RPInsider

You guys should be the new online face of the poly. But seriously.

It’s not that hard to update The Poly website anymore even … Editors generally just don’t want to do the one extra task to get the information website ready, so that’s why it doesn’t get updated.

Even then, I’m sure this scanning didn’t take too long for you guys to do

From someone actually at the Poly: It’s less about editors not wanting to do the task, and more about it not getting uploaded by the web coordinator when he’s sent the files.

Wow this is incredible. The Poly’s online presence needs to take notes and get their act together…

What is the point of distributing a print version anymore? Every time that I see an issue of the Poly it is on top of a huge pile of unclaimed issues. If they can’t even get people to take free print copies of it, then there’s no reason not to move it to an online-only newspaper (except, of course, the unwarranted sense of self-importance that seems to accompany everything that the Poly does). Here’s a hint: making tons of copies of a newspaper that so few people read isn’t very “green”.

Then again, when your organization is so poorly structured that a volunteer-run blog like RPInsider can break your news stories online before you can get your own web coordinator to do anything, it’s probably time to call it a day.

@Kelly Lottman

I think the web coordinator might disagree with that.

@Jim

RPInsider wouldn’t *have* a story to break in this case if it wasn’t for The Poly doing the legwork first. Everyone has their problems, and The Poly is no exception. I think you’ll find that you’re better off with them, with their flawed structure, and with their self importance than you would be without them.

Yeah, I read one issue of the Poly the whole way through. That’s why I don’t read the Poly anymore. I’d be no worse off if they ceased publication tomorrow.

Not only is this blog written better than most of what’s in the Poly, but it’s updated more regularly. The point is, there’s no reason for people to continue the print version of that dead newspaper at all. A site like this, or at least something of a similar form, could easily take over the role of disseminating news to the student body faster than a print newspaper ever could (and without all the wasted paper from all the unread copies piling up everywhere). Same goes for S&W.

@Jim

I do think the quality of The Poly over the past few years has declined (and yes, one of those was my fault), but it’s because the staff is overworked. The website should be updated more regularly, but if you don’t see it working for you, why don’t you write something directly to them instead of posting n a blog? *Constructive* criticism does help.

And yes, members of the staff can be self important, but I don’t think anyone on staff would state that the paper is perfect and can’t use with some improvement.

Just don’t sit somewhere and complain when you don’t do anything to help them.

@Cara R
You are ridiculous. Let me see if I’ve got this right. What you’re asking is: why don’t I, someone not involved with the Poly at all, write something directly to the people at the Poly about how bad of a job they’re doing?

The answer is that it’s not my job to tell you folks how bad of a job you’re doing. I would’ve thought that the big piles of unread copies of the Poly laying around everywhere made the situation clear enough, although clearly I was wrong in that regard. Big piles of newspapers everywhere means people care so little about what you’re saying that they can’t be bothered to even take a free copy.

Just because you don’t like what I’m saying doesn’t mean that it’s all of a sudden my responsibility to fix your problems for you. I don’t owe the Poly anything, and I would only offer constructive criticism if I wanted to be constructive.

I’ll also add that I don’t have an issue with any of staff members individually. My point was just that the Poly, and the people around it, attach a gravitas to it that is totally unwarranted given how silly it is.

Finally, I would think as someone who is at least nominally interested in journalism that you would appreciate the obvious fallacy that lies in the statement “Just don’t sit somewhere and complain when you don’t do anything to help them.” My lack of involvement with your little Hindenburg doesn’t magically make my criticism any less valid.

Paper will never die!
http://justcreativedesign.com/2008/07/03/a-passion-for-paper/
The paper is an extremely important device and to have it die would be a shame. I’d rather help them better serve the student body though than heckle their efforts.
I do agree that they should print less copies and that they attach a sometimes annoying gravitas to what they do though.

@Jim

I’m ridiculous, huh? I’ve gotten a fair deal of criticism, but I’m actually quite amused with “ridiculous.”

First of all, I don’t like the “you” and “your” thing going on here. I’m only talking as an ex-editor so don’t direct your angst at me. It’s far from being in any way, shape, or form *MY* “Hindenburg.” My opinions aren’t wanted on The Poly anymore, so I’m speaking as someone *formerly* involved. Talk about fallacy on your end.

I know the newspaper industry is a dying business, but what other medium could you use to distract you in class with a sudoku or crossword puzzle without being obvious? I think paper will always have a place at RPI … albeit not at 6,000 copies as you so dutifully pointed out here.

Anyway, I’m not saying write an email complaining to them … generally *constructive* criticism doesn’t involve doing so. Maybe just jot a note about ways they could improve so that you would actually want to look at it. Also, you spent all this space criticizing The Poly on here. So how much harder would it have been to put that in an email to the editor? And if you have such a gripe against it, why waste your time here detailing reasons you don’t like it anyway??

And since you seem to exude such wisdom on the topic, I’m sure that everyone at The Poly would be bowing down to hear your sage advice, if it was ever offered.

Cara R :
Anyway, I’m not saying write an email complaining to them … generally *constructive* criticism doesn’t involve doing so. Maybe just jot a note about ways they could improve so that you would actually want to look at it. Also, you spent all this space criticizing The Poly on here. So how much harder would it have been to put that in an email to the editor? And if you have such a gripe against it, why waste your time here detailing reasons you don’t like it anyway??

I think its kind of nice to have criticism out in the open. I just wish it was less adversarial.