Just a thought... The old and the new

The printing industry found itself book-ended last week between two events, the LIA-Heidelberg “Graduates Awards” night and the inaugural “3D Printing: What’s in it for You?” evening. While one delves back into the past and one reaches to the future, James Cryer asks are we really doing our best to recognise our young talent? And are we capable of making the changes needed?

Right off the top, I should declare I have had a modest involvement in both. I was co-host at the highly successful 3D event held at Chatswood which cast, for the first time, a light upon the mysteries and magic of 3D printing. It explored the opportunities and challenges there are for the printing industry, which ironically has its own name embedded in the very title. How good is that! That would be worth millions to a company, to have its name splattered about a thousand times a day to a young, energetic audience keen to embrace new technology.

Maybe our peak industry body should take out full-page ads in the mainstream media telling school-leavers that the “printing” industry is the way of the future - it must be, it shares the name with 3D printing!

And so to the other event, the so-called graduates (but actually apprentices) awards night. Next the various print award events this is, or should be, one of the great showcase events on the annual calendar. Its aim is admirable, to recognise and reward upcoming talent. Importantly, it strives to celebrate and even attract fresh, new blood into our industry, a vital ingredient for any industry’s future success.

But this event is struggling for traction. Its talent pool has been decimated by the decline in offset. Sadly, and somewhat embarrassingly, there was not even one female in the line-up - all blokes. Even the attendance numbers were down, as print industry regulars were almost out-numbered by the parents and friends of the finalists.

Speaker Kellie Northwood of Two Sides did a professional job but her message, that print is preferable to emails, has all been said before. Only a few years ago there would have been some footy hero who packed the house!

I think we’ve either got to take the event out the back and shoot it, or give it the resources and support it needs. Even Heidelberg must be asking if it’s getting its bang for bucks.

Don’t misunderstand my point, I regard this as an incredibly important event for our industry, and the LIA do a brilliant job given it’s all done by dedicated committee members all volunteering their valuable time. But it has limited resources and funds to undertake such a huge responsibility. What to do?

First we have to recognise the brutal reality that the printing industry extends far beyond offset. Five out of the six (all male) recipients were all offset printers. A visitor may have easily concluded that that’s all the printing industry produces, magazines and newspapers! An industry awards function should reflect the colour and diversity (and gender mix) of the industry it represents. Sadly, in their current form, these awards are stuck in a time warp.

It would be so easy, however, to broaden out the eligibility criteria to include young people from all walks of life in our industry. And that’s another thing, there should be an age limit, say mid-20’s. It’s unfair having 30-somethings compete with 21-year olds. It’s not rocket-science to include people from the packaging sectors, labels and cartons, small-format digital and, of course, wide-format inkjet! If I could sneak in a quick plug, maybe even a 3D-printing candidate.

Then by having a winner from each category you end up with four ambassadors for print, not just one, as we do now. And by having a male and female from each, you end up with eight!

I believe this event is so important that it should be publicised beyond our own industrial boundaries. When I was on the LIA committee, I proved that was possible by getting a local newspaper to cover the event, it can be done! Moreover, I think the graduates deserve it.

But how to fund it? The obvious answer is there’s a strong case that the PIAA (the spiritual “father” of the LIA) must come to the party. Well, they do, but I mean financially. The PIAA has been the fortunate recipient of generous government grants and is well-positioned to contribute to this event. These grants are earmarked for training and education, so what could be more deserving than to tip a small amount in, to re-invigorate this showcase event which should be a grand celebration of our best and brightest!

Perhaps we should have a brainstorm on how to best rejuvenate this event and restore it to its rightful place in the sun. These young achievers deserve nothing less.

Just a thought!