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About the Author

Image for Why FL is standing up for music journalism

Why FL is standing up formusic journalism

in Features

Eight-and-a-half years ago, FasterLouder came to life. The online media game was very different back then: the “gothy” FasterLouder joining our sister site inthemix and a handful of blogs as one of the first music media to truly embrace the internet.

A tonne has changed since then. If you know how to use WordPress, you too can become a publisher. The market is so crowded with “me too” media that it’s time for us to evolve again, and today is that day. Welcome to the new FL.

There are so many sites running the same stories, regurgitating the same press releases, rewriting someone else’s scoops, premiering the same “exclusive” tracks, republishing tweets and embedding the same clips, that if you’re after bland content bots with no personality or distinguishable voice you really are spoilt for choice.

We’re drawing a line in the sand today, and debuting a brand new vision for what is desperately missing in the Australian online music media space; a thoughtful, incisive, critical, respected and influential voice. We’ve got the history, we’ve got the audience, we’ve got the resources, we’ve got the desire and we’re going to take you on a new journey starting right now.

We understand that it’s becoming harder to sift through the sheer morass of music available online, which makes it all the more imperative for us to be a resource you can trust. If there’s a great record being made around the world right now, we’ll let you know about it. If something’s shit? Don’t worry, we’ll let you know about it, too. A constant cheer squad doesn’t benefit anyone – not the artists, the audience, or our industry.

We’re going to be devoting our time to working on pieces that are unique to FL; pieces that make you think about what you’re reading. Sometimes they’ll be funny, sometimes they’ll be controversial, sometimes they’ll be touching – but they’ll never be boring. Take for example a no-holds-barred new Q&A series called “In The Firing Line” that puts artists under an intense spotlight, or our already provocative In Defence Of column, where we recast our critical eye over a maligned act. (Because even Nickelback deserves a fair go, right? OK, maybe not.)

We’re increasing our commitment to quality opinions from respected voices, industry heavyweights, musicians and some of the best music writers in the country. Today’s piece by Catcall on the Russian punk band Pussy Riot is indicative of the kind of things you’ll be reading here. It’s a fresh Australian angle to an issue of global importance.

From today you’ll notice a fresh change to what you think FL is. The past eight-and-a-half years have all been working towards this, and we’re proud to say we’re the only online media that’s going to be putting up a magnifying glass up to the industry to question, explore and champion what we love and hate.

We’re standing up for Australian music journalism when it’s most sorely needed.

The new FL starts today. Are you ready?

Darren Levin
Editor-In-Chief

Sarah Smith
Editor

Tom Mann
Deputy Editor

Social

Comments

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45819
oldgregg

oldgregg said on the 23rd Aug, 2012



just because he's fancy and has a job :(

Jose Cuervo

Jose Cuervo said on the 23rd Aug, 2012

.....and he is a generous lover

http://gifsoup.com/webroot/animatedgifs/319708_o.gif

Darren Levin

Darren Levin said on the 23rd Aug, 2012

hi guys. thanks for the great feedback. our contributor model that we pioneered served us really well for eight-and-a-half years, but as part of the revamp we're evolving the way we look at _everything_, so if anyone has any ideas or articles to pitch email us at hello@staff.fasterlouder.com.au.

nu_wave

nu_wave said on the 23rd Aug, 2012

you go fl girlfriend!

gumbuoy

gumbuoy said on the 23rd Aug, 2012

hey guys, just mho, but the 'In Defence Of' isn't good journalism, it's editorial. And, if it's going to continue to be in the area of Nickelback and the likes, it's not even good editorial - it's just argument-bait.

Jose Cuervo

Jose Cuervo said on the 23rd Aug, 2012



and an excuse for me to post these

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lmgp2zIqnF1ql1qzzo1_400.gif

ThatDude123

ThatDude123 said on the 23rd Aug, 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL5sdu3pNrU

CHANGES BITCHES

Oflick

Oflick said on the 23rd Aug, 2012

I thought the pick icon was a love heart.

Edit doesn't work, amongst other things.

I have no other problems with anything. I don't mind the new look.

