Kent Ridge Common - the Litmus test

[scroobal]

In many ways the departure of Kelvin Teo provide an excellent opportunity to see what develops over the next few weeks and months, particulary the dynamics of politics within Singapore, within NUS student and alumni bodies and within Singapore as a whole.

Many have synonymously associated Kelvin with KRC and vice versa and frankly I can't recall any other name until the name Lester surfaced after the split. Kelvin contributed 90% of content and these attracted 98% of traffic. (what the fuck were rest doing besides putting up their name in the website) Here are the questions that interested singaporeans will be asking

1) Will new content reach the same level

2) Why did Kelvin's article reach such staggering figures in readership

3) Did he cover topics that seem to have touched singaporean in the "P" spot

4) Why is so special about Kelvin? - did he have rare blood type, higher IQ, balls of brass etc

5) On the flip side, why are there no other student amongst the thousands that can emulate such traffic and readership.

6) Is it the in built fear factor

7) Are student publications regulated by the Intelligence service, by an overzealous NUS mgmt or staff whose career trajectory might be an issue

Food for thought. But first, lets wait for the traffic. If it comes close to the past, then this thread would have been a waste of time. My guess is that they will not even reach half that unless they roster the committee to log in repeatedly. Then again the content would be a give away.

 

[Internet Brigade]

Its nature evolution and extinction.

When characters get too big for their own skin, they devolve slowly or die out with a bang.

The questions you ask are reasonable but the real question is "what is the motivation" of these writers.

People like KElvin Teo think they are bigger than the sites he write for. They think they are untouchable because they have 1000 - 5000 hits a day.

But when the smoke screen subsides, the readers will run, the websites will go... and you will be left standing there all alone.... staring into the grim DARKNESS.

 

[Perspective]

I have never been interested in Kelvin Teo's writings and I can say it's why KRC hasn't got much hits despite his consistency. He can write but his articles are amateurish, shallow and doesn't say much. It's like most online forum posts. All of us would be star bloggers if we started our own blogs.

No one still beats the likes of Alex Au. They think through the occurrences, not just look and write.

 

[Zenra2OO3]

Actually this is not really true. What I heard from media grapevine is that KRC when Kelvin was around was hitting the growth rate of sites that are more well-known than TR and TOC. It was their interview series which Kelvin did and perhaps opinion articles that got the readership.

When I was at the Reform Party dinner, one guest told me that he is an avid reader of Kelvin's articles. I guess you do not like Kelvin's writings doesn't mean others share the same taste. One man's meat is another's poison.

 

[Zenra2OO3]

In many ways the departure of Kelvin Teo provide an excellent opportunity to see what develops over the next few weeks and months, particulary the dynamics of politics within Singapore, within NUS student and alumni bodies and within Singapore as a whole.

Many have synonymously associated Kelvin with KRC and vice versa and frankly I can't recall any other name until the name Lester surfaced after the split. Kelvin contributed 90% of content and these attracted 98% of traffic. (what the fuck were rest doing besides putting up their name in the website) Here are the questions that interested singaporeans will be asking

1) Will new content reach the same level

2) Why did Kelvin's article reach such staggering figures in readership

3) Did he cover topics that seem to have touched singaporean in the "P" spot

4) Why is so special about Kelvin? - did he have rare blood type, higher IQ, balls of brass etc

5) On the flip side, why are there no other student amongst the thousands that can emulate such traffic and readership.

6) Is it the in built fear factor

7) Are student publications regulated by the Intelligence service, by an overzealous NUS mgmt or staff whose career trajectory might be an issue

Food for thought. But first, lets wait for the traffic. If it comes close to the past, then this thread would have been a waste of time. My guess is that they will not even reach half that unless they roster the committee to log in repeatedly. Then again the content would be a give away.

See their latest article: http://kentridgecommon.com/?p=5761

Especially the comment by this fellow in the same article. Do not know whether this will be considerd a giveaway content.

Tan Ker Ming · 4 hours ago

Good story. I'm glad the Kent Ridge Commons is stepping out of the shadow after kelvin has left the team. good to see more of the other writers focus on other stuff other than leftist anti establishment articles. i realli feel kent ridge commons have the potential more than just being any other ordinary political blog in sinmgapore.

