Shoot me down if there isn’t yet another free newspaper in town, with the first issue today. This is the second launch of a freebie within a month. I think this calls for a review. So here we go, pitting the established-at-least-a-month-ago YawnBlog vs the upstart JimmyBlog paper:
Colour
The front page of Jimmy’s is eyecatching, almost garish, with a fluorescent orange border. YawnBlog is a more subdued, environmentally friendly green, which tends not to jolt you awake in the morning on the blogtrain. On colour, YawnBlog wins it.
Texture
Both papers feel like, well, newspaper. When leafing through YawnBlog, it leaves black stains on your fingers, for heaven’s sake. Jimmy’s is slightly better quality in this regard, so wins this category.
Smell
I gave both papers a hefty sniff and both hit me with a slightly musty odour. Its even stevens on this one.
Taste
Don’t be ridiculous, sometimes I skip breakfast but I’m honestly not that hungry.
Staying Power
Both papers have adopted the tabloid approach to journalism. Stories are covered with little depth. Each paper uses source material seemingly grabbed from similiar global newsfeeds. I must admit to descending into an instant coma after reading page four in YawnBlog and getting only one page further in Jimmy's before nodding completely off and collapsing headfirst on to my fellow passenger.
Sex Appeal
Jimmy’s went straight for the babe dressed in
Size
If size counts, YawnBlog is a third bigger per page than Jimmys paper. At this point I'm feeling a little sorry for YawnBlog so that wins on size.
Price
Well they are both ostensibly free, but if you calculate the additional garbage collections fees as a result of the paper being strewn around the city, they both get the thumbs down. Jimmy’s is marginally better as it is stapled together so each newspaper page doesn’t drift off in the wind, after being discarded in disgust by a commuter.
Creativity
Yawnblog wins hands down for its number puzzle, which is a poor man’s version of so doku , which has taken The Times readers in the UK by storm, but at least this version is quite challenging. Quick recap on the overall comparison - its about even, and there is the whole of the second half to play for.
Legal challenges
Jimmys has upset local bylaw enforcement as the distribution boxes are in all the wrong places. So the paper's owners are being fined on day one, and charged for the cost of moving all the boxes. Quite right too.
Content
In both editions, a lot of old stories are at least several days old, resulting in a lot of mildew there, and requiring that the paper be thrown out immediately.
Target audience
I don't think I'm the target audience, but that's probably not saying a lot. I think both papers are aimed at young employed folks with the attention span of a gnat. I'm hoping that folks are more intelligent and neither will have a sustainable readership.
Conclusion
Jimmy’s paper wins but only by a hair, for more local content, stapled together format and slightly better quality print and photographs. Both should be sent to the recycle depot instead of being delivered to the public.
Stop Press : Horror!
But it doesn’t end here. I understand there is a third free newspaper starting up shortly to further litter our streets. A three way review will appear here when the next contender arrives. Be assured that it will be a completely biased (sic) review; my readers depend upon that.
2 comments:
This was totally brilliant I agree with everything you said. Do you think they are trying to put that other popular weekly out of business?
Thanks for your feedback Wynn! With the third paper arriving soon, they will put quite a bit of pressure on our beloved free weekly. Somehow I think its better quality and will survive; I certainly hope so.
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