I haven't read the whole thread. There was a simpsons reference; I remember nothing else.

tits.

ThatDude123

ThatDude123 said on the 23rd Aug, 2012



For your consideration: Should you work for free?

(HINT: Free entry to gigs and CD samplers are not payment, never will be, and the fact the mainstream music industry has conned hundreds of prospective music journos that it is, is disgraceful. This also goes for most other Arts reviewing fields, street/promotional teams, and the abuse of the internship system by most non-corporate industries BUT THAT'S AN ARGUMENT FOR ANOTHER DAY...)

oldgregg

oldgregg said on the 23rd Aug, 2012

contributing for FL took half a semester off my Bachelor. I love this site.

I write articles for a lot of websites, but writing for FL is probably where I put most of my pride in. Very grateful to Sarah and Tom for the oppurtunities they have given to me.

Oflick

Oflick said on the 23rd Aug, 2012

I hold the unpopular view that fasterlouder should pay me, despite never writing any articles or contributing anything of worth to this site.

andy_chalmers_102

andy_chalmers_102 said on the 23rd Aug, 2012

For your consideration: Should you work for free?

(HINT: Free entry to gigs and CD samplers are not payment, never will be, and the fact the mainstream music industry has conned hundreds of prospective music journos that it is, is disgraceful. This also goes for most other Arts reviewing fields, street/promotional teams, and the abuse of the internship system by most non-corporate industries BUT THAT'S AN ARGUMENT FOR ANOTHER DAY...)

I obviously know that free entry isn't equivalent to payment, but I'm an 18-year-old with no other experience, still honing my writing skills - if FL and similar sites did change to a paid contribution model, the chances of me actually getting any work from them are slim to none, so I'll happily take what I can get.

gumbuoy

gumbuoy said on the 23rd Aug, 2012



And yet, you went on the rant anyway.

ThatDude123

ThatDude123 said on the 23rd Aug, 2012



You don't know how damaging this attitude is to the journalism industry as a whole. And as I said, it's not just music journalism; every journalist and creative is scared shitless because a generation of Arts students are being raised on this "take-what-we-can-get" attitude towards the creative industries. That means those that do have paying jobs get treated like shit and paid bare minimum and those that don't will probably never find decent work.

That said, some street press had a model where entry-level writers were usually given album and live review duties with succinct word counts that were unpaid as somewhat of a proving ground for eventual article/news/interview work. This is a decent idea.

ThatDude123

ThatDude123 said on the 23rd Aug, 2012



It's already tomorrow somewhere in the world, or still yesterday. Something. You get what I mean, right?

Jose Cuervo

Jose Cuervo said on the 23rd Aug, 2012



I used to subscribe to this opinion, but you def get over it

liquidtopaz3

liquidtopaz3 said on the 23rd Aug, 2012

I can't edit posts either at the moment. And as for the white space on the right-hand side of the screen, this went away after I clicked the 'Switch to: Fixed/Liquid' option at the top of the page under the Forum Search box.

I don't like change but always end up grudgingly accepting it. Grew to like the new look of the site much quicker than I thought I would.

Cpt_Pugwash

Cpt_Pugwash said on the 23rd Aug, 2012

This site should be more like metalsucks cause metalsucks is awesome.

Jose Cuervo

Jose Cuervo said on the 23rd Aug, 2012

we dont need more metal on here, we need less

ThatDude123

ThatDude123 said on the 23rd Aug, 2012

[batdan]needs more slayer[/batdan]

gumbuoy

gumbuoy said on the 23rd Aug, 2012

Also, disappointed that gig reviews are no longer on the home page. That's where the new young writers do most of their work, it's a pity it's no longer promoted.

gumbuoy

gumbuoy said on the 23rd Aug, 2012



Actually I was more thinking that we don't ever have to have that argument/discussion ever again. Both sides have made all their points, everyone's picked a side, no more convincing to be done.

jacegalvin

jacegalvin said on the 23rd Aug, 2012

Fix the avatars and I'll be happy.

