My 4 new year wishes

Happy new year! New year is a time to take stock, reset and look ahead, a time for resolutions and wishes.

My resolutions are between me and the bathroom scales, but my publishing wishes for 2023 are something I’m happy to share.

I hope 2023 will deliver:

1. A more level playing field between publishers and big tech. A recurring wish for some years now, but if the government can get its act together and finally bring the Digital Markets Unit to life, then we will have taken a big step forward. A continuation of one of the key trends from last year, with Facebook et al increasingly being forced to take responsibility for what happens on their platforms, just as publishers are on theirs, would also be welcome.
2. An end to the postal strikes! Whatever the rights and wrongs, this needs sorting. Magazines being stuck in the mail for over two weeks is the last thing the publishing industry needs.
3. An end to the war in Ukraine. First and foremost, obviously, because it will bring an end to the appalling loss of life and human suffering, but it would also ease the financial pressures that impact us all.
4. A more balanced life. Earlier this week, a report highlighted the negative mental impact on children of widespread and obsessive use of social media apps, particularly in relation to body image. As reported by the Guardian, “The survey found that 97% of children as young as 12 are now on social media. Despite almost 70% saying that social media makes them feel stressed, anxious and depressed – with two-thirds saying they were worried by the amount of time they spend on social media – the average daily time spent on apps was 3.65 hours.” Society needs to find a way of breaking this addiction, which is not confined to children.

If children (and their parents) would redirect just a third of the time they currently spend being unhappy on social media to consuming the excellent content that professional publishers serve up, they, us and society would all be better off.

Wishing you a healthy and prosperous 2023.