Let's fix The Spoke

banquo · 21-01-2009 11:06AM #1

Every year, you pay in advance with your registration fee the running costs of The Spoke. Some of us think that it has failed in the hands of those who have managed it thus far, and that it needs a complete overhaul.

If you think The Spoke is fine, and that those who have slaved over it in the past are earning the money you pay them, that an SU 'insider' who claims to have "slaved over articles" and sees being its editor as ''serving time'' has your interests at heart, will renew The Spoke, overhaul the website, make the SU online forum public for suggestions, start fresh with an intelligent and well defined newspaper layout, publish bus and train timetables as they're updated every month, publish bargain alerts and job ads from Maynooth and nearby towns, give readers something decent to put on their bare dorm walls, or even acknowledge our 3,500 commuters with genuine 'Commuter Section', then you should vote for somebody else.

But if you think we're right, that the editor of The Spoke should explore what a student wants from their university newspaper, and put it together in a practical, common sense way, then I ask for your vote on election day.

My name is Robert Munnelly. I'm running for VP of Communications and Development.

I'm in 3BMus. For the last 2 years, as an adult literacy tutor in Coolock, I learned how powerful to a person a new skill can be. As a co-editor and regular contributor to the music magazine the ""]Midland Music Guide", I got a real lesson in managing a professional publication, and shared with my colleagues the ambition that any publication can be made a thing of envy.

Our manifesto is a living document, growing with each good idea. These are some of the features you'll see when, if elected, I will renew The Spoke.

Your World:

• University news
• Local news
• Not only Student union news, but also student news from outside the Union

---

Studies and College:

• A section to let regular students publish their good ideas for the college. Should the college have power stations for mobiles and mp3 players? Let everyone hear your suggestion. Nobody knows better than students how the college can adapt to their work flow better, and The Spoke can be a new platform to voice our innovations and suggestions

• Publish monthly "How To" sections that really benefit students. Did you know that you can renew a library book online? Ever heard of Google Documents? How many 1st year mature students seize up at the thought of writing an essay? Every month we will publish these and other useful tutorials

• List useful resources that only some students have heard of, and lecturers have never heard of. Google Books, Scholar and Documents. Sibelius for music students. We'll list the best books and tutorial websites for all the subjects you bring to our attention

---

Money and work:

• Job Ads. Every month before we go to the press, we'll send a scout to Maynooth, Leixlip, Clane, Celbridge and all neighbour towns to look for 'Staff Wanted' ads. We'll scan newspapers and websites for jobs posted, and every job we find we'll bring to you in The Spoke

• Bargain Alerts. As with we will with jobs, we'll scout out and print for you the bargains in Tesco and Dunnes, stationary deals in Easons, the best thesis printing prices, and every bargain from every store in Maynooth.

• A student ''Buy and Sell'' section for books, notes, grinds, iPods, and everything reasonable

• For Post-Graduate students, we'll post all the news and details of fairs, seminars and open days we can get our hands on

• A section where law students can offer advice your work-related disputes, and answer questions

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Student Life:

• Recipes for lazy people. Recipes to impress the girlfriend. Recipes tailored for athletes. Recipes for those who want to lose weight healthily

• A pull-out poster for your bare dorm wall every month

• For the 3,500 students who commute, you'll have a special Commuter Section, full of trivia, puzzles, crosswords - anything to keep you amused on the Calcutta Express

• Bus and Train timetables, updated every month

• News and reviews of films, bands, events

• Competitions

• Gonzo journalism, and a much fun stuff as we can get our grubby little hands on

---

Transparency:

• Tell us how we're doing. Each month I'll blog showing what we earned and what we spent. The decisions we made and didn't make. I'll make the SU forum open to everyone with a NUIM username and password and you can let us know what you do and don't like, what you think should be included and what should be scrapped

• Wider distribution will play a part in The Spoke

• My real world experience has taught me that change costs money. To this end, I’ll be reinvesting my first month’s wages back into The Spoke to pay for all the changes we need

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A Useful website:

134 members on Facebook, 536 on Bebo, and a useless website that nobody knows about – this has been the SU’s vision for the world.
As VP Comms, I will completely overhaul the SU website and internet presence with an RSS feed, a public bulletin board, and practical wisdom.