Jose Cuervo

Jose Cuervo said on the 23rd Aug, 2012

Yeah I just want my Daisy Lowe av :'(

liquidtopaz3

liquidtopaz3 said on the 23rd Aug, 2012

I still can't update my status either :/

ThatDude123

ThatDude123 said on the 23rd Aug, 2012



Even on the open discussion forum of a website that has said they want to drastically change the way they approach music journalism and are open to comments and opinions?

Stugalug

Stugalug said on the 23rd Aug, 2012



Yeah, I was waiting for more cow bell years ago, I'm not that crash hot on it at the moment. Not the end of the world though.

jacegalvin

jacegalvin said on the 23rd Aug, 2012



I remember I changed mine by going on an event page on FL.

It just came up on the side and it worked.

ThatDude123

ThatDude123 said on the 23rd Aug, 2012



You may have given up on the cowbell. But I can guarantee you, son, the cowbell has not given up on you!

liquidtopaz3

liquidtopaz3 said on the 23rd Aug, 2012

I remember I changed mine by going on an event page on FL.

It just came up on the side and it worked.

Nothing's coming up. Oh well. One day...

Stugalug

Stugalug said on the 23rd Aug, 2012



When I get that fever, and the only prescription, is more cowbell.

http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lj4926ya4G1qd1fjko1_500.gif

Stuo

Stuo said on the 23rd Aug, 2012

Love the new look guys!

Jose Cuervo

Jose Cuervo said on the 23rd Aug, 2012

When I get that fever, and the only prescription, is more cowbell.

http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lj4926ya4G1qd1fjko1_500.gif

HEY LOOK DAISY CAN DANCE TO THE COWBELL

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lfcin7HmzV1qzx18lo1_500.gif

oldgregg

oldgregg said on the 23rd Aug, 2012

You don't know how damaging this attitude is to the journalism industry as a whole. And as I said, it's not just music journalism; every journalist and creative is scared shitless because a generation of Arts students are being raised on this "take-what-we-can-get" attitude towards the creative industries. That means those that do have paying jobs get treated like shit and paid bare minimum and those that don't will probably never find decent work.

That said, some street press had a model where entry-level writers were usually given album and live review duties with succinct word counts that were unpaid as somewhat of a proving ground for eventual article/news/interview work. This is a decent idea.

i can't agree with this more. you're only 18 chalmers, so take it from an unemployed (career wise anyway) 22 year old. i have a pretty decent CV and i am no closer to finding a job, barely even a look in and it's really, really fucking depressing.

Jose Cuervo

Jose Cuervo said on the 23rd Aug, 2012

Stop shiving people at the interviews then Chav....and dont wear so much Burberry

Kelz5359

Kelz5359 said on the 23rd Aug, 2012



Totally agree. If event photos are important enough to be on the homepage then the accompanying reviews should be too. It's hard enough as it is to break out and get noticed on this site (and every other music site/publication for that matter) without being buried even further in various links and tabs.

So far that's my only gripe with the new site.

oldgregg

oldgregg said on the 23rd Aug, 2012



well, when you're right, you're... a cunt

choppathewhoppa

choppathewhoppa said on the 23rd Aug, 2012

seems to me that your new look and direction is exactly like vulture magazine's website

oldgregg

oldgregg said on the 23rd Aug, 2012

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m72ube2MYF1r96sjyo4_1280.jpg

Kelz5359

Kelz5359 said on the 23rd Aug, 2012



http://www.123inspiration.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/I-Know-That-Feel-Bro-chris-gerringer-14.jpeg

Braveheart81

Braveheart81 said on the 24th Aug, 2012

You don't know how damaging this attitude is to the journalism industry as a whole. And as I said, it's not just music journalism; every journalist and creative is scared shitless because a generation of Arts students are being raised on this "take-what-we-can-get" attitude towards the creative industries. That means those that do have paying jobs get treated like shit and paid bare minimum and those that don't will probably never find decent work.

That said, some street press had a model where entry-level writers were usually given album and live review duties with succinct word counts that were unpaid as somewhat of a proving ground for eventual article/news/interview work. This is a decent idea.



