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The Bulletin
There is no category for my question. Does anybody like the online version of the Bulletin? Since going online, the quality of the Bulletin has deteriorated. There are no in depth articles, nothing longer than a page. When the Bulletin was a magazine there was always a cover story of at least 3 or 4 pages, which could be interesting. There was a what's happening section, where everything going on in the xpat community of Brussel was listed, and if you had an event you could put it there for free. There is no longer a letters to the editor section, where one could air their complaints about anything. Although it is now free, I would rather pay for a real magazine. Something frim which I could cut out pages and put it into my collection of things to do in Belgium.
Same here. Went downhill when it got taken over by the Flemish media group.
Then they lost the plot with the "redesign" printed in a virtually unreadable font.
Meanwhile, the quality of the articles steadily declined. The regular columnists disappeared (remember the wonderful Geoff Meade?), and the content became 5 or 6 shortish articles, most of which were obviously advertiser sponsored.
We'd stopped buying it by then.
It never was much cop to be honest, I would never have paid for it. Geoff Meade was always woefully unfunny and the other articles mainly seemed to be about where to find sweaters and handbags.
Hi Helen, and thanks for your comment. Indeed, since the Bulletin print version stopped publishing, our articles have been more web friendly, meaning shorter and more news oriented. This week, however, you should check out our article on deBuren's autumn programme about migration, which in the print version would have come out to about three pages.
We would also suggest that you check out our Events section and Culture Beat every Friday to see what events are coming up that weekend and beyond.
In terms of letters to the editor, internet versions of those are the comments section under every article.
Unlike you, most people would not rather pay for a real magazine, which is why there is no longer a print magazine. But we are always discussing how to improve our editorial, and we take your comments seriously and appreciate your input.
Do Anglophone ExPats think they are stakeholders anymore?
Don't think so.
It was indispensable reading back in the day. But that's progress. It's the curse of Journalism as a career. No-one wants to pay for it.
Luckily there are still some old hands around on this Q&A page to help newcomers, provide recommendations, give advice, complain to each other, give a heads up, ... Long may it last! Cheers, everyone.
YTTAP, you reminded us to also mention that we still do publish Newcomer and Best of Belgium, both of which contain longer articles and loads of practical advice. They're in newsagents and you can buy them here (they're cheap!)
http://www.xpats.com/shop
I miss the Bulletin. I miss the what's on. I even miss the telly section.
It was a great resource to have. To learn about what's going on in the city of Brussels, other Belgian cities, and the wider country.
The web version doesn't cut the mustard. Cant read the web version in the bath, or over the morning cornflakes.
Can't tell you how often I take a stroll downtown, and there is something going on, some festival or food stands in the park, or something special, and I say to myself, well I miss the Bulletin.
As a dyslexic found the print version really unfriendly. I actually think it's moved with the times. I like the quick short article I. An research further if I want. I like it popping into my inbox. If you not like it vote with your feet and find some printed garage to read.
I miss Bulletin too. It was a nice magazine. Was not there sufficient people who subscribed? I miss my newspaper, I miss my Bulletin. We are at an annoyingly online world now.
