Dispatch Blogs go live!
Well, here we are - the Daily Dispatch has entered the blogosphere!
I hope to use this space to bring you into our Dispatch world, our little newsroom in the heart of East London on the beautiful Eastern Cape coast. Everyday I hope to tell you a bit about what we're doing and the stories we're covering. I'll open the door into why we do what we do - and you can let me know if you think we're brilliant or barmy.
This blog of mine is our first step in a major make-over of our website which you'll agree is long overdue for a facelift.
But before we start fiddling and twiddling, I thought it would be wise if we asked you, the tens of thousands of users out there, who visit our site every day what you would like from a new-look Dispatch on the web. What do you hate? What do you love? What's missing? What would you like more of?
Let us have it. I can't promise that every suggestion will be implemented - but I will promise that every comment will be considered.
Check back here often.
August 27th, 2007 - 10:25
Welcome to the Blogosphere! Looking forward to bright new things to come.
August 27th, 2007 - 11:16
Thanks Justin and thanks to the team up in J’burg who have made this possible for us. One small step for the Web… One giant leap for the Dispatch
August 27th, 2007 - 12:03
Hi,
Well done Andrew!!! It’s about time you got something going down there. Post some pictures with the sea view from your balcony. We will be watching this space. Cheers
August 27th, 2007 - 12:07
Thanks Vince. Watch this space for some whale-jumping, dolphin-frolicking and generally delicious seaviews
August 27th, 2007 - 13:16
Greetings Andrew
Great idea, to get a blog rolling. Should be especially useful to get accurate and up to date feedback from readers, especially with the latest political mudslinging and such, rolicking with the Times, SANEF, and so forth.
Personally, I reckon you guys do great work. Keep it up, and don’t give in to the adversity that is being targeted to our friendly paper!
August 27th, 2007 - 13:49
Wow Darren, you’re really on the ball! The pixels are hardly dry on this blog and you’ve already spotted it. Thanks for your kind words. Your regular letters to the paper from Nahoon (yes, we know your name well)are always appreciated and especially your recent spirited defence of our reporting. It is most appreciated.
August 27th, 2007 - 14:13
Hey Andrew
Thanks for the compliment, nice to know that the letters are read, hope that the occasional rant and rave, whilst not published, provide at least some humour for you guys to enjoy!
Personally, I reckon you guys would be nuts to put to paper any allegations without any proof – thats a nice legal recipe for disaster! Same with the Times. Like the saying goes, “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire” – a very fitting analogy, in my mind, regarding the current scandals on multiple fronts.
What does admittedly concern me is that, themed in my letters, is that the foundations of democracy are being subtly eroded, as evinced recently by the vicious flaying of the press, reports yet which have not been refuted yet by hard proof to the contrary. I must confess that I cannot see how change can occur through the pen and words alone, if the metaphorical dragon shrugs off whatever blows are aimed. There seems to be consistent ignoring of those attempting to change serious issues through peaceful (and increasingly spirited) words.
I guess that the best position an organisation/paper in general can adopt is continually pen the local populace’s opinions, but remain officially neutral and not to be seen as directly antagonistic to the current ruling elite.
As a matter of curiousity, how closely linked are the inter-paper relationships (for example, the Times and the Dispatch)? Is there a limitation or restraint that prevents any evidence garnered, specifically regarding the health minister, from being published as front page headliners? I’m guessing the restraint is more of a legal one?
August 27th, 2007 - 14:22
By the way, regarding my letters, could you please make any recommendations to me for how I can improve the quality of my writing, hints, and so forth?
I am currently writing in my personal capacity, in the respect of more emotive and personal aspects as a common citizen, with facts thrown in from various reports and such, though sometimes unreferenced.
Thanks for publishing my letters, and I find the Dispatch to be a great read every day! My opening sequence in my browser is my relevant work programs, Dispatch, email, and Dilbert – better than morning coffee!
August 27th, 2007 - 14:52
Darren, to respond to both your posts. Yes, we also find the flaying of the press somewhat concerning but all we can do is keep our eye on the ball as a news organisation and keep going at stories we feel are in the public interest – and hope the public are interested.
