Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Better, faster ... prettier

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  • Paul Brislen,

    Will the last one out of The Listener please turn off the lights.

    Oh, I see the lights are already dimming. Best of luck to those that are left.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 200 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    That's a bit of a blow. And if Bradford's Hollywood disappears (where does Max get the time?) then it's all over.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Thom James,

    Will miss Wide Area News Russell. Any reason in particular for chucking it in?

    Auckland • Since Apr 2007 • 63 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    That's a bit of a blow. And if Bradford's Hollywood disappears (where does Max get the time?) then it's all over.

    There's usually a laugh or two to be found in the section near the front with the misprints, accidental puns, and funny signs from the week's print media. And the political cartoonist isn't terrible. And....

    ...yeah.

    But, hey, at least the neurotic middle classes have a magazine to reliably inform them about the dangers of investment property, the failing health system, and how to get their kids into genius school. I mean, someone's gotta report on this stuff, right?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Tim Michie,

    I've been wondering how you've been fitting that in on top of Media7...

    Your column and the politics were often my first reads of an issue.

    Auckward • Since Nov 2006 • 614 posts Report Reply

  • MikeE,

    Re: Ads,

    Is it possible to get them so they are just served on the hard news page...

    Washington DC • Since Nov 2006 • 138 posts Report Reply

  • Michael Stevens,

    I'll miss your Listener column too. But all things change etc...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 230 posts Report Reply

  • Dave Patrick,

    The number of "columns I read every week in the Listener just dropped by another one - I should really add up how many regulars I still read and evaluate whether it's worth putting up with Ms Black's ravings any more.....

    Rangiora, Te Wai Pounamu • Since Nov 2006 • 261 posts Report Reply

  • Caron Copek,

    Oh no! WAN is one of the Listener's very best bits, and nicely positioned next to the Saturday listings.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Re: Ads,

    Is it possible to get them so they are just served on the hard news page...

    Tricky with the banners, no problem with the small display ads.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Rickai,

    I think the PA ads are great. I bought 2 kilos (got a little bit carried away) of Eden coffee and it's great. Delivered in a day or two, super fresh, tasty coffee. Chocolate and hazelnut hints or something like that. Probably got that bot wrong. Marketing at its most effective. Keep up the good work.

    Since Jan 2007 • 47 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    One less reason to bother reading the Listener in the supermarket then. Now its basically down to Brian Easton...

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Now its basically down to Brian Easton...

    What, no love for Diana Wichtel?

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Gotta say that I'm enjoying Matt Nippert's TV highlights. Nice turn of phrase.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    Who needs Russell Brown when you've got Joanne Black as the ace in your pack? Apart from that the WWE Smackdown, surprisingly, absolutely rocked at Vector last night.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Deborah,

    What I/S said. Though I do usually scan the books section to see if Jolisa has anything in it.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    You know, one way to make money from ads would be to categorise readers (based on their browsing/comments) by political views: core Labour, wavering Lab/Green, etc. You could also identify trigger issues.

    Then you could sell targeted advertising to political parties based on this - so if I'm wavering Labour/Green and seem to have an interest in global warming, Labour could show me ads advocating (somehow) for their ETS policies.

    I'm sure only a tiny minority would complain about privacy. Plus, if it works, you could sell it to Google / Facebook for squillions..

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • philipmatthews,

    Sad to see you're going from the Listener, Russell. I remember when that column -- was it called "computers"? -- started back in the utopian days of the early-mid 90s. This new-fangled "internet" thing will never catch on, I thought -- but I always liked the way you had a strong belief in its democratic or maybe even counter-cultural value. You were way ahead of the game there.

    Was it Paul Little who commissioned it? Seems now like a bold thing to have done.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2007 • 656 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Who needs Russell Brown when you've got Joanne Black as the ace in your pack?

    They recently deciphered some of the cave paintings at Lescaux and it turns out it was somebody bitching about the slipping standards at the Listener.

    Big blow this, though, there's no denying it. We need a lot more Browns and a lot fewer Blacks.

    (Okay, I hope that sentence is never going to be quoted out of context)

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Rich, we're going balls-out for the chardonnay socialist niche.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Sad to see you're going from the Listener, Russell. I remember when that column -- was it called "computers"? -- started back in the utopian days of the early-mid 90s. This new-fangled "internet" thing will never catch on, I thought -- but I always liked the way you had a strong belief in its democratic or maybe even counter-cultural value. You were way ahead of the game there.

    True, actually. I remember Jenny Wheeler telling me she'd had feedback asking why I banged on about this internet thing all the time, and why didn't I write more about CD-ROMs. I gave her a speech about how a CD-ROM was a piece if plastic, but the internet would change the human condition. Or something ...

    Was it Paul Little who commissioned it? Seems now like a bold thing to have done.

    It was and it was, when he was deputy editor. And as I have since gratefully pointed out to Paul, he had to talk me into it.

    BTW, it's an indication of what's happened to freelance pay rates that my fee in 1993 was about the same as my fee at the beginning of 2008.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    They recently deciphered some of the cave paintings at Lescaux and it turns out it was somebody bitching about the slipping standards at the Listener.

    That's my quote for the week, right there.

    Rich, we're going balls-out for the chardonnay socialist niche.

    And ovaries-out too, right?

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Ramsey Margolis,

    Sad to see your Listener column will be drawing to an end, but then as we all know the only constant is change. Recently, your column has been the first page I turn to, followed by radio week and the reviews ... so as someone who doesn't watch broadcast tv and with only Dean Parker's occasional reviews and travel pieces to watch out for there seems even barely a reason to continue to read it.

    Wellington Region • Since Nov 2006 • 2 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    BTW, it's an indication of what's happened to freelance pay rates that my fee in 1993 was about the same as my fee at the beginning of 2008.

    Which means your years of experience and loyal service have been rewarded with an effective pay cut of ~26%. Lovely.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • James Green,

    Rich, we're going balls-out for the chardonnay socialist niche.

    It's always struck me as one of socialism's great problems is the association with Chardonnay. If Riesling had an ideology, that would be something to fight for.

    Limerick, Ireland • Since Nov 2006 • 703 posts Report Reply

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