Discover Hertford Online Forum

Reply ID 43881

Shut it down, its a waste of paper.

Reply ID 43887

lol. Fair enuff. Anyone else got any positive suggestions for improvement ? I'm sure they're watching all this - this is a time for the public to trully say what they feel, who knows they may even take heed !

Reply ID 43888

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Originally posted by monkee
Anyone else got any positive suggestions for improvement ?

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Reply ID 43889

quote:

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Originally posted by monkee
Anyone else got any positive suggestions for improvement ?

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Reply ID 43892

trying... trying to resist correcting spelling and grammar... Newp, no good, have to do it...

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Put more of there storys on the net so we dont have to buy it.

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Reply ID 43895

Ignoring the content for the moment, I think the thing needs a complete redesign. It just looks dreadful. They could do worse than get inspiration from the recent Guardian redesign. I know it's a local paper and not a national, but that doesn't mean they can't move with the times (no pun intended). As for the editorial - stop trying to be so sensationalist - it just does not work when most of the time the most exciting thing that happens around here is that someone gets a parking ticket when they shouldn't have.

Reply ID 43896

It might not be a bad idea for the paper to take a look at the editions it was producing 5/10 years ago, compare them with what's being produced now, and see if any lessons can be learned. I know lots of people who used to buy it but don't anymore, with reasons such as it being too sensationalist, lacking real local news, and appearing a more 'tabloid' style paper - all sentiments I'd agree with. I understand the circulation's dropped, so this isn't just my own personal experience. I also think they often get their priorities wrong with stories. The front few pages seem to be devoted to the more sensationalist items of little real value or local interest, with the real and genuinely local news buried way through the paper. This doesn't mean they need to be significant stories (which are obviously going to be limited for a local paper), but items that are going to be of real significance/interest to local people.

Reply ID 43898

And at other regional papers…… What are best selling, award winning ones doing? A little self indulgent recourse to my birthplace I know, but why is it that Dorset (Lyme Regis to Bournemouth) can support several editions of a DAILY evening paper (all of about the same population area as the Mercury)? It can't be all to do with the shenanigans at Weymuff FC this year - can it? Or is the Mercury just a freebee like the Herald, bringing in the vast bulk of their revenue by advertising... only we are silly enough to pay 60p for it... (It’s about 26 pages out of 72 this week, of anything that could be described as news or sport). Incidentally does anyone out there know the revenue breakdown ? Agree, Aubend, about the design – its rubbish. Now a Hertfordshire Grauniad - that I would buy! Now to think about monkee's very thought provoking questions....[?]

Reply ID 43899

Incidentally monkee. From your full frank & erudite posts over the last few days - youre not actually employed by the HM are you...... [img]http://www.getsmile.com/emoticons/smileys/b/coolgleam.gif[/img]

Reply ID 43910

Employed by Her Majesty ? Sadly not... my second cousin once removed in Yorkshire is though ! He's a Customs Officer, lol. He's got a great sound system and big telly in his front room so I wish was paid by Her Maj, lol. Just kidding - I know what yer meant. And no, I'm not. My gripe is twofold. Firstly, I was attacked personally by Mr B. a while back. Long story. That was fairly irritating so I thought I'd repay the compliment given his imminent depature. [;)] And secondly - what really gets me going is the fact that his career has been mostly about hiding behind that little computer of his attacking whoever he feels like (members of Ware Online included), sniping, jibing, taking the P, in the full knowledge he's well hidden behind his desk. And noone can really do a thing about it or challenge him publicly. I tried the newspaper complaints procudure and personnally found it totally useless. It's totally for show in my experience, but there ya go. Very easy to attack when you're hidden isn't it ? He 'borrowed' a number of forum posts & quote, added his own slant and now has the utter cheek to leave a cheesy, self-satisfied, teary-eyed, sanctimonious 'oh please give this poor old hack a bit of sympathy' drivel of a goodbye message - expecting it to be posted in both Ware and Hertford forums like some kinda two fingers up leaving card. Well the great thing is about the advancement of modern technology is that 20 years back, noone could do a thing about being attacked by the local press. But, now - we have the internet [:)]. Now people CAN and DO fight back against the tedium. So there ya go, I just thought I'd do my bit for the community and take the lead, lol. And it's been fun ! I am hoping from the huge number of postings calling for LESS sensationalism and greater actual facts and news reporting, along with their apparent failing readership - that there will be some better changes. Any more suggestions for improvement ?

Reply ID 43914

Yes - get rid of that 'keep up with the Jones' column or whatever the name is. It was dated and rubbish when I first moved to Hertford over 10 years ago. It's positively embarrassing now. Get a bit of alternative views from different age groups and social backgrounds instead of giving some old f@rt free reign to spout cr@p until he goes senile (or has he already?).

Reply ID 43932

The Mercury does have more than its fair share of howlers. Last Friday's had a list of A level students from Presdales; in the list was one "Anglia Ruskin". Surely someone didn't name their daughter after a Cambridge based college-of-knowledge? So sharpen up the editing and there will be less opportunity to poke fun at it. The real problem is that not many significant things happen in Hertford so any half-story is dressed up as something special

Reply ID 43934

Monkee you too talk alot of sense. I would love to know your 'beef' with Sir Raymond ... but I guess we'll never know. OK, Even though The Mercury needs to become a more informative newspaper, they could keep-up with the times and include some regular interactive features .. How about..... 1) Helicopter Roulette .... The public are requested to txt in how many times they think the Police Helecopter appears in a week, and the person with the correct amount wins a prize. 2) Pothole Spotting ..... The public send in their photos of Potholes on the roads and the deepest and widest one wins a prize. 3) Getting To Know You ... where a member of the East Herts Community is interviewed and asked inane questions like 'What is your favourite food?' ... OH, Hold on,.. that's such a stupid idea, that will never work.