And KRC's traffic is doing much worse.

http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/kentridgecommon.com

Look at their 7 day average as compared to 1 month average.

 

[scroobal]

Lester's article was about life in the campus during exams. And Tan Ker Ming's comment to it is indeed telling. If Lester was working as the Manager for the Canteen at Parliament house, his style will be appropriate for describing the daily life of canteen staff and their work routine.

Many years ago, the incoming committe brief the chaps of NUSSU publication the "Graduate" about going into forbidden territory. The next cover article was on a lawyer, his unusual bob haircut and why he looks young for his age and his outlook in life. Straight out of Cosmopolitan. There was an uproar from the undergrads and understandbly so.

And looks like Lester's article has hit that spot.

See their latest article: http://kentridgecommon.com/?p=5761

Especially the comment by this fellow in the same article. Do not know whether this will be considerd a giveaway content.

Tan Ker Ming · 4 hours ago

Good story. I'm glad the Kent Ridge Commons is stepping out of the shadow after kelvin has left the team. good to see more of the other writers focus on other stuff other than leftist anti establishment articles. i realli feel kent ridge commons have the potential more than just being any other ordinary political blog in sinmgapore.

And KRC's traffic is doing much worse.

http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/kentridgecommon.com

Look at their 7 day average as compared to 1 month average.

 

[Zenra2OO3]

Lester's article was about life in the campus during exams. And Tan Ker Ming's comment to it is indeed telling. If Lester was working as the Manager for the Canteen at Parliament house, his style will be appropriate for describing the daily life of canteen staff and their work routine.

Many years ago, the incoming committe brief the chaps of NUSSU publication the "Graduate" about going into forbidden territory. The next cover article was on a lawyer, his unusual bob haircut and why he looks young for his age and his outlook in life. Straight out of Cosmopolitan. There was an uproar from the undergrads and understandbly so.

And looks like Lester's article has hit that spot.

You are right. Where the fuck were the rest of the writers? This was what Kelvin said.

http://kelvinteowrites.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/my-adventures-as-an-amateur-journalist/

Thus, it didn’t come as a surprise that the Kent Ridge Common eclipsed the other existing publications, even the online version of The Ridge. However, it wasn’t an easy time for me. For starters, the founder of the Kent Ridge Common labels it as an independent NUS Students’ Daily. The reality is that the rest of the Kent Ridge Common team is unable to produce articles on a daily basis, and it ended up that I had to produce. It was very hectic for me because I had to co-manage 2 projects in my working life, and so, had to squeeze in an article during lunch break, missing out on my lunch on certain occasions. But I did it willingly..for friendship.


And I think this Lester cannot decide what he wants. The last time he was boasting about KRC being the most read daily.

Lester Lim 25p · 22 weeks ago

Hi Tongtong,

I believe that we are not inflating our claim that we are the "most read independent university publication". Even if you bring the objectivity of the measurement techniques utilized by Alexa.com into disrepute, we are still ahead of all other university publications (The Ridge Online, Campus Observer, Nanyang Enquirer etc.) based on a judgment by the same yardstick.

Also, we'd appreciate if you could emerge from your veil of anonymity to lend more credibility to your opinions.

Best regards,
Lester

Now, this Lester is saying something else. He says oh now readership not important. Basically, what the hell is going through his mind? If he thinks KRC is vehicle to greater things, he is just showing his inadequacies.

Hi Guest!
�
Thanks for being respectful on this. We are not in the business of wanting to attract the most readers. If we ever wanted to do this, we might have as well started a gossip tabloid or blog. We are doing this because we like what we're doing. And we're just going to let this source of inspiration be the starting point of whatever that we are write. �
Kelvin is a good writer and we wish him all the best. But KRC is not a one man show. If it is, then something has to be done about it. And this something is being done right now. Even if it means letting go of our best writer and letting the frequency of our articles suffer in the short-run. But I sincerely believe that this is the way to go, and this is the best for us in the long term. There has to be a transitionary process. A process of renewal that�I believe will see a more capable team of people take the publication to greater heights.�One individual cannot make or break a team.
�
Thanks for being concerned about this, but I believe that readership is not an exclusive thing. KRC readers can definitely read Kelvin's blog, and avid fans of Kelvin can also be reading KRC at the same time. We could just be offering different things to the readers.
�
Thanks for your comments once again!
�
Lester

 

[Zenra2OO3]

In many ways the departure of Kelvin Teo provide an excellent opportunity to see what develops over the next few weeks and months, particulary the dynamics of politics within Singapore, within NUS student and alumni bodies and within Singapore as a whole.

