Who's writing the front page articles?

[WillEH]

So, you're not going to refute the other point(s)?

I think I've got my answer then. 🙂

What? Sorry, didn't know you had a super MR tool to see who voted up/down. Care to share?

^ Sarcasim, I know DoctorQ, thanks.

 

[na1577]

The blog section will be a bit more casual in tone as will the topics. I agree the front page should continue to be a very straightforward and factual.

The problem with the front page is that not all of the articles have been straightforward and factual. One of the examples that another forum member gave was the iTunes 11 post.

Other front page articles are acceptable as a whole, but contain inappropriate pieces:

The article's numbers are a little confusing, mostly because of the word "additionally", but here's how we see it breaking down:

Clearly Mr. Christman didn't need 122 copies of Lion, and something has gone awry.

On the other hand, these articles reflect the traditional MacRumors style.

The site is sectioned off on purpose, so you can stick to the front page if you like. We rarely used Page 2 and iPhone blog before, so all the (now) Blog articles are a bonus, and has been intentionally structured to post stories that wouldn't fit the tone of the front page. Such as the Goat story or the iCloud error message screenshots. Yet, these are stories I think are still very interesting... and that has always been the selection criteria for the site

When you launched the redesign you said that Page 2 was being replaced with the iOS and the Mac blogs. The problem is, Page 2 maintained the normal MacRumors style while providing "lesser" news stories. The blogs don't maintain the normal style. They still provide the same information, but with a style that we don't come here to read.

 

[Doctor Q]

What? Sorry, didn't know you had a super MR tool to see who voted up/down. Care to share?

Votes are private. Forum members, including paid members, do not know who voted a post up or down.

And we remind all users to stick to the topic at hand rather than engage in personal feuds, make off-topic posts, or insult other forum members. Such posts will be removed by the moderators.

 

[Theclamshell]

I agree with WillEH. But I have to say, this thread is very entertaining.

 

[arn]

The problem with the front page is that not all of the articles have been straightforward and factual. One of the examples that another forum member gave was the iTunes 11 post.

Yep, I agree the iTunes article was bad.

Other front page articles are acceptable as a whole, but contain inappropriate pieces:

On the other hand, these articles reflect the traditional MacRumors style.

Like I said we've made a lot of progress, and we're still making progress.

When you launched the redesign you said that Page 2 was being replaced with the iOS and the Mac blogs. The problem is, Page 2 maintained the normal MacRumors style while providing "lesser" news stories. The blogs don't maintain the normal style. They still provide the same information, but with a style that we don't come here to read.

The problem with Page 2 was it was neglected. It would go weeks without updating. I don't think we have lost much, if anything.

arn

 

[benhollberg]

In fact, I even sent Jordan an email with lot of feedback since he deleted the part of his post which I replied to.

I believe I have a record of that if anyone wants to see it.

 

[rtdunham]

...I feel that the management is now more concerned with page clicks ...

Since you mentioned it, that's been a real gripe of mine about MR for mobile devices: It's the only one of the several apple news sites I follow that packages comments for mobile in batches of five, requiring another click for every five comments. It makes us, the readers, work harder, just to gather clicks. The other sites don't do that and that makes them much more convenient, more user friendly. There's much I like about MR, but every time i leave the comments sections of a post on my mobile device, I feel like i've been pimped.

 

[jav6454]

I believe I have a record of that if anyone wants to see it.

Please do... I want to see

 

[saving107]

Since you mentioned it, that's been a real gripe of mine about MR for mobile devices: It's the only one of the several apple news sites I follow that packages comments for mobile in batches of five, requiring another click for every five comments. It makes us, the readers, work harder, just to gather clicks. The other sites don't do that and that makes them much more convenient, more user friendly. There's much I like about MR, but every time i leave the comments sections of a post on my mobile device, I feel like i've been pimped.

Now this is being overly dramatic for no apparent reason.

You do realize this can be changed, right?

Can 30 per page help you not feel like you have just been pimped?

 

[jav6454]

Does anyone else not give a crap? Personally, I hope the new writer doesn't let this thread make him upset.

He shouldn't take it personally. He should use this useful feedback to improve himself.

There are several writing styles. Obviously, the one associated with MR is not Jordan's forte, but that doesn't mean he can't learn it.