Music journalism is probably the toughest area of journalism to get paid work in when you look at how few paid jobs there are relative to how much content there is which is provided free.

I can't see the model really changing for music websites. If someone tried to make a music website with a paywall on the basis that people will pay for higher quality content and subsequently quality writers were getting paid, I can't see it being successful as there won't be a big enough gap between that content and the free content available.

I think mainstream news journalism will remain the area where people with little experience can find work and hone their journalistic skills. That is where pretty much every journalist I know started off.

oldgregg

oldgregg said on the 24th Aug, 2012

how about the Internet? gimme some of that money!

http://areyounotentertained.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/internet-money.jpeg

Napoleon Solo

Napoleon Solo said on the 24th Aug, 2012

Music journalism is probably the toughest area of journalism to get paid work in when you look at how few paid jobs there are relative to how much content there is which is provided free.

I can't see the model really changing for music websites. If someone tried to make a music website with a paywall on the basis that people will pay for higher quality content and subsequently quality writers were getting paid, I can't see it being successful as there won't be a big enough gap between that content and the free content available.

I think mainstream news journalism will remain the area where people with little experience can find work and hone their journalistic skills. That is where pretty much every journalist I know started off.

I concur.
The amount of kids straight out of high school who have aspirations for music journalism seems to be growing. The internet has lowered the entry level for media journalism which is a double edged sword. It's good for quickly building up a portfolio but the competition has grown and a lower grade has been created.

Nosyt

Nosyt said on the 24th Aug, 2012

There is always money in the banana stand

Braveheart81

Braveheart81 said on the 24th Aug, 2012

I concur.
The amount of kids straight out of high school who have aspirations for music journalism seems to be growing. The internet has lowered the entry level for media journalism which is a double edged sword. It's good for quickly building up a portfolio but the competition has grown and a lower grade has been created.

I know ThatDude123 said that getting free entry to a gig or a free CD in exchange for providing a review isn't payment and I agree with that, however it is enough enducement for plenty of people to be interested.

Would people like morningafterboy or berlinchair101 go to nearly as many gigs if they weren't reviewing some of them and getting in for free? I doubt it. For those interested in writing and also interested in attending the gig, getting free entry in return for a review is a pretty good deal.

That's the biggest problem with trying to commercialise music journalism. There is enough inducement already for people to want to do it without being paid.

I think there is a substantial gap between the expectations of journalism students in the areas of the media and general workforce where they want employment and the areas where there are actually employment opportunities available.

Kelz5359

Kelz5359 said on the 24th Aug, 2012

So not sure if I was just blind before, or the site is still working out some glitches, but event reviews now seem to be back on the homepage. Ignore previous rant.

Napoleon Solo

Napoleon Solo said on the 24th Aug, 2012

I used to write for a street press. I benefited from a few perks but for me it was always something I just did because I enjoyed it. I never had had any delusions.

Kelz5359

Kelz5359 said on the 24th Aug, 2012

Yeah, I love doing reviews for a lot of reasons, but I don't expect to ever get paid for them. It sucks, but as you guys said, there are just too many people willing to do it for free. For now it's a good way to discover new music, develop my style, build a portfolio etc... But I think the only way to get paid as a music journo these days is through features/editorial work. Even then, it's not enough to really build a career on (I write for a street press as well and only get paid $25-$30 per feature...not exactly enough to live off when you're only doing two or three a month)

The more I talk about this the more I'm realising I should probably consider an alternative profession. *sigh*

Napoleon Solo

Napoleon Solo said on the 24th Aug, 2012

If I was a struggling journalist I would have killed myself by now from just knowing that Kathy McCabe has a career.

nos235

nos235 said on the 24th Aug, 2012

Freelancers - http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/12-breeds-of-client-and-how-to-work-with-them/

Client Type #12 - The you-should-be-so-lucky client

How To Spot One:
The you-should-be-so-lucky client is much cooler than you and they know it. They generally have a cool but low paying project for you and are in an industry everyone wants to work in, think music, film and fashion industries in particular.

