sell the paper.
But surely hand in hand with a less shouty approach to selling the paper would be a less shouty paper. i find reading sw a very depressing and suffocating experience personally.
it's clearly a propaganda sheet, every news item reeks of the news according to 'our' current perspective (for example joseph choonara's stupid articles on bolivia recently) and any item of news that does not fit the agenda does not get in.
The letters page is full of 'why i agree with you' and people on the persona non grata list can't get published even when they have useful and informative things to say (although i've not written to sw for many years, and the two letters i did write in the nineties got in so its not personal bitterness here)
there has been some half hearted attempts recently at carrying voices from other parts of the movement which is why i've started reading it again, so sw should be commended for trying to break old sectarian habits (like describing every leftist in 'rival' groups as a sectarians).
in short it's a paper with strong incestuous and unthinking tendencies - despite worthy intentions. admittedly its not as bad as some tendencies on the left who accuse everyone they don't agree with, or who irritates them, of being 'state sponsored' or 'agents' (although you're not above that in private are you - naughty) and it consistently attempts to speak to ordinary people rather than being a publication for left activists only which is a good thing i think.
jj