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carlon78
Barker
Joined: June 16, 2008
Posts: 125
Location: jing'an/putuo
Status: Offline
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 Posted:
Nov 04, 2009 - 06:39 PM |
 
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| nrgfink wrote: |
I hate the writing on this forum
Except Parkson18Single
Fantastic |
It's not as if we're scouting for Pulitzers, mate... |
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findus
Fire-eater
Joined: Feb 03, 2004
Posts: 2521
Status: Offline
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Nov 04, 2009 - 08:28 PM |
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The bald dude who's been writing for Thats for years is usually a fun/insightful writer.
I think some people are expecting too much from a free maga with badly piad writers. |
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Billybulldog
Talker
Joined: July 30, 2009
Posts: 88
Location: in ma office
Status: Offline
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Nov 04, 2009 - 10:15 PM |
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I'm quite surprised that people here feel the need to criticise free publications like That's Shanghai for the quality of writing. I personally am quite happy to have a few magazines that are written in English and helps to highlight some new additions to the entertainment scene in Shanghai.
This forum seems increasingly inhabited by moaners and whingers.
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Wholeheartedly agree with this post |
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nrgfink
Reacher
Joined: July 20, 2009
Posts: 314
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Nov 05, 2009 - 12:48 AM |
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| carlon78 wrote: |
| nrgfink wrote: |
I hate the writing on this forum
Except Parkson18Single
Fantastic |
It's not as if we're scouting for Pulitzers, mate... |
Why not? If Obama can get a Nobel Peace Prize.....
Seriously though, I don't think the writing here is particularly bad. I get fed up with "articles" in the NYTimes and Economist constantly anyways. (Especially shitty op-eds....) I'm not really comparing Cityweekend to those publications, just saying that there's bad material everywhere. I'm with the other guys on this one, glad there's enough English material to keep my occupied when I'm bored off my ass at work. |
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fWerrF
Rocker
Joined: Aug 31, 2009
Posts: 731
Location: New York, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Bangkok
Status: Offline
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Nov 05, 2009 - 06:32 AM |
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I think they work fine as yellow page, when u look for restaurants, bars, clubs and etc. |
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niubi
Talker
Joined: May 14, 2008
Posts: 102
Status: Offline
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Nov 05, 2009 - 08:51 AM |
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For the people saying the writing is poor - I agree with the moaners and whingers assessment of some of the people on this forum. I enjoy most of the magazines specifically for the articles (though I usually only read one or two). The only bad thing I could say about them is that I don't believe most of their reviews - but somebody has to pay (or choose not to pay) for a free magazine! They're mainly good just to let you know what's out there rather than how they are. And while I'm on it - how is Vedas 'best Indian' with That's for the past couple years? What a crock.
I don't usually check author names unless it's a standout piece on something I'm interested in. The only one I read here on a regular basis is Jonathan 'cao cao' in Talk magazine. I usually lol at least once or twice while reading his articles. |
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paulinshanghai
Reacher
Joined: Nov 13, 2008
Posts: 273
Location: Pudong and Puxi
Status: Offline
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Nov 05, 2009 - 09:33 AM |
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Morgans articles on Smart Shanghai are always a laugh.
But Cityweekend writers (food and entertainment especially) seems to just be a bunch of knobhead tossers.
Like when their food writer, who always gushes about tossy Bund/overpriced expat restaurants decides to write an article on Saizeriya, and just pays the place out for having pasta that isnt as good as he is used to. Umm, what the f*** did he expect!
Okay Im having my morning coffee now. |
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Laowhy
Newbie
Joined: Sep 13, 2009
Posts: 2
Status: Offline
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Nov 05, 2009 - 09:34 AM |
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| Shangstar wrote: |
CW's are generally truly awful reviews. They have nothing but oh-so-gushing praise for their ubercool to die for hip joints where trendsetters party the nights away to the sounds of the latest beats in the company of good and beautiful people letting their hair down like there's no tomorrow.