The Highs:
The right you-should-be-so-lucky client looks great in your portfolio, and your friends will think you're cool. You'll make some handy contacts and your professional credibility will probably benefit. You'll also be hanging out with the cool kids . TAKE THAT HIGH SCHOOL!

The Lows:
You won't be paid much and the you-should-be-so-lucky client will act like they’re doing you the favour, not the other way around. If you do enough jobs for a you-should-be-so-lucky client you will start getting jaded about the industry and feel mistreated for your efforts.

How To Work With One:
The you-should-be-so-lucky client can be a great asset to your portfolio, but that will be the main reason to do the job. Because everybody wants this type of job (until they’ve actually got some) there are many talented but green freelancers more than happy to work for almost nothing. If you are a student this can be a great thing to do, but for a seasoned freelancer it can impact your cash flow. So pick your you-should-be-so-lucky clients carefully and use them sparingly to impact your portfolio or break up the monotony of corporate jobs. And of course, make sure you enjoy being that damn cool!

gumbuoy

gumbuoy said on the 24th Aug, 2012



i too shall withdraw my previous comment. I couldve sworn they weren't there yesterday, I looked and looked and looked, because I didn't want to seem like an idiot :)

jacegalvin

jacegalvin said on the 24th Aug, 2012

FL:
Writers! Thy shalt rebuilt FasterLouder, with 4 new features!

Writer:
(writing on a notepad) 4 features... give or take.

FL:
Exactly 4! And thou shalt writeth two of every 'In Defence Of' column!

Writer:
(writing it down) Two columns.

FL:
Two of EVERY column!

Writers:
Even 360?

FL:
ESPECIALLY 360!

Napoleon Solo

Napoleon Solo said on the 24th Aug, 2012

FL:
Writers! Thy shalt rebuilt FasterLouder, with 4 new features!

Writer:
(writing on a notepad) 4 features... give or take.

FL:
Exactly 4! And thou shalt writeth two of every 'In Defence Of' column!

Writer:
(writing it down) Two columns.

FL:
Two of EVERY column!

Writers:
Even 360?

FL:
ESPECIALLY 360!

You win this thread.

gumbuoy

gumbuoy said on the 24th Aug, 2012

See guys, it's hard to take your "WE FIGHT FOR SRS MUSIC JOURNALISM" seriously when your "Week in review" article posits the Lavigne-Kroeger engagement as the biggest music story of the week.

Piko

Piko said on the 25th Aug, 2012

Gumbouy, you are missing the video of One Directions cover of Wonderwall on the homepage also.

Which is a shame because there is a nice Rubens one there. Alas. All undone.

Napoleon Solo

Napoleon Solo said on the 25th Aug, 2012

Journalism isn't bringing the dollars, clicks and the online community are. The surveys say that the demographic wants more paddle pop lion...

Piko

Piko said on the 25th Aug, 2012

Nope it isn't. Newspapers are going online and moving towards charging for online content to be able to pay their staff (well that along with masses of advertising).

And naps you make me worry that the 1D Wonderwall cover is there because it's the most watched video..

mister_man

mister_man said on the 26th Aug, 2012

"a thoughtful, incisive, critical, respected and influential voice" - isn't that mess noise?

tweedstring

tweedstring said on the 27th Aug, 2012

you don't know how damaging this attitude is to the journalism industry as a whole. and as i said, it's not just music journalism; every journalist and creative is scared shitless because a generation of arts students are being raised on this "take-what-we-can-get" attitude towards the creative industries. that means those that do have paying jobs get treated like shit and paid bare minimum and those that don't will probably never find decent work.

that said, some street press had a model where entry-level writers were usually given album and live review duties with succinct word counts that were unpaid as somewhat of a proving ground for eventual article/news/interview work. this is a decent idea.

cannot agree more. same can be said for photographers.

Jerry Gergich

Jerry Gergich said on the 28th Aug, 2012

stop all the downloading!

Demosthenes

Demosthenes said on the 28th Aug, 2012

Has it happened yet?