The issue is, it's a big change since mainly Arn and Eric have done the writing for all these years - they have created the MacRumors style and also made this site popular. Now, a new writer comes with a totally different style. It just doesn't fit in MR IMO. Even though we have sections calles Mac Blog and iOS Blog, I personally think they are more like Page 2s like before, not actual blogs. That is how I view it because we didn't have blogs before. There are already enough Apple blog sites and frankly, I don't think they are all that popular or good, and I don't want MR to become another.

What brought me here to MR was the factual articles and great rumors. I don't read blogs or blog-like sites as I couldn't care less about people's opinions on something. If I want opinions, then I go to sites like AnandTech (yes, I still enjoy most of the articles even though I write for them too, and also did before I joined) where the opinions are always backed up with thorough testing and analysis of the topic, not just a random one-liner that I like or dislike this. From what I have been taught, using the word "I" in academic/serious writing is not allowed, you should use the passive or something more professional.

After all, this is the feedback forum so I think constructive feedback is valid. I'm not expecting or hoping Jordan to be fired but that Arn or someone else would talk with him about his writing style and what is MR's style. If Arn thinks Jordan's articles are good and what he wants, then fine, I guess we have to accept that. There have been good articles by him too but there are quite a few ones that at least I didn't like.

Paragraph 1: Agreed. Many, if not all, his posts are blog-like. To read personal remarks about stuff, I have Gizmodo, Engadget, and even 9to5mac.

Paragraph 2: Exactly. The articles in MR have always been reporting what was said, who said, when it was said, where it was said and how it was said. Nothing in them has ever had 'me' or 'I'.

Paragraph 3: Very well said. I don't hope he gets fired or yelled at. But at this point in the deal, I did have high expectations considering the age of this thread (started June 6!) and the time that has passed. I think 2 months is enough time to have adjusted to a new writing style. However, this seems not the case, and in fact is getting worse as seen by many of my examples. So I ask to please have a talk with the guy to help him out.

If that's what I wanted to read, I'd be over at 9to5Mac.

Well said.

As I said in another thread, my email address is at the bottom of every page. I enjoy any and all feedback: jlgolson@macrumors.com

It's been a big switch to writing a more newsy style instead of the slightly more free-for-all style that I'm used to from the numerous other organizations that I've written for.

Writing is not easy and I'm working hard at it.

For the vocal minority, feel free to keep writing histrionic posts about how awful I am.

For everyone else, thanks for reading!

Very unprofessional. Your response seems more like a "as if I care what these clowns have to say", than a "thanks for the feedback, I realize its harsh, but I understand your expectations and points of view. Just give me some time to adjust."

I also think its more of a vocal majority than minority complaining about your posts. Proof of that is this thread that keeps growing and growing and growing. Also, this is the same thread, not another. Just goes to show it's a majority not minority.

Your past experience is relevant in the past, and when looking for a new job. At the new job you have to either adapt or leave. This is true everywhere. If you don't learn to adapt to new conditions or requirements in your new job (anywhere you go), you are dismissed. Here, it is not that we hate your style. The issue is, that we are not looking to read your specific style of writing in this type of site. Again, you have to adapt.

This is a terrible and extremely unprofessional way for one of MacRumors' front-pagers or a member of staff to receive and publicly feed back on well-reasoned criticism.

I couldn't agree more. Honestly, its as if he was just stating "I don't care about your remarks!"

Sorry, but THAT isn't "well-reasoned, level-headed criticism." Most of it simply boils down to just being an ass.

Perhaps instead of trying to berate him, try offering up actual pieces of advice without being so toxic.

Sorry, but cutting, dicing and slicing my post to suit your needs does not help your argument. I made clear examples and backed out my opinion. Just like the people at any argumentative place do. So, please don't treat me as a toxic slander spreader. You will just make yourself look foolish.

There have been many posts with reasonable criticism. I didn't feel like repeating everything when jav6454 already hit the head of the nail with his post. It was also a bit problematic to provide constructive feedback when we didn't know will the word travel to Jordan, but now it looks like it does.

In fact, I even sent Jordan an email with lot of feedback since he deleted the part of his post which I replied to.

Thank you for this Hellhammer.

 

[Cartaphilus]

I just wanted to get back to this and congratulate Jordan on the new position, and on a very well-written article concerning the Senator Franken bill....

I am among those who wouldn't like to see the style of the news articles change, and I too found some of Jordan's early stylistic choices unfortunate. Nonetheless, the article reporting on the Franken location privacy bill was indeed crisp and informative, vindicating Arn's judgment of writing talent.

