In the past, stock houses have been able to take advantage of us because we are an isolated and disconnected group of individuals. That is no longer the case, illustrators will tell you, at least since the Santa Fe convention. Many illustrators have started to speak up and have their voice heard. The current discussion on advertising and illustration magazines is a perfect example of artists talking and trying to create positive change.
How many of us subscribe to any one of these trade magazines like Print, How, Communication Arts, Step by Step?
Many of these publications have yet to cover some of the issues talked about in Santa Fe and some have never had one article about the effects of stock on the industry.
Here is a chance for individual artists to speak up and help create a dialogue about this issue, the issues of advertising money, Royalty Free CD-s and Stock houses. Help create an artist’s platform on what they believe and ask that these publications devote more time to these topics. If you agree with this position, sign and fax this back to me, or mail it to the publication you subscribe to.
Add your name or comments, if you feel you can better explain your opposition.Click here for a complete list of names,
http://www.tiac.net/users/kendub/front%20page/Proposal.html A complete list of names also appears further, after this posting.
Proposal to the Industry Trade Magazines
Over the past two years, illustrators have come to understand the challenge to our industry from stock houses and royalty free publishers. We have gone to great lengths to discuss and raise awareness of these companies and how they will affect our individual businesses.
These established and newly formed companies are able to use their vast financial resources to advertise in trade magazines. But since no one illustrator or group of illustrators can compete with those resources, we find ourselves at a disadvantage. Because of this disparity, we request that these magazines consider opening an ongoing debate as part of the editorial pages content of their magazines. In the past there has been little need of coverage, but times have changed that.
Many younger illustrators who read these publications do not know enough about this topic and may see these ads in an industry trade publication, even though this may not be the intent, as endorsement of a service.
We ask these publications to remember that illustrators provide a fair share of their content and comprise a healthy share of their subscription base. So we ask all industry trade magazines to please consider how much damage just a single promotion of stock and royalty free companies can cause an illustrator.
We suggest the following points to be looked at and discussed:
1) We have no intention to ask these magazines to decline advertising, but we request that trade publications consider the effects of accepting ads in their printed editions and on the web from companies like Getty, other stock illustration houses and royalty free illustration publishers. In doing so, we ask for more content on this topic in their publications.
2) That these publications consider prominently displaying a disclaimer stating, that the running of advertising in their publication does not constitute an endorsement. That if possible, each publication offer pro-bono or discounted rates, along the type like the "Say NO to Stock House" ad that ran in the CA Illustration annual for start up "artist friendly" companies. Until such time that they become more established and can advertise equally. Art directors and designers need to know of the current debate and the effect these issues are having on our industry.
3) Most importantly, more editorial coverage must be given to the detrimental effects stock houses and royalty free publishers are having on the careers of illustrators. Coverage must be discussed about the alternatives to stock houses and articles from our established illustrators would go a long way in helping others understand the complexity of this issue. Articles about artist controlled stock solutions such as stock sourcebooks, artist friendly web sites like Ispot, individual artist’s sites, the newly mentioned artist licensing agency and others as yet discussed.
It is important that all these topics be covered more comprehensively than in the past and in a manner that will benefit illustrators, designers and publishers. If these magazines would hold an open roundtable discussion and publish their comments, this would be a first step.
Artist need much more than advertising slogans, in order to make intelligent and informed decisions and we need the help of these publications to do it. We ask that the publications look at the following names below and consider acting on these proposals. All of us, working together, will benefit from creating non-partisan, impartial and fair debate.
You may add your name to this petition by posting your name in this Art
Talk Thread or by faxing a signed copy to me at _781-837-3457.
Please e-mail or fax the petition to other illustrators who do not frequent Theispot-Showcase.
Ken Dubrowski