MorningAfterboy

MorningAfterboy said on the 28th Aug, 2012



http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/25712987.jpg

Demosthenes

Demosthenes said on the 31st Aug, 2012

http://polaroidsofandroids.com/articles/interview-darren-levin-decent-journalism-engenders/6760.html

Interesting Q&A with Darren Levin over on PoA. If he's lurking, I'd be really interested to know more about how they propose to handle/nuture/edit contributors.

gumbuoy

gumbuoy said on the 31st Aug, 2012



*shudder* I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.

Demosthenes

Demosthenes said on the 31st Aug, 2012

Somewhat unwillingly, I'd have to say there's some good stuff on there. ET usually come off as a giant, abrasive knob but when he cares to put his mind to it, he can actually write.

MorningAfterboy

MorningAfterboy said on the 31st Aug, 2012

CB is not exclusively ET, either. There's some great, thought-provoking writing on there. At the very least, I respect the guy for putting the effort in.

oldgregg

oldgregg said on the 31st Aug, 2012



i'm always interested in what grattan and sarahanne make of comments like this.

gumbuoy

gumbuoy said on the 31st Aug, 2012

where did that come from?

RAMONESelaar

RAMONESelaar said on the 31st Aug, 2012



Second comment on the PoA article.

These Fasterlouder guys have to be the biggest wankers in Australian music. Everything they say they are against is what FL is. And what is SEO shortcuts haven't heard that term before?

gumbuoy

gumbuoy said on the 31st Aug, 2012

ahh okay. in order to see that i would have had to violate my "never read the comments" rule.

berlinchair101

berlinchair101 said on the 31st Aug, 2012

Poloroids of Androids is a fucking joke.

Stugalug

Stugalug said on the 31st Aug, 2012

I've always considered the term biggest wanker as a compliment. To say you're the biggest wanker, says you have the biggest penis. Good for Grattan. Not so good for Sarahanne.

mondo22

mondo22 said on the 1st Sep, 2012



or this pearler right here

http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/news/local/33572/Australian-promoter-locks-in-Rolling-Stones-50th-anniversary-shows

mondo22

mondo22 said on the 1st Sep, 2012



It's the very reason that there's so much bland music coming out and being pumped out on national radio. The masses take what they can get and because of it, not many artists out there are challenging themselves to go above and beyond. The attitude seems to be "create stuff that sounds like other stuff that is being consumed a lot so it gets played on the same station and repeat".

Napoleon Solo

Napoleon Solo said on the 1st Sep, 2012

http://polaroidsofandroids.com/articles/interview-darren-levin-decent-journalism-engenders/6760.html

Interesting Q&A with Darren Levin over on PoA. If he's lurking, I'd be really interested to know more about how they propose to handle/nuture/edit contributors.

I spat Dr Pepper everywhere when I read the reference to the Huffington Post.

Demosthenes

Demosthenes said on the 1st Sep, 2012

Who the hell in Australia drinks Dr Pepper?

jacegalvin

jacegalvin said on the 1st Sep, 2012

Dr Pepper is the fucking shit.

daveyac8881

daveyac8881 said on the 1st Sep, 2012



fixed

Daft Punks Lip Sweat

Daft Punks Lip Sweat said on the 1st Sep, 2012



Couldn't agree more. It and Sarsaparilla are the two worst drinks ever.

jacegalvin

jacegalvin said on the 1st Sep, 2012

You guys are shit

jacegalvin

jacegalvin said on the 1st Sep, 2012

http://i.chzbgr.com/completestore/2010/9/3/65d6f7ca-5128-42ee-a730-e3ad6c54ad18.jpg

4uDPLS

sarcasm_mister

sarcasm_mister said on the 1st Sep, 2012

random contribution to the discussion. but just wondering. am i the only one who spends little or no time reading the articles on this website and all of his time reading the comments and opinions on the forums? i read the odd article now and then but i feel that what's said in these threads is far more interesting and engaging than anything i come across on the front page. no disrespect intended on the contributors, you're all great writers but more often than not the ensuing discussion trumps the article.

this article then thread typifies what i'm saying.