 

[BigPrince]

Perhaps keep the writer in question off the front page and dedicate him the "blog" part of the site.

 

[arn]

Very well said. I don't hope he gets fired or yelled at. But at this point in the deal, I did have high expectations considering the age of this thread (started June 6!) and the time that has passed. I think 2 months is enough time to have adjusted to a new writing style. However, this seems not the case, and in fact is getting worse as seen by many of my examples. So I ask to please have a talk with the guy to help him out.

I've talked to him about it, and specifically about the recent posts. Does that help?

arn

 

[benhollberg]

Please do... I want to see

I can forward you the emails if you like.

 

[jav6454]

I've talked to him about it, and specifically about the recent posts. Does that help?

arn

Yes, thank you. It actually does. Knowing you talked to him is good to know since it means we get heard and are not left with the poor written response from Jordan as last comment on the subject.

I can forward you the emails if you like.

I believe you can email them to me via MR user name email system.

 

[Anaemik]

Jordan,

No comments on your writing style here, but one thing that you may find handy in your writing is the keyboard shortcut Shift+Opt "-". This will produce an em dash — which will save you having to use double hyphens in order to delineate your thoughts within a sentence.

I know it's only a small thing but it's something that you may find helpful in better achieving the effect you were aiming for with your use of "--". To my eye it certainly looks more journalistic.

This post was genuinely intended to be helpful so hopefully it didn't come off as condescending.

More on the use of dashes here.

 

[Phil A.]

Since you mentioned it, that's been a real gripe of mine about MR for mobile devices: It's the only one of the several apple news sites I follow that packages comments for mobile in batches of five, requiring another click for every five comments. It makes us, the readers, work harder, just to gather clicks. The other sites don't do that and that makes them much more convenient, more user friendly. There's much I like about MR, but every time i leave the comments sections of a post on my mobile device, I feel like i've been pimped.

You can change that to anything you want up to 30 - from the forum tab on the mobile site, select My Prefs then Post Options then enter the number of posts you want to see on each page

 

[tgildred]

See, this is what happens Apple goes too long without an iPhone update. The faithful get restless and begin to turn on each other.

 

[JDee]

Hi guys,

I agree that there is an immediate signal given off whenever I'm reading an article that is written by Jordan. His writing style is different, I'll give you that.

I think it's important here that we know what we're talking about. Some of you are saying he is unprofessional whenever you are the ones flaming him and basically telling him to leave?

The guy needs to adjust. Disagree with me all you want. Jordan will eventually get the jist of the writing style of the original MacRumors style.

For those of you giving off - just relax. Be nice to the guy - he's only human.

Sure - I may think the articles are horrible but anything is possible and I have full confidence in Jordan and am sure he can master the MacRumors writing style.

How about you guys give him until October? Relax - it's not the end of the world.

 

[Apple OC]

Hi guys,

I agree that there is an immediate signal given off whenever I'm reading an article that is written by Jordan. His writing style is different, I'll give you that.

I think it's important here that we know what we're talking about. Some of you are saying he is unprofessional whenever you are the ones flaming him and basically telling him to leave?

The guy needs to adjust. Disagree with me all you want. Jordan will eventually get the jist of the writing style of the original MacRumors style.

For those of you giving off - just relax. Be nice to the guy - he's only human.

Sure - I may think the articles are horrible but anything is possible and I have full confidence in Jordan and am sure he can master the MacRumors writing style.

How about you guys give him until October? Relax - it's not the end of the world.

I see you tell people to be nice to him while stating in the next sentence "Sure - I may think the articles are horrible"

Everyone's writing style is different ... I am sure other people are fine with his writing. ... people flogging this guy should do so in a PM ... not here.

 

[WillEH]

I see you tell people to be nice to him while stating in the next sentence "Sure - I may think the articles are horrible"

Everyone's writing style is different ... I am sure other people are fine with his writing. ... people flogging this guy should do so in a PM ... not here.

Hey Apple.

I think most people are fine with his writing style. The select few who like to pick at petty things are the one's who keep making a fuss. Users who want MR to be like what it was 5-6 years ago. Unhappy that a fresh new writer comes in, spices things up a little. Out of the 100's/1000's that read it, I'm pretty sure about 2 people complain about the writing style. Make a thread like this, and they all come out in force to hang Jordan.

