[News] The Argus hits rock bottom

[Gwylan]

As a former local journo I've watched with dismay how once-thriving newspapers have been starved of funds, and staff, and training, and all the rest of it. This is simply down to the arrival of the internet. Back in the 80s, when I started out, local newspapers were the most important way of sharing news and other info. So the advertising revenue was big, the paginations were healthy, and people bought them.

I often feel sorry for local reporters who are described as lazy or badly trained. They work in tiny teams, on terrible pay; there are few if any old heads in the newsroom to learn from (there's often no newsroom at all), and they're expected to generate content that can compete with what the hive mind on social media is generating in real time. And once their job is done, their words are picked apart and ridiculed by some abusive halfwits in the below-the-line comments.

I know this thread isn't specifically about much of this, but I do feel like most local hacks get a pretty raw deal. At least compared to the heyday of the medium that I was lucky enough to be part of.

This.

The journos on the Argus are far from lazy - they're incredibly hard-working and have to produce a lot of copy without much support.

The internet has killed local news coverage. I remember back around the turn of the century, I addressed many NUJ meetings about the web and what it would mean for local newspapers. I said that local newspapers would pretty much disappear in 25 years and was told I was talking rubbish. I often think of those barrackers now.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

The Saturday 'pink paper' Argus used to be amazing. Total football coverage available over the counter of your local newsagent about an hour after the final whistle. Astounding achievement!

 

[Smillie's People]

No excuse for the half-witted glaring errors in headlines or not employing a competent proof reader. The level of literacy in the small bit of content not hidden by the paywall is pitiful

Yes every issue has stories which are not completed, terrible misspellings (the recent tribute to Adam Trimingham even managed to spell his name wrongly in the first paragraph!), and an obsession with large photos to cut down on copy. Some of the "Rogues gallery photos" are almost life-sized, these are people who have been locked up, not much point in knowing what they look like, is there?

I would guess copy about the Albion is sought desperately, so Graham Potter must be fed up with being asked all the time what his plans are.

 

[jakarta]

This.

The journos on the Argus are far from lazy - they're incredibly hard-working and have to produce a lot of copy without much support.

The internet has killed local news coverage. I remember back around the turn of the century, I addressed many NUJ meetings about the web and what it would mean for local newspapers. I said that local newspapers would pretty much disappear in 25 years and was told I was talking rubbish. I often think of those barrackers now.

West Sussex County Times still just about surviving as a physical printed paper.

I'm guessing it is because of the demographic over here in RH20, once us lot have gone I reckon it will as well...

 

[lasvegan]

STABBED TO DEATH IN BATH

There… I think that is the headline Lenny must be referring to.

 

[Monkey Man]

No excuse for the half-witted glaring errors in headlines or not employing a competent proof reader. The level of literacy in the small bit of content not hidden by the paywall is pitiful

You're right, those errors are poor, but it's what happens when journalists are under pressure to produce a lot of copy in a short space of time. Sometimes these are quite junior people.

In the old days (and we're talking print rather than digital of course) there was a whole chain of command in the newsroom and the sub-editors were there to ensure that mistakes by cub reporters, and seasoned old hacks alike, were sieved out and corrected, and often replaced by something bearing little resemblance to the original words.

These days, I get the impression that reporters file their copy directly on to the site and there just aren't enough people on the payroll to double check it. (I may be wrong in the case of the Argus but it's certainly the case with some of the trade publications, and their websites, that I'm more familiar with these days. Errors and poor grammar are left uncorrected indefinitely.)

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Do you mean this

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

You're right, those errors are poor, but it's what happens when journalists are under pressure to produce a lot of copy in a short space of time. Sometimes these are quite junior people.

In the old days (and we're talking print rather than digital of course) there was a whole chain of command in the newsroom and the sub-editors were there to ensure that mistakes by cub reporters, and seasoned old hacks alike, were sieved out and corrected, and often replaced by something bearing little resemblance to the original words.

These days, I get the impression that reporters file their copy directly on to the site and there just aren't enough people on the payroll to double check it. (I may be wrong in the case of the Argus but it's certainly the case with some of the trade publications, and their websites, that I'm more familiar with these days. Errors and poor grammar are left uncorrected indefinitely.)

On the few occasions I was in the office and allowed to fit my own work into the page at the Thunderer, there was a red line around the available space if the copy was too long, which turned green when you had cut it down to fit perfectly. So many Argus stories simply stop in the middle of a sentence that I assume they have the same system but with colour-blind sub-editors.

 

[TheJasperCo]

STABBED TO DEATH IN BATH

There… I think that is the headline Lenny must be referring to.

Well that's wrong for a start; she was killed in Brighton.

 

[Dick Swiveller]

Do you mean this

View attachment 147131

The Argus has been a wanabee tabloid for years. That headline is a bit tabloidy but not sure why we should be out with our pitchforks and torches,

 

[timbha]

Do you mean this

View attachment 147131

Obligatory spelling mistake!

 

[Dick Swiveller]

Obligatory spelling mistake!

Surprised they didn't go with grub purveyor or pizza peddler.

 

[Brok]

Well that's wrong for a start; she was killed in Brighton.

 

[Official Old Man]

I've just gone to their website and not a single advert in sight. Nothing at all on their home page but news. Must say I was very impressed.
Of course we could all just joke about it and they will vanish, after which we'll all start about how we need a local paper. So either put up with what we've got or start a newspaper yourself cost £millions a year with very little income.

 

[Washie]

Obligatory spelling mistake!

What spelling mistake

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

What spelling mistake

Agree I can't see one

 

[timbha]

Agree I can't see one

Sorry, I was trying to be funny (implying that it usually does) but failed abysmally

 

[Pogue Mahone]

What spelling mistake

I think he means that 'restaurateur' should be spelt as 'restauranteur'.

It shouldn't be.

EDIT: Seems I may be wrong...

 

[Guinness Boy]

What spelling mistake

If it's what I think it was then there are two correct versions and the Argus used the most common:

https://grammarist.com/spelling/restaurateur

On the whole subject in total, there's not much specific in the OP but, looking at the headline it is both a touch graphic and, without a "the" you can make the bath / Bath mistake.

Overall it's just such a shame. That family were pivotal to the town and did so much for the football club.

 

[timbha]

I think he means that 'restaurateur' should be spelt as 'restauranteur'.

It shouldn't be.

EDIT{ Seems I may be wrong...

No no, there is no “n” in it