RAMONESelaar

RAMONESelaar said on the 2nd Sep, 2012

Now that I think about it, I'm probably in the same boat as you, sarcasm. Maybe once or twice a week I'll read some of the articles, but for the most part my time here is spent in the threads.

nos235

nos235 said on the 2nd Sep, 2012

I only read an articles if it gets comments so that it appears in the forums (such as this one and the letter to billy corgan).

I prefer a discussion rather than a 1 way conversation

oldgregg

oldgregg said on the 2nd Sep, 2012



me. consistently. I buy Coles out of their shipment weekly.

dr pepper, root beer, and dandelion & burdock are my three favourite drinks. I love them!

nos235

nos235 said on the 2nd Sep, 2012

I can feel a top 5 carbonated beverages coming on ;)

Demosthenes

Demosthenes said on the 2nd Sep, 2012

The top five ways to beat the ever-loving crap out of people who post too many top five lists.

Demosthenes

Demosthenes said on the 2nd Sep, 2012

random contribution to the discussion. but just wondering. am i the only one who spends little or no time reading the articles on this website and all of his time reading the comments and opinions on the forums? i read the odd article now and then but i feel that what's said in these threads is far more interesting and engaging than anything i come across on the front page. no disrespect intended on the contributors, you're all great writers but more often than not the ensuing discussion trumps the article.

this article then thread typifies what i'm saying.

I stopped reading when it became evident that most content was going to be top X lists and regurgitated press releases. More well-written thought pieces could entice me back.

nos235

nos235 said on the 2nd Sep, 2012



1. Send Archias after them
2. Get them to write a treatise about the expression 'ever-loving crap'
3. Spend their inheritance
4. outgrabe their moomtoths
5. Pretend that frustration equals intellectual superiority

Piko

Piko said on the 2nd Sep, 2012

i feel that what's said in these threads is far more interesting and engaging than anything i come across on the front page. no disrespect intended on the contributors, you're all great writers but more often than not the ensuing discussion trumps the article.

this article then thread typifies what i'm saying.

Obviously you haven't been reading because we are not all great writers. Well.. At least you haven't read my contributions...

nos235

nos235 said on the 2nd Sep, 2012

A story has to interest you to read it. I don't think the quality of the journlism is the issue. I think the writing is mostly fine, I'm just not taken by most of the concepts of the articles.

Cooky

Cooky said on the 3rd Sep, 2012

what do you think? post your comment...

Cooky

Cooky said on the 3rd Sep, 2012

i would like the reasoning of doing away with state editors explained and how centralising everything out of melbourne is going to make fl better. fl is not newscorp

andy_chalmers_102

andy_chalmers_102 said on the 3rd Sep, 2012

What is actually happening with contributors? There has been no emails sent out in about a month and no reviews published in the last 2 or 3 weeks (at least for NSW). Is the entire contribution system on hold for the moment?

billymumphrey

billymumphrey said on the 4th Sep, 2012

i like your old stuff better than your new stuff...

oldgregg

oldgregg said on the 4th Sep, 2012



Gregg is more likely to get a job if everything is coming out of Melbourne. I think that's the reasoning.

Demosthenes

Demosthenes said on the 10th Sep, 2012

Darren Levin answers a few questions over at Collapse Board about plans for FL n shit. Mess & Noise to become even more niche? I wonder what that means.

http://www.collapseboard.com/features/interviews/the-collapse-board-interview-darren-levin-fasterlouder-messnoise/

Aidan1234567

Aidan1234567 said on the 11th Sep, 2012



^^ this, whats up with the no new gig reviews for almost a month now, i submitted one about a week ago (my first) and have had no word on it
im seriously curious as this article sort of inspired me to get up and actually consider starting to contribute, which i have only to have my first contribution neither be published, nor sent back with suggestions, whats up guys?

RAMONESelaar

RAMONESelaar said on the 12th Sep, 2012

Maybe you should figure out punctuation first.

MorningAfterboy

MorningAfterboy said on the 12th Sep, 2012

Ha! Imagine getting ANY feedback for anything you write on here that isn't two paragraphs slashed away by the Mann.

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