Many have synonymously associated Kelvin with KRC and vice versa and frankly I can't recall any other name until the name Lester surfaced after the split. Kelvin contributed 90% of content and these attracted 98% of traffic. (what the fuck were rest doing besides putting up their name in the website) Here are the questions that interested singaporeans will be asking

1) Will new content reach the same level

2) Why did Kelvin's article reach such staggering figures in readership

3) Did he cover topics that seem to have touched singaporean in the "P" spot

4) Why is so special about Kelvin? - did he have rare blood type, higher IQ, balls of brass etc

5) On the flip side, why are there no other student amongst the thousands that can emulate such traffic and readership.

6) Is it the in built fear factor

7) Are student publications regulated by the Intelligence service, by an overzealous NUS mgmt or staff whose career trajectory might be an issue

Food for thought. But first, lets wait for the traffic. If it comes close to the past, then this thread would have been a waste of time. My guess is that they will not even reach half that unless they roster the committee to log in repeatedly. Then again the content would be a give away.

Actually I am just pissed that a promising publication has to come to an end. Haiz!

 

[po2wq]

Kent Ridge Common - the Litmus test ...

so, watz ze results? ... bleu or red? ...

 

[scroobal]

There you have it from the man himself. He just placed a caveat if the popularity dropped and the hits are no longer there.

Is Kelvin's writing in any shape and form resembled a gossip tabloid. A real prick. People like that should tarred and feathered dragged from rochore to hougang.

Hi Guest!
�
Thanks for being respectful on this. We are not in the business of wanting to attract the most readers. If we ever wanted to do this, we might have as well started a gossip tabloid or blog. We are doing this because we like what we're doing. And we're just going to let this source of inspiration be the starting point of whatever that we are write. �
Lester

 

[scroobal]

I am as well. Really got my goat.

I wonder if Alex Au would be good enough to spend some time on this. Calling Alex...........please.

Actually I am just pissed that a promising publication has to come to an end. Haiz!

 

[scroobal]

Bro, see the comments from Lester courtesy of Zenra's post. He had already conceded defeat, he will not get the numbers.

I can tell you, the guy ran away before I can pull out the litmus paper.

so, watz ze results? ... bleu or red? ...

 

[Zenra2OO3]

Bro, see the comments from Lester courtesy of Zenra's post. He had already conceded defeat, he will not get the numbers.

I can tell you, the guy ran away before I can pull out the litmus paper.

I got this off Singapore News Alternative...

Waaah, Kelvin calls KRC a supplemental extension to the mainstream media.

Actually KRC is as good as gone lar. Can be co-opted in SPH liao!

http://kelvinteowrites.wordpress.co...nsion-or-alternative-to-the-mainstream-media/

Applying the first test, two of the articles would resonate with that of the establishment, and they are “LKY: Through the eyes of an outsider” and “A Halloween with toys”. The content of the first article is basically a positive appraisal of Lee Kuan Yew by an international exchange student. Positive appraisals of Lee is quite common in the mainstream media and our establishment. The second article on Halloween basically revolves around the promotion of a museum going culture that is an initiative started by the National Heritage Board, a government institution. The results of the first test for the rest of the articles are uncertain though, because they are about mundane topics in a student’s life.

............

Thus, what is the conclusion then? By virtue of all the articles not being potentially rejected by the mainstream media (discounting non-content-based restrictions), which is the most important test, and the fact that two of the articles resonate with that of the establishment and/or mainstream media, it appears that the Kent Ridge Common is taking the path of a supplemental extension to our mainstream media as opposed to an alternative one. However, things may change in the future which no one knows for certain.

 

[scroobal]

Sadly Bro, have to agree. Another Fajar, so to speak.

I got this off Singapore News Alternative...

Waaah, Kelvin calls KRC a supplemental extension to the mainstream media.

Actually KRC is as good as gone lar. Can be co-opted in SPH liao!

.