And, yes, we have a very close relationship with the Times and Sunday Times which are in the same group as us. Myself and our editor Phylicia Oppelt are also old Sunday Times staffers so we really do keep in touch, and work with, our former colleagues there.
There is really nothing stopping us publishing each other’s copy as we happily share resources. It’s really just down to an editorial judgement if a story is already out there how we would wish to play it here. Our general vanity as journalists is that we prefer to publish fresh news rather than someone else’s even if they are in the same group.
In terms of letter writing tips, my only comment there would be: keep them shortish, sharp and to the point (tackle one idea at at time rather than many). And keep ‘em coming, because we love them.
August 27th, 2007 - 15:03
Thanks for the heads-up, Andrew. Good to know that the stories relevant to the public will be run, so that we can get the “bigger picture”.
Ah, I can see that professional pride! At least pride in one’s work, and in pursuit of the great story, results in happy and numerous readers.
By the way, do you have a disclaimer somewhere, specifically regarding the blog? Also, is there perhaps a rules and regulations link? Would be nice if those were incorporated, nice to know what the limits are defined by you guys (beyond common sense applications), and also from a legal standpoint, to cover the gluteus maximus.
August 27th, 2007 - 15:05
Shoot. Silly fallible eyes of mine that do not pay attention. Please ignore the part re: disclaimer. Before it gets pointed out to me politely! lol
August 27th, 2007 - 17:34
Andrew – Well done! This is going to be a must-read blog …
August 28th, 2007 - 00:32
Greetings Andrew,
I have just discovered your blog while browsing the Dispatch site.
Regards
Mike Knott
former Dispatch photographer
August 28th, 2007 - 06:02
Hi Mike. Good to hear from you. Don’t be a stranger here
August 28th, 2007 - 09:01
Howzit all Digital Dispatcharians
Lekker idea. Can’t wait to enter into some full contact real-time dialogue with all the gay bishops and departmental spokespeople that are sure to pop in for a quick blog on their way to the great buffet in the sky.
August 28th, 2007 - 10:25
Hey Andrew
Concerning the forfeiture of the ex-deputy health minister’s salary, could you perhaps run something that has reference to the basic conditions of employment, as well as maybe following up with labour experts or something? Show the public that what they have done is contrary to law, and so forth? Or, correct any misperceptions?
Perhaps an approach of whenever the fecal matter hits the fan (which is often) regarding the department’s shenanigans and Mr. Mbeki’s policies, actions, and so forth, just run something that has a legal reference, so that the public can clearly see from cited sources that, what they are doing is blatantly against the law? Their spin can pretty it up and obscure the truth – but if it is shown to clearly contradict existing law, then people can accept that government is indeed running rampant and rough-shod over democracy and the judicial system.
August 28th, 2007 - 12:21
Hey, Andrew M. Welcome! We sure do hope the bishops and spokesman pop in for a blog.
August 28th, 2007 - 17:06
Hi Andrew,
Well done with the blog. I work in Nigeria and with this blog I can now interact with you folks back home on a daily basis and also air my views. Once again well done mate!!!!!
August 28th, 2007 - 17:23
Boy, Meiring, it’s quite amazing where folk from East London have ended up. Nigeria must be quite an eye-opener. Send us news of what life’s like there. Are you in Lagos or elsewhere and what are you doing there?
August 28th, 2007 - 17:35
Hi Andrew.
This is great news.
Any chance of switching on the RSS feeds for this blog so I can subscribe to it via my feedreader.
When one is trying to keep up with many blogs and other RSS feeds this is the only way to go.
Thanks again for a great idea.
rory.
August 28th, 2007 - 18:25
Rory – apologies. The feeds are now fixed
August 28th, 2007 - 20:44
Hi Andrew,
Greetings from Winchester, Virginia in the United States. I am a loyal online reader, always keen to catch up on the news from Slummies. I think the blog is a great idea, and long overdue too.
One of the greatest features of the paper for me and my ex-pat friends here in the states is the My Kinda Town section. Anything you can do to highlight people and their interests, background, etc. is great. I’d also love to see more online polls to get feedback from readers on issues of the day. How about features highlighting various parts of the municipality? I’d love to read an in-depth update on Chintsa, or Kayser’s Beach, or any of the local places, maybe written by someone locally. What plans are in the offing in terms of tourism development, new activities, etc.? Forums are great to discuss the news as well, although I understand that they require a lot of monitoring!