----

Let's fix The Spoke.

I am of course open to all suggestions for features.

In the meantime I want to thank all of you for your time, for your suggestions, your encouragement, and for your honest belief that we can really make this office work harder for those it serves. And I look forward to continuing our conversation in the weeks to come.

And a special thanks to Lolth for his permission to post here.

These went up this morning.

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=45847614029&topic=6508

Bebo:http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=8495966172

Let’s Fix the Spoke.

Thank you.

Holsten · 21-01-2009 11:07AM

Nice post!

Some great ideas there too.

banquo · 21-01-2009 11:11AM

Holsten wrote: »

Some great ideas there too.

Thank you Holsten. Please feel free to add your own.

Vote and they'll happen. There's no other way.

Rozabeez · 21-01-2009 01:34PM

I dunnooo... Eoin Byrne is seeming a lot cooler since the removal of the 'tash.

Best of luck Banquo, I'll sit back and watch a little before making up my mind.

Norrdeth · 21-01-2009 03:13PM

Exellent!
Good manifesto, my vote is for new spoke!

Ostrom · 21-01-2009 03:35PM

Change it back to good ol' bog roll newspaper and you have my support

Rozabeez · 21-01-2009 03:36PM

No more glossy paper, we're in a recession!

Ostrom · 21-01-2009 06:13PM

Rozabeez wrote: »

No more glossy paper, we're in a recession!

Back to the good old days of the yellow pages paper

banquo · 21-01-2009 07:29PM

It will be a newspaper.

We're working really really hard on this. If you've any ideas or want to be part of the team for the new Spoke then join us on facebook or bebo, or PM me.

Thanks.

redenemyjoe · 21-01-2009 07:29PM

Where do I sign?!

brianthebard · 21-01-2009 08:13PM

Its all been promised before. The first issue will be good (perhaps) and then reality will hit and you'll find out how hard it is to do a paper, and how hard it is to get any submissions never mind quality ones. But I'll let you find that out for yourself.

banquo · 21-01-2009 09:07PM

Brian,

Believe me, I know how hard it is to get submissions, and quality ones at that. But a good editor can revise bad language into a good article - that's what I did at the MMG, and that's what I'll do at The Spoke.

*Rob

Aldebaran · 22-01-2009 02:07AM

Yes we can!

banquo · 22-01-2009 02:30AM

Heh. Though cliched, I applaud the sentiment.

PrivateEye · 22-01-2009 08:20PM

I freaked a little in the thread on the canteen workers, but I actually think your ideas for The Spoke are very good mate. It needs a mega-revamp and the current magazine is falling behind what I consider topclass student journalism from both DCU and the great unwashed out in Belfield. Student journalism can be very good if it remains independent, doesn't become merely a 'Heres what the S.U/N.U.I Bosses did this week' rundown.

Both Vincent Browne and Flann O' Brien began their writing days with student magazines. I've picked up a few student magazines/newspapers from around Europe through different Lib.Soc/Anarchist societies and the standards seem very high compared to at home truthfully. A diversity of opinion is essential, and its important the issues remain relevant to the student body- even beond the walls of their own campus. If I wanted a magazine with Obama on the front, I'd buy Time. Whereas the UCD paper has pushed the President out there on issues of college fianances before, we have the President of the U.S on the front of our paper, which is irrelevant at best to us as students.

At the minute, something on:
*Claiming social welfare for the first time if you're just out of work, how to deal with the loss of your income etc.

*Students in Europe who are protesting similar education cuts etc. to here, an interview for example.

Would be interesting.

http://www.universityobserver.ie/section/news/
^The best student paper in Ireland (that I've read!) at the minute.

You've a bit of ambition for it mate, best of luck. I think R.Duffys done a good job with the magazine in so far as is possible without any radical change, and I don't think The Spoke as is is terrible. It just needs new direction. Some features of it, like the Canteen Cor. are actually fantastic and worth picking up a copy for. Theres nothing stopping me submitting articles to the paper as is, so I don't want to insult anyone who does submit pieces.

