London Centric is one of the only emails I always open and read everyone article you publish. I hope lots of people get a subscription for Christmas this year!
I dread to think what that’s doing to your mind but it also means an awful lot and makes the late nights and early mornings worthwhile! Thanks Heather!
Would you prefer more, shorter emails or stick with a handful of longer ones? After 14 months I’m trying to work out what’s next.
It’s always a balance. I’m always thinking “is it fair to expect people to read this much” and “if you just want this one story, does it make much sense to have all the other stuff in the same newsletter”.
Hopefully the hit rate is enough that people understand the thinking and come back for more.
I agree with Darren, and feel the same as Heather. I make sure to read every email you send out, and enjoy both the big in-depth investigations and the weekly round-up. And I say this as someone who wasn't sure a paid subscription would be worthwhile, because I don't live in London any more, but was persuaded to take it up (if I recall correctly) by the coverage of the park festivals during the early summer; and because, as a journalist, I feel it's at least somewhat incumbent on me to support other people in the same line of work who are upholding the standards we all should be aspiring to. Anyway: I've read every post since then in full, was perhaps a little disappointed only by one, but both heartened and inspired by the overwhelming majority. Plus I've learned a lot, and feel more connected to some of the bizarreness of the capital when on my (still fairly frequent) visits to it. Thanks for all the great work, congratulations on the PG award nominations, and here's to much more of the same going forward.
Great stuff both. On the cycling front: U and I suspect others bikers stay in the road rather than using some cycle lanes when the lanes (e.g. west Bethal Green Road) are a total hazard because riders risk getting 'doored' by cars parked right next to the lanes.
Hi Jim, there seems to be something else odd happening in our high streets. Following the proliferation of half-empty barber shops, nail bars and vape emporiums, we now have Gyms. Muscling in (sorry) massively, there are now five in the Swiss Cottage section of Finchley Road, plus the one in the Swimming Pool complex. Is this the insidious influence of Andrew Tate, or are they a cover for practices more nefarious than snail farming?
Excellent to see the snail story in the Commons - well done to all the London Centric team for that one. If I had a spare couple of million quid (plus money for the mansion tax) I'd be tempted by that place in Goodwin Court. I do love that amazing alleyway, only missing a couple of urchins and a cheery chimney sweep.
I had a good laugh at the "pro-Lime influence operation" feedback. Maybe you need to clarify that previous reporting didn't mean that the bikes "break a leg" in the theatre sense but rather in the medical sense?
Well it’s a bit more nuanced - I love it when lots of people read things and there’s a massive response! But the funding to do those stories is entirely from convincing enough people to go “ok I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and pay towards him and his team doing the reporting I want to read”. And every way to *game* getting clicks the easy way just destroys that trust and means the journalism is crap.
Absolutely! Of course you want loads of reads but click obsessiveness leads to-I'd go one further- the destruction of investigative journalism. Thanks for bringing us such great stories every week Jim
London Centric is one of the only emails I always open and read everyone article you publish. I hope lots of people get a subscription for Christmas this year!
I dread to think what that’s doing to your mind but it also means an awful lot and makes the late nights and early mornings worthwhile! Thanks Heather!
Would you prefer more, shorter emails or stick with a handful of longer ones? After 14 months I’m trying to work out what’s next.
For me I appreciate the mix of deep dive articles and these round up ones. Feels like a quantity of content that I can keep on top of.
It’s always a balance. I’m always thinking “is it fair to expect people to read this much” and “if you just want this one story, does it make much sense to have all the other stuff in the same newsletter”.
Hopefully the hit rate is enough that people understand the thinking and come back for more.
I agree with Darren, and feel the same as Heather. I make sure to read every email you send out, and enjoy both the big in-depth investigations and the weekly round-up. And I say this as someone who wasn't sure a paid subscription would be worthwhile, because I don't live in London any more, but was persuaded to take it up (if I recall correctly) by the coverage of the park festivals during the early summer; and because, as a journalist, I feel it's at least somewhat incumbent on me to support other people in the same line of work who are upholding the standards we all should be aspiring to. Anyway: I've read every post since then in full, was perhaps a little disappointed only by one, but both heartened and inspired by the overwhelming majority. Plus I've learned a lot, and feel more connected to some of the bizarreness of the capital when on my (still fairly frequent) visits to it. Thanks for all the great work, congratulations on the PG award nominations, and here's to much more of the same going forward.
I like it the way it is, it fits neatly into my reading habits!
It’s a fantastic alternative to the absolute slop that much of the internet news is 😬
I think they work fine as they are… though I guess if you want more click-throughs to the site (for all your shareholders?) short snippets is better.
No shareholders, don’t care about clicks, just want to do journalism that convinces people it’s good enough to pay for, it all makes life much easier!
Great stuff both. On the cycling front: U and I suspect others bikers stay in the road rather than using some cycle lanes when the lanes (e.g. west Bethal Green Road) are a total hazard because riders risk getting 'doored' by cars parked right next to the lanes.
Yes! A very happy subscriber over here :) keep up the good work Jim and the team!
Hi Jim, there seems to be something else odd happening in our high streets. Following the proliferation of half-empty barber shops, nail bars and vape emporiums, we now have Gyms. Muscling in (sorry) massively, there are now five in the Swiss Cottage section of Finchley Road, plus the one in the Swimming Pool complex. Is this the insidious influence of Andrew Tate, or are they a cover for practices more nefarious than snail farming?
Excellent to see the snail story in the Commons - well done to all the London Centric team for that one. If I had a spare couple of million quid (plus money for the mansion tax) I'd be tempted by that place in Goodwin Court. I do love that amazing alleyway, only missing a couple of urchins and a cheery chimney sweep.
I had a good laugh at the "pro-Lime influence operation" feedback. Maybe you need to clarify that previous reporting didn't mean that the bikes "break a leg" in the theatre sense but rather in the medical sense?
'This news outlet is a secret pro-Lime bike influence operation that fails to mention their downsides.'
Never change, comment box guys, never change.
I've been thinking London Centric have always been pro-Lime bike?
"Don't care about clicks" so refreshing!
Well it’s a bit more nuanced - I love it when lots of people read things and there’s a massive response! But the funding to do those stories is entirely from convincing enough people to go “ok I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and pay towards him and his team doing the reporting I want to read”. And every way to *game* getting clicks the easy way just destroys that trust and means the journalism is crap.
Absolutely! Of course you want loads of reads but click obsessiveness leads to-I'd go one further- the destruction of investigative journalism. Thanks for bringing us such great stories every week Jim
Another great read, thanks Jim and all in your massive team :D