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Mumsnet's integrity

1 reply

GetOrfMoiLand · 08/07/2011 22:50

I was going to email MNHQ but thought a thread would be better.

There have been several threads in the last few months where mumsnetters have questioned how much mumsnet has changed recently. Evidently mumsnet is getting more popular, and I, along with several others, have bleated on about MNHQ decisions being 'different' in light of what has been seen to be a demographic change. There have certainly been mutterings about the fact that some mumsnetters think that MN is viewed as a money making business, and is not the cosy old forum of old, and I think Justine et al have been on the receiving end of a certain amount of criticism.

However, on the 'NOTW are scumbags' thread (or whatever it is called) there were several posts early on questioning MN advertising Sky. Within hours Justine confirmed that they had removed all Sky advertising, at a cost of £30K. Evidently this shows that MN still holds the views of its members in very high regard. And presumably £30K is quite a significant to wave bye-bye to for a business such as this.

Considering that big players such as Tesco etc were fudging about whether they would advertise in the NOTW (never mind the rest of News International, and other Rupert Murdoch owned media) I think that MN's stance on this is highly commendable, and my respect for the owners of this forum has increased hugely.

Yes, you could say that it is in MN's best interests to support the Guardian's stance (for personal reasons of the owners) however MN have put their money where their mouth is, so to speak, and that is, in this cynical age, something to admire.

Well done MN (hard to say that without sounding pompous)

JustineMumsnet · 09/07/2011 12:45

Thanks folks for the vote of confidence Getorf and all. We are a business, and we've never tried to hide it, but profits are really not the be all and end all for us - we've always turned down advertisers and campaigns that don't fit with the mn philosophy or are too cheesy or annoying and we've always consulted over who those advertisers should be.

First and foremost we want/ wanted to make something useful and good. For a long time that process was distinctly unrewarding in a monetary sense and if we'd simply been after profits MN would have shut down long ago (we didn't earn a salary to speak of for 5 years). But it has always been hugely rewarding in other ways (most of the time anyway Smile).

The 30k+ loss in Sky revenue and any future loss in revenues is not insignificant but it will not break the bank. We are of sufficient size now to be able to forgo that without folding. I'll admit to being a bit concerned to be seen to be taking on the Murdoch empire - afaik MN is the only organisation to extend direct action to other Murdoch businesses - but that really only goes to show that it's probably the right thing to do.

Anyway cheers all - it's been a helluva journey thus far.

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