**People who've been around longer than me: Was there another student newspaper? If so...what happened? and to banquo...would you not consider starting another publication altogether?

banquo · 22-01-2009 11:43PM

PrivateEye wrote: »

to banquo...would you not consider starting another publication altogether?

PrivateEye,

We considered this, and we figured that if the demand was there for an NUIM publication built on the fundamentals that The Spoke was missing, then that publication had might as well be The Spoke itself. A new newspaper would almost certainly need to charge to pay for itself, when we already pay for The Spoke out of our registration fee.

LightningBolt · 23-01-2009 03:18AM

• Job Ads. Every month before we go to the press, we'll send a scout to Maynooth, Leixlip, Clane, Celbridge and all neighbour towns to look for 'Staff Wanted' ads. We'll scan newspapers and websites for jobs posted, and every job we find we'll bring to you in The Spoke

I think most of what you've said is spot on. However I'd leave out the jobs section on a print format. If you're doing a one month lead in you're gonna have outdated jobs. If possible stick em up online, there's a guy here on boards who advertises student jobs. Maybe look to have them posted there.

Hand_Of_Steel · 23-01-2009 06:18PM

I'll leave aside the fact that you completely ignore 50% of the portfolio you are running for, (which I presume means that there will be no campaigns if you are elected) and offer you a piece of advice.
If you want to make a real change to the spoke, then outsource its production. Its the production that takes up the most time, as it is a very technical job with strict criterion that have to be met. It requires somebody with technical ability and skill to produce a paper that is both technically acceptable and aesthetically pleasing, skills that most students in NUIM do not have and do not learn in their course, and the in job training(aka the adobe creative suit in a day) doesn't really help. Journalism Does Not Equal Publications. You cannot expect the people that follow after you to have the skills you might have, or learned. Make the move that will streamline The Spoke well into the future.
Move the production would also mean that you have a quality product and you free up time to produce even better campaigns (maybe you should look into them. Kind of important. Might look a bit foolish at hustings).
And remember, the position is for communications, not editor. Don't limit yourself to The Spoke. And don't be afraid to redefine the position by creating new ways of communication

and a critism

I’ll be reinvesting my first month’s wages back into The Spoke to pay for all the changes we need"
This is redicilus enough to make me not vote for you.

Ostrom · 23-01-2009 06:36PM

If you follow through on this, the college will thank you. I'm sorry to say that I have heard every promise going over the last five years, so I hope you do.

Also, I recommend getting in touch with DCU. They have an active society, (I know they have a dedicated journalism degree, but many of the contributors are from different faculties and courses).

They run it like a proper newsroom with sub-editors and proper sponsorship, and publish good critical pieces.

No harm having a word with them, I had some of them this semester and they are a great bunch

banquo · 23-01-2009 06:56PM

LightningBolt wrote: »

I think most of what you've said is spot on. However I'd leave out the jobs section on a print format. If you're doing a one month lead in you're gonna have outdated jobs. If possible stick em up online, there's a guy here on boards who advertises student jobs. Maybe look to have them posted there.

These and other features will be part of the SU's online presence. We hope to make it a go-to place for strictly student oriented jobs, ads, etc.

banquo · 23-01-2009 09:51PM

efla wrote: »

Change it back to good ol' bog roll newspaper and you have my support

Our new Spoke newspaper will be printed on recycled - and recyclable! - paper.

banquo · 25-01-2009 04:45AM

We now have a blog, at letsfixthespoke.blogspot.com.

More ideas to come, and you'll find them there, bebo and on facebook.

*Rob

*Tripper* · 25-01-2009 11:32AM

Banquo don't take this to personally but that blog was written terribly. Your not going to be successful in you campaign for comms if you don't write more clearly and concisely.

Effluo · 25-01-2009 04:33PM

Hurrah!

The spoke right now is best left unheard....
And i would welcome any kind of change, I believe we should offer our support to anyone who shows the inititive to change this paper. We should offer support rather than say how difficult it will be to change it.

