What a year it has been. If I had to pick just one thing that defined 2013, it would, of course, be the epic closure of Geon. I'm sure you read plenty about the saga when it took place earlier this year.

Geon always played a starring role in the Power 50; only IPMG has had more representatives on the list. I remember being chastised when Geon’s chief executive placed third in the first Power 50 back in 2010. But power takes many guises; in fact, there’s an argument that Geon should have taken the top spot this year, so influential was the impact of its collapse.

I have seen the Power 50 as a force for good. Sometimes controversial, some-times tongue in cheek, but ultimately an attempt to celebrate an industry that often struggles to celebrate its best and brightest. Yes, there are awards, but print must define itself by more than just craft. 

[Check out the full Power 50 on our microsite]

This will be my final editor’s letter for ProPrint, following the decision by our UK parent company, Haymarket Media, to withdraw from Australia. What better time to reflect on my four years in the editor’s chair. 

I recall hearing, early in my tenure, a few refrains that would become common: “No one will want to talk to you.” “Printers don’t like media attention.” “We want to fly under the radar.” “Why would we want to tell competitors what we are doing?”

While I mostly listen to readers, I can confidently say I ignored much of this advice and would do so again. Since taking the reins as editor, we have produced 45 issues of the magazine. We’ve sent about a thousand daily email newsletters and published around 4,820 online stories. Not bad for an industry that apparently shuns the limelight and won’t talk to the press. 

We only managed to create all this content thanks to the many fantastic print people who opened up and told us their stories. I’m thankful that they did.

If printers choose not talk about their activities, the industry gets shuttered away. This is not a time to close ranks. Now is a time to stand up and be counted. Time to talk about the industry’s achievements, to back each other, to be proud to work in print and to remind the world that print still has a place. 

I hope, in some small way, I have helped this cause in the past four years.

Funnily enough, the first big story in my first week at ProPrint was about Canon buying Océ, one of the biggest M&A plays in recent memory. The final story we publish under my editorship is about ProPrint itself being sold. 

If I am allowed one final request, it is that when you get a call from my successor on ProPrint – or even by our competitors – tell them your stories. Help promote the power of print because no one else is going to do it for you. 

Comment below to have your say on this story.

If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.  

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