Dismal editorial content
Discussion
PH editorial has always been a poor afterthought.
Motor-Talk, the German version of PH, has fantastic motoring news, views and reader interactions and competitions, alongside its forum.
Even with having to call on Google Translate for the words I don't know, it's a more informative read than anything produced here.
Motor-Talk, the German version of PH, has fantastic motoring news, views and reader interactions and competitions, alongside its forum.
Even with having to call on Google Translate for the words I don't know, it's a more informative read than anything produced here.
Gotta laugh - I was about to post the same thing about the level of journalism on here.
Half the articles now are almost copy-and-pastes of corporate press releases - look at the 4ws article which is clearly a plug for ZF and contains zero research at all.
...and half the rest are links to someone else's content - PH seem to have recently discovered Petrolicious, for example (better late than never).
...which all makes me think that PH are leading in the 'race to the bottom' for auto journalism. I wonder what Haymarket actually pay / whether they've deliberately recruited inexperienced hires but then forgotten to give them training and mentoring?!?
Half the articles now are almost copy-and-pastes of corporate press releases - look at the 4ws article which is clearly a plug for ZF and contains zero research at all.
...and half the rest are links to someone else's content - PH seem to have recently discovered Petrolicious, for example (better late than never).
...which all makes me think that PH are leading in the 'race to the bottom' for auto journalism. I wonder what Haymarket actually pay / whether they've deliberately recruited inexperienced hires but then forgotten to give them training and mentoring?!?
Yes, dreadful. There was one recently about the new Polo GTI. Lots of info about driving it on a track (where no Polo GTI driver will ever ever venture). Zero about how it drives on an actual road. Hopeless, but a nice jolly for whoever got to go and play I guess.
Fortunately Car Magazine gave a good review for actual grown ups in the latest issue.
Did you ever see PistonHeads TV?
Fortunately Car Magazine gave a good review for actual grown ups in the latest issue.
Did you ever see PistonHeads TV?

Surely this thread
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
It was as though no-one had read the best lease car deals thread
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
It was as though no-one had read the best lease car deals thread
2 or 3 years ago when Stuart and Paul were in control PH was obviously funded, with IT support, admin and journalists.
I rather suspect it is now held together by Jack, with IT support from the geeks when they have time, and the odd Haymarket junior journalist told to write something for content.
In summary I think Haymarket have given up, and don't really care about the site anymore. Perhaps it needs a membership buyout...
I rather suspect it is now held together by Jack, with IT support from the geeks when they have time, and the odd Haymarket junior journalist told to write something for content.
In summary I think Haymarket have given up, and don't really care about the site anymore. Perhaps it needs a membership buyout...
surveyor said:
2 or 3 years ago when Stuart and Paul were in control PH was obviously funded, with IT support, admin and journalists.
I rather suspect it is now held together by Jack, with IT support from the geeks when they have time, and the odd Haymarket junior journalist told to write something for content.
In summary I think Haymarket have given up, and don't really care about the site anymore. Perhaps it needs a membership buyout...
I don't think there is anyone that runs PH day to day now. Although Lee is in overall charge of PH, he also runs the digital side of Haymarket - though Stuart did as well - I think there's more to do in that side of the job now than there used to be, so Lee doesn't have the time to be as involved as Stuart was. And of course PH doesn't have any techies anymore as they've all been moved across to the digital side of Haymarket.I rather suspect it is now held together by Jack, with IT support from the geeks when they have time, and the odd Haymarket junior journalist told to write something for content.
In summary I think Haymarket have given up, and don't really care about the site anymore. Perhaps it needs a membership buyout...
I have no idea if anyone has replaced Dan Trent, as there hasn't been any announcement of a new Editor. So I think that just leaves Matt as the only PH journalist now. I think PH's budget has been reduced, and Haymarket only want to use PH as a cash cow. I don't think Haymarket has any intention to sell PH unfortunately, as PH just makes too much money for them.
14 said:
surveyor said:
2 or 3 years ago when Stuart and Paul were in control PH was obviously funded, with IT support, admin and journalists.
I rather suspect it is now held together by Jack, with IT support from the geeks when they have time, and the odd Haymarket junior journalist told to write something for content.
In summary I think Haymarket have given up, and don't really care about the site anymore. Perhaps it needs a membership buyout...
I don't think there is anyone that runs PH day to day now. Although Lee is in overall charge of PH, he also runs the digital side of Haymarket - though Stuart did as well - I think there's more to do in that side of the job now than there used to be, so Lee doesn't have the time to be as involved as Stuart was. And of course PH doesn't have any techies anymore as they've all been moved across to the digital side of Haymarket.I rather suspect it is now held together by Jack, with IT support from the geeks when they have time, and the odd Haymarket junior journalist told to write something for content.