Reality check: Frozen manequin type local girls who dont move in case their make up falls off their face lest they lose business that night. Fat letchy westerners propping up the bar. Western big bottomed women dancing like their dad at a wedding party. Teachers drinking cheap Tsingtao. Cant hear or talk with your mates because of the loud blaring 50cent tune (yeah that same one). Expensive weak drinks. |
Very true. |
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Swiss-James
Post Roaster
Joined: Jan 05, 2007
Posts: 4330
Status: Offline
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Nov 05, 2009 - 11:05 AM |
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| niubi wrote: |
| They're mainly good just to let you know what's out there rather than how they are. And while I'm on it - how is Vedas 'best Indian' with That's for the past couple years? What a crock. |
Those awards are voted for by readers, it seems that most of the staff didn't agree with the awards either ("The Shelter" for best hidden gem? "Simply Thai" for best Thai?) but what can they do?
| niubi wrote: |
I don't usually check author names unless it's a standout piece on something I'm interested in. The only one I read here on a regular basis is Jonathan 'cao cao' in Talk magazine. I usually lol at least once or twice while reading his articles. |
Agree with this, he's got a non-stop supply of great stories and comes over as a sound guy. |
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carlon78
Barker
Joined: June 16, 2008
Posts: 125
Location: jing'an/putuo
Status: Offline
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Nov 05, 2009 - 04:18 PM |
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I am a big fan of Dan Shapiro's nightlife column in CW - his cynical wit brings the lulz. |
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臭屁不响，响屁不臭 |
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KalanStar
Reacher
Joined: Oct 06, 2009
Posts: 238
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Nov 10, 2009 - 12:08 AM |
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| findus wrote: |
The bald dude who's been writing for Thats for years is usually a fun/insightful writer.
I think some people are expecting too much from a free maga with badly piad writers. |
What does piad, maga, & thats mean?? I'm sure they must be words I'm unfamiliar with as the great findus could never make a spelling mistake  |
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carlon78
Barker
Joined: June 16, 2008
Posts: 125
Location: jing'an/putuo
Status: Offline
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Nov 10, 2009 - 10:41 AM |
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| KalanStar wrote: |
| findus wrote: |
The bald dude who's been writing for Thats for years is usually a fun/insightful writer.
I think some people are expecting too much from a free maga with badly piad writers. |
What does piad, maga, & thats mean?? I'm sure they must be words I'm unfamiliar with as the great findus could never make a spelling mistake |
Say the man who wrote "could have went" on another thread... |
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臭屁不响，响屁不臭 |
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paul123
Seeker
Joined: May 09, 2008
Posts: 73
Status: Offline
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Nov 10, 2009 - 02:37 PM |
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'Journalists/reviewers' that go to restaurant openings always get hongbaos. So i never trust a mag review when it comes to restaurants.
At least every That's Shanghai has a blurb on Vargas or Cotton or Jeanes Gorges, which I also find quite annoying. (Nothing against them personally, but this is a big city!) |
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aznrurounikj
Barker
Joined: Dec 19, 2006
Posts: 173
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Nov 10, 2009 - 03:01 PM |
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Yeah people who write articles are probably those who even got fired from the Huffington Post |
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Swiss-James
Post Roaster
Joined: Jan 05, 2007
Posts: 4330
Status: Offline
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Nov 10, 2009 - 03:10 PM |
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MrPuxi
Raver
Joined: Jan 30, 2008
Posts: 471
Status: Offline
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Nov 10, 2009 - 03:11 PM |
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i don't really think that CW et al set a particularly high journalistic stardard for themselves nor do they, and are not set out to, conduct investigative journalism.
those mags, especially "that's" go WAY back and basically come from a totally different time! how many people here can actually name the real founder of that's? what happened to him and why? i guess not much more than 25%
in those days at least i remember being happy to have something of a guide on hands, at least a guide with chinese addresses to show to the cabbie! couple of restaurant reviews, new bars, bit of gossipy "lalala" and that was all that was in it in those days. and that was all anyone really asked for. but of course, my memory can be wrong. |
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Swiss-James
Post Roaster
Joined: Jan 05, 2007
Posts: 4330
Status: Offline
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Nov 10, 2009 - 03:31 PM |
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Alright I've resisited a rant for long enough. Here goes.
Right now I'm working on an article that will go into the next issue of That's- (i.e. out December first)- let's say it's about Bowling Alleys (it isn't).
For this piece to happen, the editor compiled a list of Alleys in the city and got some basic information about them. Then he meets with a group of 5 or 6 writers, (either fulltime or freelance, so getting everyone in one place is a pain in the for a start) and allocates 3 alleys to each writer with a brief to do one big (250-300 word), one medium (150) and one small (75) sized review depending on which they find the most interesting.
Writers then go off and visit each place, making notes of the address (Chinese + english), prices, phone number, special features of each Alley as well as the actual review.
At the same time, staff writers write sidebar pieces about the history of Bowling in Shanghai, Chinese phrases related to Bowling, updates on the legality and licensing issues involved with bowling, and some related anecdotes.
The copy comes back, editor sorts out the best reviews, edits them, gets the graphics and photos together, makes a layout, checks it with the printer + whatever else. Submits it to the censorship board for approval, works out how to fill the gaps left by the censor, gets a new layout together, then sends it to the printers.
