Why we started Demolition Insider

It goes against everything I stand for; but I am doing it anyway. This is why.

I have always believed that editorial should be delivered free of charge. Throughout my 35-year journalistic career, my writing was funded by the sale of advertising. To a degree, it still is.

So why have I started a subscription-only website with a paid option? Well, there are several key reasons.

The first is plagiarism. On our DemolitionNews.com website, we have always prided ourselves on being first with the news. As a website that is updated sometimes several times per day, it is what has traditionally set us aside from print magazines that are published every other month. The problem, however, is that those printed magazines can very easily "scrape" our words, repackage them, and present them as their own.

By putting the very best of our writing behind a subscription-only firewall, we can limit the theft of our hard work.

Another key reason for launching Demolition Insider is advertising or, rather, our desire to not be beholden to it.

Some years ago, our biggest advertiser cancelled all their advertising because DemolitionNews carried a story that showed one of their key customers in a negative light (you know, the way that journalism sometimes does). On another occasion, another advertiser called to say that he had been "leaned upon" to no longer support us.

We cannot operate under those conditions. Our job is to bring you the industry news and views, not to filter it according to the whims and wishes of digger and attachment manufacturers.

There are two more reasons for launching Demolition Insider; both of them related directly to you, our readers and viewers.

The first is that we want to be able to allow audience comments once again. Due to the actions of one specific individual, we were forced to switch off the comments on DemolitionNews, which meant that - overnight - the conversation there became one-way traffic.

By making Demolition Insider subscription-only, we reserve the right to cancel the subscription of anyone that is abusive or that harasses fellow users. To be clear, we will welcome comments, even if they disagree with us entirely. We will gladly tolerate opposing views; but we will NOT tolerate abuse.

Which brings us to the final and most important reason for starting Demolition Insider - Community.

Conversation within the demolition sector has a nasty habit of taking place in little trade association silos. The magazines "serving" the sector reinforce that situation as they're generally received only by company owners and senior directors; the information they contain rarely trickles down to those at the sharp end of the industry.

Our belief is that EVERYONE in the demolition business should see ALL the information. The opinions of everyone - from managing director to site operative - is valid and should be valued.

So that, in quite a big nutshell, is why we have started Demolition Insider. It is why we are making the very best of our writing available only to those that choose to subscribe and be a part of our community.

Some will choose to support us financially via a paid subscription (some already have, as it happens). Others will select the free option - It's tough out there right now and we fully understand.

So regardless of whether you are a paid or a free subscriber reading this, thank you.

And welcome to the conversation.