hey fellow worker,

I think one thing that wobs could do is try to get the IW in their local public library or libraries, as well as any university libraries in their area. I know FW Krpan did this before, I haven't myself. The counterculture group Crimethinc has a project to get their material into libraries - http://www.crimethinc.com/books/intolibraries.html - I'm not a fan of them, but I'm impressed that they do this and apparently pretty well. I think getting branches to publicly distribute papers in targeted areas could be good too. Another political group that I like a lot better than I like Crimethinc, the Irish organization called the Workers Solidarity Movement, has a printed thing they hand out every 2 months or so. Their members put them in people's mailboxes, on front porches, and hand them to people if they're around. That's another thing that GMBs could do with the IW. For a few months in my branch we handed out our branch newsletter on the street to strangers. That fell by the wayside eventually because there weren't enough people willing to do it regularly.

I think a lot of members don't see how the paper will appear relevant to the people to whom they are targeting for distribution. First of all, at least in the USA, its got a lot of stuff from overseas which people cannot relate to, as it is different culturally, as well as the labor law scheme (not to mention the spelling). We need to move towards and support regional papers instead of throwing a bit of everything into one. Also, the activist potpourri thing is a bit of a turnoff to most workers. No more photos of hippies, activist clowns (literally), or people holding their pets. Of course, I think the paper could certainly talk about the political issues of the day, but that's different than catering to a particular subculture. I do think the print style with the Moore editorship makes the paper a bit more accessible, but personally, for every article I thought was good and worth distributing, there was something that made me want to hide my head in a bag. Some of this has to do with the content available and the desire to make the paper "non-sectarian," and I can appreciate that -- but at a certain point, we lose sight of what we are for the sake of being pluralistic.

"No more photos of ... people holding their pets." eh? i've seen a lot of 'normal' media in which 'ordinary people' are holding their pets. i don't see where this comes from to be honest... but agree with the hippies and activist clowns bit!!

Placing the IW on college campuses, in bookstores and sympathetic businesses, and in the hands of random passers-by might also be worthwhile.  

I agree that improving the content of the paper is key to improving its circulation. In particular, I'd like to see more coverage of IWW branch activities, organizing drives in particular. Though it does seem useful to have columns on other unions written from the "dual card" perspective of someone working in the industry. Not too long ago, the IW was one of a few publications in the US with decent coverage of international labor news. Now I think the internet (esp. LabourStart, but also iww.org among other sites) tends to fill that role, and by the time a story gets printed in the IW, it's already old news. In general, people are buying fewer print publications because there's so much information available online. But I think those who do purchase the IW these days are looking for more information about the IWW is doing rather than labor news in general. Of course the editor(s) have to work with what's provided to them! Branches might think about finding volunteers to serve as official IW correspondents, to make sure that interesting news makes it into the paper.

Pgh, I respectfully disagree with you. I'd rather see several of our union's regional and branch newsletters go away and have all of that effort and resources be spent instead on writing for, producing, and distributing the IW. I think the One Big Newspaper idea is a good one - branches should just be prepared to say "hey check out this great piece on page 4 about something in our region/industry."

I remember when the IWW headquarters moved from Chicago to San Francisco and it was a real blow to no longer receive current copies of the Industrial Worker in a regular manner or at all. Of course there was a lot of disruption at the time...

There is still magic in newsprint: Labor press is challenged by the same capitalist "market" forces which always stifle  popular dissent and radical action. Local, regional organizers will always have to get their own message out, often at unpredictable times. Even so, wider circulation of the IW remains an essential organizing tool even in the age of internet.

The suggestion made to provide circulation through public and college libraries would be an effective way to get printed material out to otherwise remote communities as well as urban centers. Even so, free circulation should be encouraged through all locals everywhere, whenever possible. Retaining the historical flavor of the IW is also critical, in terms of graphics and layout - even as the writing addresses contemporary issues. There is a trend to mistake 'modernizing' front page graphics to resemble web pages which is boring, if not downright irritating.

Comrade, I have a question - why shouldn't the IW be funded through the GA? It seems like that would be the obvious place to vet quality if not content... Besides, isn't that where my $3 Industrial Worker Press Stamp donation goes?

 

 

 

 

North Columbia California 

"The Lost Local"

I think the IW is a valuable resource that is not utilized to it's fullest potential. I think this goes along with my perception that, at times, the IWW falls short on self-promotion. If we wish to use the IW as an outreach tool, then I think we need more articles from branches on their activities, and agree with the scaling down the "subcultural" content. I know that when coordinating such a publication, one is limited to a degree by the submissions they receive, so I would like to encourage folks to write more. I know that there could have been some good articles out of the Austin GMB, but we never followed through on the idea. While I think that the idea of stocking it in colleges is good, it is certainly not the whole answer. What does it take to have newspaper boxes in a city area? Perhaps that is worth some investigation. I'd love to hear more ideas on how to get the IW into the hands of people on the street.

Rogue, newspaper boxes would be awesome. So would branches targeting some neighborhood for door to door and mailbox/front-porch distribution.

I also agree that more people would write for the IW. I wish some group would work on helping and pushing people to write or finding other ways to get content like interviewing members then sending them the notes and helping edit the notes into an article. I write a lot but not for the IW and I have to say, I find it intimidating to try and write for the IW. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

I'd like to reassure people that I am open to people contacting me at iw@iww.org with their ideas for writing for the IW. Over the last 1.5 years I've worked with a number of writers who weren't initially confident in their abilities and together we have published some decent articles. So give it a try! Peter Moore IW Editor Share the Industrial Worker with a friend, acquaintance or workmate. Visit http://www.iww.org/projects/IW/