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When I am Arts Editor, I'll make YOU EDIT YOUR FUCKIN ARTICLES.

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So I had to write a review of Darren Emerson last night for the college newspaper.

And I wrote one, which I think is pretty good (or even if it's not pretty good, it's as good as anything else that gets in there). Anyway I sent it to the Editor person and she mailed me back saying I have to change it because it sounds like I'm condoning drug use. (specifically ecstacy)

Ok I know I can be a knob about this and ramble on about drugs, but any references I made were purely necessary ones. You can't go to a packed out club with 90 percent of the people completely off their tits and going mental and then write a review without mentioning it. And I'm sorry but as far as I can see, you can't review a night like last night without mentioning drugs somewhere. To be honest I think I was quite restrained. And it's not like I went all Howard Marks in Loaded or anything. I just talked about the gig. And the atmosphere at it. And conversely I mentioned, obliquely enough, that most people there were on e.

I'd post the article but I'm not proud enough of my work so you'll have to use your imagination.

I don't want to edit my piece. But I may do anyway. Have any of you had to deal with this sort of shit before? This is the thread where you moan about stuff you had to edit. God I just wanted to write an honest review damnit!

(Also wouldn't you think a student mag would be telling me "hey ro you didnt promote drug use enough there".)

Note:This is the same person who wouldn't let me interview S Club 7 so perhaps there is history, despite the fact I've never met her.

― Ronan, Sunday, 10 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm not sure how interesting this is to people but anyway.

― Ronan, Sunday, 10 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

well, it's kind of hard to tell w/o reading it ronan, but at least she isn't changing it WITHOUT asking/telling you... I had a piece at NME puled — or anyway not run — because I relayed the anecdote of the drummer of [xyz] asking me to give him a lift into Milton Keynes to find a chemist which I did, at which point he started quizzing me on where to find a coke dealer. Which I found both irritating and comical, ie material for a good story — seeing as I knew MK exactly as well as he did plus had never taken coke or ANY OTHER DRUG in my life at that point — but my editor said would just get everyone into trouble (I think he was right, too). It's one of the great shadow areas of music journalism: this woman sounds like a pain from yr earlier experience, but this is genuinely a tricky topic, where you do have to be a bit careful sometimes.

― mark s, Sunday, 10 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

i have the opposite problem , i started my first draft of a preview w. the lines 14 yr old boys fuck , if not literally , then thru their rapicous desires. She was upset i cut it .

― anthony, Sunday, 10 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

forgot to say: if you're serious about becoming a journalist, then LEARN TO GET USED TO THIS — the world you're moving into is chock-full of idiot editors; of course the other kind exist also, from time to time

why d'you think i prefer posting here to places where i might actually get paid?

― mark s, Sunday, 10 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh I know I have to get used to it. I am just excercising my licence to moan about it while it's still new to me.

― Ronan, Sunday, 10 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Also I think in this case she should be a little more daring. college mags should be a little bit abrasive anyway. at the moment it ressembles an inter faith centre circular.

― Ronan, Sunday, 10 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Ronan, you'll also learn how to write sentences so the editor can't possibly fuck with them without consulting you.

I once had the misfortune to read an Irish sunday newspaper (cannot remember which) and let's just say the standard of writing was a lot worse than anything I've seen you write here. So maybe editor girl will be one of those people eating your dust in the not so distant future!

― suzy, Monday, 11 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

University magazines are always a bit mad, and if yours is anything like mine was then the entire union will jump on you and attempt to crush you like a bug if you so much as hint at something that may offend the smallest minority group.

There are certain dance music magazines (not mine thank God) that have asked freelance mates of mine to add in more drug references.

I think you have to accept that with nights like the one you described then drugs are going to play a part, but adopting a 'wahey we're all mental and off our tits on ketamine!' style really grates. But then so does 'hey kids drugs are bad.' Drug use needs to be covered, but responsibly, but also in a non-patronising manner. Fine line, general route into a world of horrror.

― Anna, Monday, 11 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I think I may have won. I decided to say if it has to be changed I want it back and she sent an email which basically said have it your way. Thank heaven for petty victories.

― Ronan, Monday, 11 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)


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