The Falling Quality of the Newbury Weekly News Options

[Blake]

I must say what has been frustrating me for some time.

I think despite a rising cover price, ironically, the Newbury Weekly News seems to be suffering from a gradual fall in quality.

I seem to see a series of typos and mistakes in almost every copy. A classic example was seeing the Foreign & Commonwealth Office described as the "Foreign and Conference Office" and that was on the front cover!

Equally, I even see local place names spelled erroneously. I recently recall seeing two spellings of Marlston in the same news item. Facts are also sometimes also wrong and dates also.

I wonder if anybody is proofreading this newspaper anymore?

In addition, I note that some parts of the newspaper have quietly disappeared. We no longer seem to see TV listings included; why not??

We once had a full THREE pages of letters. Now, we get about half that. A real pity.

Furthermore, I find the articles and coverage rather superficial also. A lot of articles are rather heavy on photographs and light on text and editorial.

This was once a superb newspaper not so long ago. I hope it can be turned around.

[Richard Garvie]

I don't think it is that bad, a million miles better than a lot of the local papers you get around the country. I'd suggest that the letters pages are light due to lack of contribution and the TV listings have probably gone due to the fact that Digital TV has it's own TV guide and Analogue is pretty much gone anyway.

What I do like are the business pages once a month, the sport pages, letters are good too. I also like the local news bits from the different areas. I can't say I look for typo's or spelling mistakes, but I typically notice more mistakes in the nationals.

What would you do differently?

[TallDarkAndHands...]

I don't think it is that bad, a million miles better than a lot of the local papers you get around the country. I'd suggest that the letters pages are light due to lack of contribution and the TV listings have probably gone due to the fact that Digital TV has it's own TV guide and Analogue is pretty much gone anyway.

What I do like are the business pages once a month, the sport pages, letters are good too. I also like the local news bits from the different areas. I can't say I look for typo's or spelling mistakes, but I typically notice more mistakes in the nationals.

What would you do differently?

Can't we have a more sensationalist Newspaper. We could do with a Newbury 'Sun' with headlines like..

Richard Garvie ate my Hamster..
Gotcha (for Police arresting shoplifters / druggies etc)
A Page 3 local girl
If Garvie gets elected will the last person in Newbury please turn the lights out...

Lets have some more Newbury based Sensational headlines...

[Bofem]

Can't we have a more sensationalist Newspaper. We could do with a Newbury 'Sun' with headlines like..

Lets have some more Newbury based Sensational headlines...

There was one in the current edition on page 3. "Man found in possession of canoe!"

Perhaps some old bylaw I didn't know about.

[Biker1]

There was one in the current edition on page 3. "Man found in possession of canoe!"

Was it in his pocket?

[Biker1]

I don't think it is that bad, a million miles better than a lot of the local papers you get around the country. I'd suggest that the letters pages are light due to lack of contribution and the TV listings have probably gone due to the fact that Digital TV has it's own TV guide and Analogue is pretty much gone anyway.

What I do like are the business pages once a month, the sport pages, letters are good too. I also like the local news bits from the different areas. I can't say I look for typo's or spelling mistakes, but I typically notice more mistakes in the nationals.

What would you do differently?

A whole page on one person's views on farming?

[Blake]

Well firstly, restore 3 full pages of letters and maker sure the whole thing is proofread cover to cover.

I would like the TV listings back, especially as we are paying more for the newspaper. Fewer photos and more editorial content. Features on villages, aspects of local life etc.

[dannyboy]

TV listings have always had their own guides, and err, I'd expect a local newspaper to carry stories from the local area.
The letters page used to be 3 pages long, aminly of tit for tat exchanges from the local hustings & charity pleas.

[Blake]

Yes, but we always had the TV listings so why increase the price and yet give us less?

That is NOT value for money!

[dannyboy]

Yes, but we always had the TV listings so why increase the price and yet give us less?

That is NOT value for money!

that was whatI was getting at - we used to have TV listings in the NWN. Giving the availability of TV listing guides as a reason for their abscence from the NWN isn't a good argument.

[Ozzy]

Is it just me or has the magazine part gone missing recently. All it seems to have is a pull out business and homes section. I couldn't find the magazine in the last few editions.

I seem to see a series of typos and mistakes in almost every copy.

I must admit I agree on the proof reading. I'm constantly finding them. There should be no excuse for this really. A good sub editor is worth his weight in gold when it comes to that sort of thing.

I find the general content ok. The lack of letters probably is a source problem rather than just not printing any.

a million miles better than a lot of the local papers you get around the country

We are quite lucky though as generally it's a good paper in comparison to those others in its class.

[HJD]

I find the general content ok. The lack of letters probably is a source problem rather than just not printing any.

Perhaps they only print the letters they want .

[TallDarkAndHands...]

Perhaps they only print the letters they want .

The do have an on-line website where people (and politicians) can air views. Whats it called again?

[Rosewinelover]

I'd like to see more letters, I'm sure GMR sends in about 5 a week....?

I also notice the typing errors, and for a newspaper it is not on. Do we really need the tv listings? Surely people can go on Sky tv guide on their tv/internet/national newspaper/teletext if they need to know.

I would like to see more court outcomes, no other reason that just because I'm nosy to see if it's anyone I know

[GMR]

Was it in his pocket?

We should have a competition for canoe smoking.

[GMR]

I'd like to see more letters, I'm sure GMR sends in about 5 a week....?

Certain people they won't publish so I don't bother.

[Guest_Bill1_*]

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article...articleID=15035

I know this is off the website, which too is strewn with errors.

Did Mr Williams really say that all are welcome fiddlers kids etc or should that read toddlers?

[user23]

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article...articleID=15035

I know this is off the website, which too is strewn with errors.

Did Mr Williams really say that all are welcome fiddlers kids etc or should that read toddlers?

Oh dear, they couldn't have picked a worse word to precede "kids".

“Come along to the corner of London Road and Pelican Lane at around 9am. The more the merrier, doesn’t matter who you are, fiddlers, kids, everyone,” he said.

[Guest_Bill1_*]

Oh dear, they couldn't have picked a worse word to precede "kids".

“Come along to the corner of London Road and Pelican Lane at around 9am. The more the merrier, doesn’t matter who you are, fiddlers, kids, everyone,” he said.

Exactly!

[GMR]

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article...articleID=15035

I know this is off the website, which too is strewn with errors.

Did Mr Williams really say that all are welcome fiddlers kids etc or should that read toddlers?

Have you ever thought that they got it right in the first place?