GodSpeed Robert "Obama" Munnelly.
Seriously though you would have my vote if indeed I knew how to vote!

banquo · 25-01-2009 06:58PM

Voting day for this an all other positions is 25th Feb (I'm sure someone from the SU will post the details here)

Edit:

Actually, they probably won't. I'll put up a link here to the NUIMSE.com election page when it comes to election time.

banquo · 26-01-2009 12:39AM

Effluo wrote: »

Hurrah!

The spoke right now is best left unheard....
And i would welcome any kind of change, I believe we should offer our support to anyone who shows the inititive to change this paper. We should offer support rather than say how difficult it will be to change it.

GodSpeed Robert "Obama" Munnelly.
Seriously though you would have my vote if indeed I knew how to vote!

Thank you, Effluo. It means a lot to me that there are people out there who agree that an award-winning university deserves an award-winning newspaper.

cython · 26-01-2009 11:24AM

Some good ideas there alright, but I don't think there's much that we haven't been promised before, and then had disappear once the Exec got into office, or once the VP C&D realised how much it would take to deliver on every promise. In fact some of those appeared in the first couple of issues of the Spoke in some years, and then disappeared.

Call me jaded/cynical/whatever, but I'd like to see a bit more of an implementation plan before you'd win my vote. Candidates promising the earth, without fully thinking out the delivery, while it has gotten people elected in the past, has also resulted in people's low opinion of the SU, at least in part.

LeixlipRed · 26-01-2009 03:12PM

I'd rather listen to the Radiohead song electioneering than pay attention to some of the guff in this thread. Also, I can't vote anymore. Ignore this post...

conf101 · 29-01-2009 02:05AM

I admire your desire to improve the spoke but as has already been said alot of this stuff has been promised before and then once the vp's get into office it doesn't happen! Also I know from previous elections that being overly critical of the current spoke/vp c&d doesn't sit too well with alot of students, particularly ones that tend to vote in elections. I'm not suggesting that you shower praise where it's undeserving but just be careful what you say.

heartwork93 · 29-01-2009 03:44AM

I'd like to see more of a political input into the spoke. The articles on the US presidential election is all good on a global scale but I'd like to see more Irish issues in there.

And I'd like to see both sides of the story. Might I suggest recruiting two political analysts, one left wing, one right wing, each with a broad understanding of the spectrum.
Each month they would write small, easy to read, debate inspired articles on their opposing opinions on topics like the recession, government corruption, Northern Ireland, etc. Each topic would be chosen in light of recent events, so as to draw more attention.
A poll can be held online (bebo) over which article people preferred, and the results are displayed in the next month's newspaper.
And it can be given a real hardcore debating theme, like a head-to-head boxing match poster. Both of the writers would have their own visual banner or something. I dunno. Could give in a bit of an exciting feel to it, even if it's just to draw people's heads away from mind-numbing reality television.
During the boom, people's belly's were full, but their minds were empty. Now the recession has arrived people might actually take an interest in this government again.

Just my two pennies.

On an entirely different note, how about making an ad for The Spoke and put it on Youtube? Its' kind of sad to see no professional videos of Maynooth on the 'tube.

theredletter · 30-01-2009 12:16AM

You're ideas for the Spoke seem good but you are totally forgetting the other half of your job which is development. The fact that nothing regarding development is in your manifesto worries me. The Comms and Dev Officer has to do more than act as a communications man, but help out at various committess (including Union Council).

I'm open to voting for you as I haven't made my mind up as of yet, so try to satisfy what your position is (look in the constitution if you have to) before you campaign.

And you won't get any good articles. Rewriting them entirely is the only way you'll get good writers in Maynooth. Media studies students are the closest thing to journalists, but they don't do any actual text journalism in their course.

That month's wage deal sounds desperate to be honest. If you want to go down that road, I'd suggest giving out a sample Spoke (get it printed yourself) with an original title and have your manifesto in it. Just a thought.

Good luck.

Let's fix The Spoke

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