Guest 659- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 331
#1
So, local newspapers.
What do you like about the Dover Express? What don't you like and what would you like to see in there?
Would you prefer more local features or more court cases or in depth looks at business/council etc? Perhaps you want smaller articles and more of them or bigger/more photos?
Obviously I am setting myself up for a hammering here (better get my rhino skin on) but let me know.
Please be constructive and relate it to the time I have been there (five years almost) rather than an article/incident that pre-dates me.
Thanking you for your time/comments/humor and, probably, insults!
#2
Personally Kathy I would like less of hints and nudge nudge wink wink , veiled name dropping and political point making , that actual dosnt name anyone or thing and feels like reading the minutes of a private club . I personally find it makes me feel excluded rather than informed .
I like straight forward honest reporting that is truely local ,( Hope that wasnt too brutal )
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#3
neither local newpaper has an office in dover so people can not walk in with a story.
secondly without being based in dover the reporters cannot wander into a pub lunchtime or get a baguette in a bakery and pick up snippets of gossip and go from there.
very brave of you kathy to start this thread.
Guest 659- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 331
#4
Sarah, not brutal. Basically saying no more Dubris column. Opinions are what I asked for and the fact that you say why makes your point even more valid. Column inches we could use for maybe a vox pop (local people headshot and opinion on a given subject)?
Afraid the office is out of my control but I would love to be based back in Dover
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
#5
No Dover office, no Dover newspaper. We are a side edition of a Folkestone paper. Even the tide tables are Folkestone, adjusted for Dover, when we all know the Admiralty chart datum is Dover. At least our favourite photographer lives in Dover.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#6
time to turn the screw kathy.
the thursday afternoon bit in the library is a bit of a farce when the journo secretes themselves in the youth corner with nothing to say they are from the express, just seems to be an afternoon out of the office.
it is o.k. with you and the late lamented rhys as you are both known faces and have the personalities to attract people over.
of the others they need to try harder with the exception of one young chap(forget his name) the one that joined before sam inkersole.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#7
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
#8
Better coverage to promote local events and before things happen
Been nice knowing you :)
#9
Brave indeed, and I echo all of the above. I would add that I would rarely if ever trust a journalist, local or otherwise, to stick to truth, aim for accuracy or behave with integrity. No offence.
I guess I should add that this is my personal view and not intended to influence anyones opinions.
Guest 706- Registered: 25 Oct 2010
- Posts: 285
#10
Photos from all Dover primary schools,and not those from towns that we don't really know, when you run the first day at school pictures would be nice.
And the same for the school's Christmas plays.
And maybe not so many of the "baby competition" photos.
Whatever happened to wedding photos?
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#11
kathy,i like the dubris colum highlight of thursdays,but would like more local news/court reports where possable...
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
#12
Although I have not visited the pages of the Dover Express it's name and it's contents, or lack thereof, are mentioned here frequently and I am sure Howard has sent me off to read the web-content regularly too. Much of the disappointment voiced here over the years has already been alluded to: that the paper is 'Dover' in name only.
Though, Kathy, you have taken the brave step to invite comment I do not think [naughty phrase alert] brain-storming will do much more than increase everybody's frustration. As the simple fact that this 'Dover' paper has little or nothing to do with Dover. Perhaps instead of the 'magazine' approach; filling the pages with a little bit of this and that of individual appeal. The powers that be could resolve to focus on the doings of it's namesake as has been said.
As I am sure circulation is every bit as important as advertising, if not fundamentally more so, giving Dovorians the focus they deserve would go a long way to raising readership numbers.
Are the readers letters, whether printed or no, not a good way of gauging public satisfaction?
Well...now that I have bowled my ball of ignorance at the skittles of local opinion I too shall have to wait and see if I have avoided the gutters and struck....something.
P.S.
With the Boxing Day Swim pics...someone could not be bothered to ensure there inclusion in the following edition. Stuff like this will not help.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,321
#13
Please, please, please Kathy, not the dreaded vox pop. What we need is a digest of the previous week's news. If you have to have opinions then it's educated opinions we want. Ok, so someone getting their picture in the paper might sell an additional copy but that's all.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#14
good point from tom about the boxing day dip, seemed pointless to publish so long after the event.
name and address supplied at the bottom of a letter annoys me.
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
#15
Sailing club report would be nice.....then will only have to buy one local paper.......personal thankyou for
your years of support,articles and hundreds of posters for the Hospital campaign.....much appreciated.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#16
Well done Kathy.
More news about Dover, less about Folkestone.
I appreciate your presence at DDC Full Council and Planning committee meetings, but not much is reported - is that because there's not much worth reporting ?
There used to be articles from various people and bodies but they died away - naturally I might add. I was given space to write a Dover Loyalty Scheme article, but refused permission to write one when at Dover Chamber of Commerce (no Keith, it's not another dig, just a fact) - refused by the Chamber, not by the paper, they wanted me to write one - it would have helped my job and the Chamber recruit more members, never did know why.
I'm not interested in baby competitions, but that's just my view; Dubris is quite fun ,but sometimes silly when there's nothing to report.
Acually being in Dover would help with Dover news; Adam called me a few weeks ago and asked me about Dover and I gave a view, a couple of weeks later there was a good half-page article - good not because it was what I has said, but good because it was about Dover and gave a view on how it can be progressed - from various quarters and it started a debate.
Roger
Guest 650- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 542
#17
I'm sad about the adverse comments on journalists. Not my experience, at least.
I'd be interested in Dover in context - how does Dover compare with other local towns, demographics, schooling, employment (and types) or otherwise, tourism, initiatives, groups and organisations, businesses, property stats, local taxes and spends, etc. Maybe council listings - what did they discuss, what resolve, what affect. What's been happening at the port? What are targets and enterprises aiming to resolve problems or enhance attributes in our town? What can the DE do to highlight local things that need to be sorted, and can the paper even lead in doing so? (Thus, a question for the DE - how best can the DE serve Dover, how and to what extent is this its role?) Oh, and I rather like good news stories too, achievements, people trying to help.
#18
Lucky you.........
Guest 650- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 542
#19
I'm just not controversial enough ...
#20