It's nice to think that everything is written on the back of a barmat because someone tossed a failed english teacher 100RMB for a good review, but pick up a copy of That's and look at how much work actually goes into it*
*err, although not my bit |
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carlon78
Barker
Joined: June 16, 2008
Posts: 125
Location: jing'an/putuo
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Nov 10, 2009 - 04:05 PM |
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| MrPuxi wrote: |
those mags, especially "that's" go WAY back and basically come from a totally different time! how many people here can actually name the real founder of that's? what happened to him and why? i guess not much more than 25%
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I think quite a lot of people know the Kitto story these days, especially since his book came out. Plus every hip young expat worth his salt/blog is jizzing all over his Moganshan "hideaway" lodge. |
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blindeye
Barker
Joined: Oct 19, 2009
Posts: 161
Status: Offline
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Nov 10, 2009 - 04:54 PM |
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Theres always the chance to spend a lovely evening with James Chau.. |
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leidelaohu
Board Lord
Joined: June 11, 2007
Posts: 5751
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Nov 10, 2009 - 05:23 PM |
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| Swiss-James wrote: |
| Alright I've resisited a rant for long enough. Here goes. ... |
Why are they doing a series on bowling ? That was a big deal about eight years ago ... a little behind the times, aren't we ? |
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carlon78
Barker
Joined: June 16, 2008
Posts: 125
Location: jing'an/putuo
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Nov 10, 2009 - 05:33 PM |
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| leidelaohu wrote: |
| Swiss-James wrote: |
| Alright I've resisited a rant for long enough. Here goes. ... |
Why are they doing a series on bowling ? That was a big deal about eight years ago ... a little behind the times, aren't we ? |
He made it clear that bowling was just an example:
| Swiss-James wrote: |
| Right now I'm working on an article that will go into the next issue of That's- (i.e. out December first)- let's say it's about Bowling Alleys (it isn't). |
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臭屁不响，响屁不臭 |
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chingiskhan
Low Seater
Joined: Apr 24, 2007
Posts: 3357
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Nov 10, 2009 - 06:03 PM |
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| leidelaohu wrote: |
| Swiss-James wrote: |
| Alright I've resisited a rant for long enough. Here goes. ... |
Why are they doing a series on bowling ? That was a big deal about eight years ago ... a little behind the times, aren't we ? |
The article is NOT about bowling he used that as an example because he doesn't want to reveal the real topic.
<<let's say it's about Bowling Alleys (it isn't). >> |
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earthtoner
Barker
Joined: Feb 14, 2009
Posts: 159
Location: shanghai
Status: Offline
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Nov 10, 2009 - 07:57 PM |
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I didn't write for SS, CW or any of the other free magazines whilst I was in Shanghai, but I did write for several chinese business magazines; such as Chna Britain Business Council, Connect China Alert and a few Legal Journals.
Writing for these I learnt that it takes a huge amount of input even to write a short simple article and the amount of editorial hoops you have to jump through before getting anything published in hugely frustrating. Any one doing anything to keep these FREE magazines going should be applauded.
I think the important thing to remeber is that these are FREE resources and that anyone can write in with an article if they can be bothered. If you are not happy with the standard of writing, do something about it. |
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life is about love, lost minutes and lost evenings about fire in our bellies and furtive little feelings |
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carlon78
Barker
Joined: June 16, 2008
Posts: 125
Location: jing'an/putuo
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Nov 10, 2009 - 08:54 PM |
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| earthtoner wrote: |
I didn't write for SS, CW or any of the other free magazines whilst I was in Shanghai, but I did write for several chinese business magazines; such as Chna Britain Business Council, Connect China Alert and a few Legal Journals.
Writing for these I learnt that it takes a huge amount of input even to write a short simple article and the amount of editorial hoops you have to jump through before getting anything published in hugely frustrating. Any one doing anything to keep these FREE magazines going should be applauded.
I think the important thing to remeber is that these are FREE resources and that anyone can write in with an article if they can be bothered. If you are not happy with the standard of writing, do something about it. |
I have worked for two of the mags, as well as several websites, and wholeheartedly agree with you. |
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leidelaohu
Board Lord
Joined: June 11, 2007
Posts: 5751
Status: Offline
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Nov 10, 2009 - 08:57 PM |
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| chingiskhan wrote: |
| The article is NOT about bowling he used that as an example because he doesn't want to reveal the real topic. |
I thought you Englishmen were supposed to have a dry and subtle sense of humo(u)r ? |
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