The Wardman Wire

You are browsing the archives of Review.

Yesterday I promised further first impressions of the new Total Politics website. Instead I have done a more detailed review. I have not seen a copy of the magazine yet, but I am likely to be a regular reader on the website so I’ve approached the review from this angle. This is a long piece, and I’ve reproduced my conclusions at the top.

Total Summary

Let’s not beat about the bush: I like it and I will read it, and in some ways Total Politics will be a unique resource - editorially and for some months at least until somebody else catches up with the resource centre.

With adjustments to the screen colours, I’d say it’s at about 80% of where a mature version of the site should be - very good indeed for a first day launch of a complex new website built from scratch. Throw in the site adjustments I’ve highlighted, and I’d take that up to about 85%.

Is it as a viable proposition and a viable business? I don’t know - look in 18 months time to see if it is still here and in what form.

What needs to be right for success? All the usual things - delivery on time, good writing, facts correct and all the other attributes that create a good editorial reputation.

The longer term future of the site will depend on the “free magazine for elected politicians” business model proving profitable, and the website a volume and mixture of traffic to promote the areas of the business which will generate cashflow.

I sense an outbreak of tabloid blogging coming on over at Mr Eugenides’ taverna…

At Henley we know about the two Miss GB Contestants, but we now also have the “Fur Play Party” candidate, who is apparently (OK - it’s his book) endorsed by Mr David Milliband MP the Metric Minister:

“I have played cricket with Richard Heller. This book is as playful as his bowling and unique as his batting. I hope it drums up interest in politics and cricket alike.”

The new Total Politics magazine has just launched their new website www.totalpolitics.com.

My very first impressions are that there are a lot of interesting features there, including a local politics blog - which is something British Politics is crying out for a least a year.

This ten minute segment is from “Open Country” last Saturday (at 6:30am) about a project under the Community Rail Development Scheme to rejuvenate the Poacher Line from Sleaford to Skegness in Lincolnshire.

Open Country is on Radio 4, at 6:30am on Saturdays, and is repeated the following Thursday at 1:30pm.

This is a good conversation about the nature of, and challenges facing, rural railways. Among other things, they are trying out Skiffle Bands and Speed Dating on the train, and it seems to be working.

From Leah what’s-her-name gubbins thingummy in the Spectator having a hack at British men:

English men are widely reputed to be the worst lovers on the planet. For centuries, discerning women from Barcelona to Bangor have complained of their freckled skin, sloped shoulders, fussy tummies and off-putting predilection for ‘naughty’ banalities in the bedroom.

As a single woman who relocated to the UK from Canada a few months ago, I can neither confirm nor deny this unflattering rumour. After dating a passel of them, I still have no idea what English men are like in bed.

Hmmm.

You reach the conclusion they have not got a clue. I reach the conclusion they Googled you.

I haven’t said it yet, but I hope that both Lord James Higham of Strath-Pfeffer and Welshcakes Limencello enjoy themselves. Sometimes life does give us a free lunch …