It seems again to be the same older members (with the exception of a very small amount of newer members) who are complaining about the certain issue over and over. Most article's Jordan writes, one of the older members has a smart ass comment to make about his writing. Personally I think it's pathetic. If they really have nothing better to do than rip apart someone's post, they must have a very boring life. No doubt this will not be the last we hear of this 🙄

So it comes to either keeping a few nit picking people happy, or 1000's of regular readers who have no problem with Jordan's articles.... hmmm.

Last time I checked, I came to MR to read news, not mark it.

Just my other 50pence.

 

[andalusia]

Hey Apple.

I think most people are fine with his writing style. The select few who like to pick at petty things are the one's who keep making a fuss. Users who want MR to be like what it was 5-6 years ago. Unhappy that a fresh new writer comes in, spices things up a little. Out of the 100's/1000's that read it, I'm pretty sure about 2 people complain about the writing style. Make a thread like this, and they all come out in force to hang Jordan.

It seems again to be the same older members (with the exception of a very small amount of newer members) who are complaining about the certain issue over and over. Most article's Jordan writes, one of the older members has a smart ass comment to make about his writing. Personally I think it's pathetic. If they really have nothing better to do than rip apart someone's post, they must have a very boring life. No doubt this will not be the last we hear of this 🙄

So it comes to either keeping a few nit picking people happy, or 1000's of regular readers who have no problem with Jordan's articles.... hmmm.

Last time I checked, I came to MR to read news, not mark it.

Just my other 50pence.

You say you come here to read news; so do most people. Some people want a certain level of standard when they read said news. You clearly have a different opinion. That doesn't mean that other people are wrong, and that they don't have a life, just because they complain about something they aren't happy with. It's all about opinion, and everybody is entitled to it. Including you.

However I think you've said enough. I'm sure everybody understands exactly how you feel- there is no need to keep repeating yourself. How can you accuse others of having no life when you're actually spending a lot of time counter-arguing them in this very thread? 🙄



As for my own opinion on the thread topic, I hope that the new writer adjusts to the style MacRumors has employed for a number of years, and that he takes on board every bit of advice offered to him to make himself a better writer for the future.

 

[WillEH]

You say you come here to read news; so do most people. Some people want a certain level of standard when they read said news. You clearly have a different opinion. That doesn't mean that other people are wrong, and that they don't have a life, just because they complain about something they aren't happy with. It's all about opinion, and everybody is entitled to it. Including you.

However I think you've said enough. I'm sure everybody understands exactly how you feel- there is no need to keep repeating yourself. How can you accuse others of having no life when you're actually spending a lot of time counter-arguing them in this very thread? 🙄



As for my own opinion on the thread topic, I hope that the new writer adjusts to the style MacRumors has employed for a number of years, and that he takes on board every bit of advice offered to him to make himself a better writer for the future.

Was just stating my opinion also. As you said, everybody is entitled, and that's what I think. Thanks for replying to me 🙂

Just on my post also, you mis quoted some information, I never said they had no life, but I felt they had a boring life. I also haven't repeated myself before, so not sure where that comment came from. Of course other people are allowed a opinion, I just feel that the majority of the readers have no issue with Jordan's articles. As I said, the standard is okay for me. Again it comes down to keeping a few people happy, or lot's of people happy. I've also heard in the past Arn and Eric have made a few bad posts, spelling mistakes, etc (we're only human) yet no one made threads on them, etc. I just think it's something for people to pass the time.

Honestly, by the past comments, people made it like they wanted Arn to get rid of him. Which is pretty ridiculous.

The comments in this thread, are making out Jordan is a bad writer. Arn must of picked him for a reason. The first time I ever heard someone moan about the article was in this thread. If it isn't broken, don't fix it?

No more for me to say about this.

 

[CalBoy]

I don't mean to nitpick or revive this thread unnecessarily, but I think this is an example of simple carelessness:

MacRumors reader Michael after he had his iPhone replaced at an Apple Retail Store. After the first App Store purchase on the replaced phone, he received the above email.

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/13147437/

Typos and other simple errors are also still relatively common. I think something like this could have easily been caught with a quick once-over.

 

[Doctor Q]

All of our editors suffer from typos here and there. It's a fast-paced site.

I do article proofreading and I sometimes rush the job and miss typos too. Sorry.

I notice more and more typos in major printed newspapers these days. As they've cut back staff proofreaders were apparently among the first to go!