Congratulations on a great idea…
August 28th, 2007 - 21:08
Hi Chris, those are great suggestions and we’ll do what we can to oblige.
As you may know, Chintsa and the whole East Coast are going crazy with development (as in Kayser’s on the other side of the coast) and there are a lot of interesting discussions around this.
The issue of infrastructure, for one, is a key area and its clear that an upgrade to the East Coast resorts road is critical if this growth is going to continue. Of course, locally there is also a lot of debate about whether this should happen and what the impact on the area’s traditional character will be.
I’ll investigate us doing an online special on Chintsa and Kayser’s which are interesting stories because of the changes that are happening there.
Again, thanks for all the suggestions. My view is that we need to play the My Kinda of Town feature more prominently on our new website – and maybe allow people to write their own My Kinda Town online where people like yourself can recall the Kinda Town you knew and where locals can tell you how it is today.
August 29th, 2007 - 02:02
Hi Guys,
All the best with this blog site. It’s nice to read a bit of the local news online from New Zealand.
August 29th, 2007 - 09:19
Mike Knott,
Where in the world are you these days? As far as I can remember you and Scarlet went off to New Zealand a short while after I left the Dispatch for greener pastures.
Anyway, great to hear from you.
In general, to all our readers out there, welcome.
We here on the newsdesk are looking forward to interact with you on Andrew’s blogsite, exchanging ideas and viewpoints and getting those neurons going.
Cheers,
Jan
Jan Hennop
Deputy News Editor
Daily Dispatch
East London
August 29th, 2007 - 10:21
Hi Andrew,
I am stationed in the Southern Oil city of Port Harcourt (Niger Delta), yes you might have heard of some reports and yes it is true. Things are quite rough down here with all the militant/cultist activities. Only this year alone there had been more than 160 expatriates kidnapped in this region. Luckily the majority are released without any harm, after a month or so. I am a Risk Management consultant for an oil servicing company and have worked in Nigeria for the past 7 years.
Life here in Port Harcourt is quite dull as we are currently and have been for the past six months in “Lock Down”. That means that we are not allowed to move after 18:00 and before 06:00. We are also bound to our compounds which are guarded by Nigerian police, obviously the high walls and razor wire goes without saying. One good thing though is that the majority of us here work on a “back to back” system, 28 day here and 28 days back in SA.
I see the weather there is getting warmer, good news as I have a week left before arriving back in EL – Best regards – Meiring.
August 29th, 2007 - 22:35
Hi Meiring, it sounds like a hard life! But it also sounds like an eye-opening experience. We would love for you to consider writing us a piece for the paper about your experiences in Port Harcourt and having to endure a lock-down and the threat of kidnapping every day. It would be interesting to have your view on how locals there view South Africans and if there are the same suspicions which surround South Africans there as with Nigerians in South Africa.
With more and more South Africans heading off to West Africa to work, I’m sure there would be enormous interest. Some pics would be great too so we can see your world at the moment. Think about it and drop us note if you are keen.
Your post was really fascinating and a bigger piece would be even more rivetting I suspect.
August 30th, 2007 - 18:31
Hi everyone at Daily Dispatch newsroom!
Well done. It’s about time. Hoping that East London bloggers will join this blogsphere, including those in Mdasb who have the skill.
This is challenge whereby “WE THE MEDIA” interesting have to share what we know and who we are with the rest of the African content.
Ending the Steven Lang’s (SAFM) way “Keep on surfing”.
September 12th, 2007 - 12:20
Daily dispatch
Congrats on the blog, if you ask me its long been long overdue. I’m in Cape Town (was in EL for the past three yrs), and I still can’t do without your editorial and the letters page. I’m not the best at navigating websites but I think having a link at the bottom of the letters page would be a good idea(don’t know if there already is one elsewhere). The dispatch online really helps us still interested in what’s going(or not) on in EL and the other side of the Kei. Keep it up and congrats to the dispatch journalists who scooped the regional vodacom awards. Goodluck for the nationals