Industry award going outside the industry
When I first heard that RVIA was going to give their Distinguished Achievement in RV Journalism Award to Kevin Kernan, I thought, ‘Wow, I’ve never heard of him. I wonder what role he plays in the RV industry.”
I recently got the press release from RVIA stating that he contributed to our industry by going on a two-week vacation to Phoenix in an RV to see the Super Bowl and then wrote about it in his sports column located in the New York Post newspaper. To Mr. Kernan’s credit, when he wrote about his RV experiences, a whole bunch of consumers were exposed to how great the RV lifestyle is. Even so, I have to admit, him being the award recipient made me smile.
As the newest editor in the RV journalism community (I’ve only been covering the industry three years), I wondered why some of the other trade journalists who have been here many more years than I weren’t chosen for the award. In talking with Greg Gerber at RV Industry News, I learned that RVIA stopped giving the award to trade journalists back in the 2000-2001 timeframe. The award goes to consumer journalists who have done an exceptional job highlighting the joys of RVing. This kind of makes sense since because it’s a pretty good public relations move for our industry.
Knowing the reasoning for choosing a journalist outside the industry, I’d like to throw out an alternative idea. If we look at the various industry publications, I think any one of my competitor magazine editors are well deserving of the award. They spend all day, five days a week, keeping the industry informed, trying to improve how members of the industry work together, how businesses communicate, in addition to making every effort to help RV businesses be more profitable. The RV trade editors have been doing this for years.
Melissa Broadus, the editor of the RV Dealer Association’s trade magazine, RV Executive, has been serving the industry for six years and has made a tremendous impact by helping dealers share ideas on how to be more successful. She has worked diligently to provide valuable training information to dealers, as well as keep dealers abreast of trends that may impact them through her publication. Melissa would be an excellent candidate for this award.
Sherman Goldburg, the publisher of RV Business by Affinity Group has served the industry for 23 years. Sherman actually received the award back in 1993. Sherman’s more recent accomplishments include creating this year’s Top 50 Dealer Awards which took place in September at RVDA. Offering dealers an award to acknowledge the best and brightest is great idea. Sherman would also be an excellent candidate for the award.
Greg Gerber, editor of RV Industry News has served the industry for eight years. Greg, introduced industry related blogs to the RV community. Many bloggers now participate discussing topics (some controversial), adding ideas and opinions to better our industry. This gave the RV community a voice and place to debate tough issues. For this, Greg would be an excellent candidate for the award.
Brad Worrell, the editor of RV PRO magazine has served the industry for four years. Brad worked to reveal how important the RV aftermarket is to our industry and how this segment is a viable profit center for dealerships. He relentlessly encouraged dealers to pay closer attention to the aftermarket segment of their business. For this, Brad would make an excellent choice for the award from RVIA.
So there you have it, a group of people who work day-in and day-out providing excellent journalistic content that is exclusively RV related. Everyone on the list has done this for years. Keep in mind that the list is not all-inclusive. There are a number of others that haven’t even been listed here. Don’t you think they deserve a nod of appreciation from the industry? I think the industry would suffer if they all decided to take an extended vacation, but hey if that is what it takes to get an award, I say send them to the Super Bowl.
December 8th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Make up all the awards and names you can. Change the name a little and find someone to honor and some folks to honor her/him and spread the word. Spread the news and honor the deeds of those that provide value to our industry. ?? Remember we can use as many heroes as we can get and don’t need to limit them. I also see your point but if anyone on the “most improved” “most valuable” “most reliable” lists gets an award, report and celebrate it!! We have work to do against the “oblivious” media in order to push more value to the industry like global panic power groups do. -30
November 21st, 2008 at 3:56 pm
It seems like almost a weekly event for the Hollywood types to get together to give awards to themselves. I think there are enough of those shows around that almost everyone who has speent two weeks in the T V or movie business can at least get nominated for some award. If there’s a lull in action they invent yet another ceremony and expect that we will all be waiting breathlessly for their peacock walk and pronouncements. To be sure, there are a number of folks out here that get goose bumps seeing Cher walk down the red carpet and it’s my guess that that same group all voted for the same candidate in the last election.
I’m willing to bet that the award you write about is vastly more important to journalists than it is to us bloggers. Not many of us will be wetting our pants over who did or didn’t get that award. Not that you guys don’t deserve the right to give each other awards. I, like many others, enjoy your writings along with some of the others you mention You just overestimate our breathlessness. I had never even heard of this award until now.
November 21st, 2008 at 3:20 pm
All are excellent nominees, but I would give Gerber the nod for his ability to break news in an industry that is notoriously tight-lipped. Just the opinion of a former journalist…
Rex Gambill
Internet Sales Manager
Mid-State RV Center
Byron, Ga.
November 21st, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Why not have a industry and consumer award both? I can see both sides. By getting consumer journalists to write it opens up the world at large to the lifestyle. So, of course let’s honor those folks. On the other hand those that are in the trenches everyday working to secure the future of the industry I believe there is an award due to them as well.
I do question the relevance or prestige of an award given to an individual who wrote one article about one experience. Given the facts are true.
What about those individuals from rv.net or other RVing consumer sites that write blogs/articles all the time to RVing folks keeping the lifestyle alive?
Kevin | RV Dealer Websites Design and Marketing