In summary I think Haymarket have given up, and don't really care about the site anymore. Perhaps it needs a membership buyout...
I have no idea if anyone has replaced Dan Trent, as there hasn't been any announcement of a new Editor. So I think that just leaves Matt as the only PH journalist now. I think PH's budget has been reduced, and Haymarket only want to use PH as a cash cow. I don't think Haymarket has any intention to sell PH unfortunately, as PH just makes too much money for them.
Who do you thinks funding it to keep it here for us?
saaby93 said:
14 said:
surveyor said:
2 or 3 years ago when Stuart and Paul were in control PH was obviously funded, with IT support, admin and journalists.
I rather suspect it is now held together by Jack, with IT support from the geeks when they have time, and the odd Haymarket junior journalist told to write something for content.
In summary I think Haymarket have given up, and don't really care about the site anymore. Perhaps it needs a membership buyout...
I don't think there is anyone that runs PH day to day now. Although Lee is in overall charge of PH, he also runs the digital side of Haymarket - though Stuart did as well - I think there's more to do in that side of the job now than there used to be, so Lee doesn't have the time to be as involved as Stuart was. And of course PH doesn't have any techies anymore as they've all been moved across to the digital side of Haymarket.I rather suspect it is now held together by Jack, with IT support from the geeks when they have time, and the odd Haymarket junior journalist told to write something for content.
In summary I think Haymarket have given up, and don't really care about the site anymore. Perhaps it needs a membership buyout...
I have no idea if anyone has replaced Dan Trent, as there hasn't been any announcement of a new Editor. So I think that just leaves Matt as the only PH journalist now. I think PH's budget has been reduced, and Haymarket only want to use PH as a cash cow. I don't think Haymarket has any intention to sell PH unfortunately, as PH just makes too much money for them.
Who do you thinks funding it to keep it here for us?
14 said:
Although Lee is in overall charge of PH, he also runs the digital side of Haymarket - though Stuart did as well - I think there's more to do in that side of the job now than there used to be, so Lee doesn't have the time to be as involved as Stuart was. And of course PH doesn't have any techies anymore as they've all been moved across to the digital side of Haymarket.
I have no idea if anyone has replaced Dan Trent, as there hasn't been any announcement of a new Editor. So I think that just leaves Matt as the only PH journalist now. I think PH's budget has been reduced, and Haymarket only want to use PH as a cash cow. I don't think Haymarket has any intention to sell PH unfortunately, as PH just makes too much money for them.
Lee left a couple of years ago I believe. Surely if Dan had been replaced, there would have been an announcement, same as when the head of community & marketing left, silence........I have no idea if anyone has replaced Dan Trent, as there hasn't been any announcement of a new Editor. So I think that just leaves Matt as the only PH journalist now. I think PH's budget has been reduced, and Haymarket only want to use PH as a cash cow. I don't think Haymarket has any intention to sell PH unfortunately, as PH just makes too much money for them.
eybic - were things this bad when you worked on PH? It seems to me that the resources and level of competence of the staff have dropped off a cliff in recent years and there’s no sign of anything improving sadly.
It used to be the consensus that Haymarket was only interested in the classifieds and advertising but it seems as through neither of those is given any resources anymore, which doesn’t look good for the future.
It used to be the consensus that Haymarket was only interested in the classifieds and advertising but it seems as through neither of those is given any resources anymore, which doesn’t look good for the future.
Unexpected Item In The Bagging Area said:
eybic - were things this bad when you worked on PH? It seems to me that the resources and level of competence of the staff have dropped off a cliff in recent years and there’s no sign of anything improving sadly.
It used to be the consensus that Haymarket was only interested in the classifieds and advertising but it seems as through neither of those is given any resources anymore, which doesn’t look good for the future.
I joined at a time of change and budget was allocated for someone to help with the community aspect which was a great thing as this hadn't been possible before. I believe that when I started, there had already been a big change with things becoming more "corporate". That change continued whilst I worked at PH towers (not necessarily in a bad way) and I think it's gathered momentum since I left. I was only involved in the community (forums, events etc.) rather than Editorial although we shared the same bank of desks. It used to be the consensus that Haymarket was only interested in the classifieds and advertising but it seems as through neither of those is given any resources anymore, which doesn’t look good for the future.
As a user, things most definitely seem to have changed a lot in the 2 years since I left.
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