Preposterous: “Bodger, there have been a number of queries about Broadsheet from representatives of the traditional media in the last fortnight.”

Bodger: “Hurrah!”

Preposterous: “After eight years of indifference we have been approached by journalists wishing to write about the site”

Bodger: “Brilliant. Our recent series of excellent Golden Discs competitions I expect?”

Preposterous “They have been fascinating.”

Bodger: “They really have.”

Preposterous: “But no. It may have something to do with Gemma O’Doherty’s recent campaign.”

Bodger :”Ah.”

Preposterous “And I must warn you, much of the interest doesn’t seem particularly positive.”

Bodger: *dry swallow*

Preposterous: “Some of it centres around our finances.”

Bodger: “We have finances?”

Preposterous: “The accounts.”

Bodger: “We have accounts?”

Preposterous: “We have a complete set of books and are fully tax compliant.”

Bodger: “Nice.”

Preposterous: “Largely owing to the fact that they don’t tax ongoing, horrendous losses.”

Bodger: “Take that, Revenue.”

Preposterous: “I’m not sure that satisfied them.”

Bodger: “Sounds pretty humiliating.”

Preposterous: “It felt something close to shame.”

Bodger: “To be broke and then having to prove you’re broke.”

Preposterous: “The concept that we do this for nothing was not credible.”

Bodger “And the sense of not being believed when you say you’re broke.”

Preposaterous:“Indeed”

Bodger: “A broke, broken dude. A hollow, disbelieved shell.”

Preposterous: “Well…”

Bodger: “I mean you’re not a young man.”

Preposterous:  (adjusts top knot) “No.”

Bodger: “You’re an old guy. With a commercially unviable website.”

Preposterous: “With enormous potential and a loyal…”

Bodger:”A sad old dreamer trolled and laughed at by right thinking people.”

Preposterous: “Onwards.” (smiles weakly)

Bodger: “You’ve nothing to show for eight years except the contempt of your fellow journalists, an ability to swallow your pride on a minute to minute basis and Leather Jacket Guy’s private number.”

Preposterous: “That’s just a regular number he gives out.”

Bodger: “Well, exactly. The whole thing is ridiculous.”

Preposterous: “It does sound pretty bleak when put like that.”

Bodger: “Preposterous, even.”

Preposterous: “That too.”

Bodger: “Yes.”

Preposterous: “Yes.”

Bodger: “Think on that.”

Preposterous: “Yes. I will.”

Bodger: “I would.”

*both stare into middle distance to sound of Chompsky snoring*

To be continued.

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139 thoughts on “Bookkeeping

  1. Tom

    Sad to say but you only have yourselves to blame. The weird editorial change into conspiracy land and the comment moderation turned a lot of people off.
    I still respect you for carrying on with the site buy still I feel it’s a missed opportunity.

    1. shortforBob

      Reddit has been around since 2005 and the idea of sites with advanced moderation systems to upvote or downvote comments have been around even longer. I always figured Broadsheet would get around to making some improvements eventually but I was wrong. Some technical improvements could have helped the culture and editorial values of the site, but there are plenty of non technical improvements that should have happened, for starters following the same basic rules same as most traditional media.

      Newspapers print retractions and most websites make it clear when text has been updated. Reputable sites don’t normally delete comments without at least making it clear that comments have been deleted or redacted. Even in cases where things were taken down due to legal action other sites usually make note that it happened, on Broadsheet things simply disappear.
      It doesn’t take technical changes to maintain a more careful and respectable editorial policy.

      Broadsheet still manages to have provide an Irish angle I doubt I’d get to see elsewhere (“Broadsheet, not as bad as the Journal”), as well as an interesting and infuriating mix of regular commentators.

      Maybe this whole story is the writing on the wall, the sword of Damocles, a self written euglogy for this website?

      1. Jeffrey

        Are you serious? The tiny amount of commenters on BS would never justify having a different system! Even on the topic with the most comments we are talking 100s and again probably between only 20 people. BS audience is super niche imo, would love to see some numbers but I would advance something like 0.5% of visitors are commenting, could be even lower.

        1. shortforBob

          I was agreeing with Tom when he wrote “you only have yourselves to blame” and pointing to structural and cultural issues that could be improved.

          The point is that Broadsheet started with a very basic system that was behind them times even then. Broadsheet gets more comments than the Journal on most articles, but even a small website could benefit from a better system. (On the web you can reasonably generalize that the ratio of views to comments is about 1000:1) A more technical system of comment moderation provides easier alternatives to deleting comments, but a non-technical solution is to clearly mark when a comment has been removed. Again I’m broadly agreeing with Tom and saying the moderation is a turn off, at both ends of the scale the very limited amount of regular moderation, and the extreme other end of moderation which is deleting comments outright.

          (I keep thinking back to the person who was on Northern Irish jury and chose to comment here after the trial had ended. Her comments were deleted in a way that made it unclear what all the other comments had been talking about. Deleting the text of the comment and adding a note explaining that it had been removed, like other sites do, would have been less confusing and at least slightly more readable.)

          So is this article the death notice for Broadsheet?

        1. johnny

          i hope you didn’t link something that you don’t understand…………
          Take your time there Jeff-its fairly straightforward.

          1. Rob_G

            Although the graph is slightly confusing at first as it shows the numbers descending rather than ascending, I think you are being rude (as well as wrong).

        2. SOQ

          Pretty sure the trolling has contributed to those figures. Likewise the right wing cohort who spend their time pumping out their negative bullpoo.

        3. Johnny

          How you doing there Jeff-you linked and commented on an attachment with an extremely unusual Y axis-any chance you can expand on it instead that biatch Rob ?

          1. Rob_G

            Johnny, Alexa is the largest website analytics tool in the world; it not Jeffrey’s fault that they configure their graphs in an unusual way, not more than it is his fault that you cannot understand it.

          1. Clampers Outside!

            Alexa is very iffy in my experience., far from reliable even.

            As a rule, I’d tend to use it with others like stats from say Similarweb (far better than Alexa IMO), and when available Quantcast.
            And then work an average from what’s available.

            I’d also recommend SitePrice for stats and other info; and SEMRush which requires log in and card details, but is free to use.

            Google used to give stats but not sure what info you get from their ad account stuff anymore…. and I had a look but, arghhh, it’s pain in the hoop to get around on mobile!

            Hope that helps.

        4. Bodger

          Jeffrey, those figures do not include our apps which account for up to 50 per cent of our visits. The apps came on stream in 2014/2015 and replaced the website for many users.

  2. Optimus Grime

    Plough on lads! While I did not agree GO’D on certain aspects and her methodologies ye were the only people willing to give her a platform. That should be lauded not cause for deep investigation. Probably how they isolate Gemma but coming after anyone who willingly associates with her.

  3. Joan.

    The Irish Independent: Dinny O’Brien, tax exile.
    The Irish Times: close to bankrupt, only 60,000 copies sold daily.
    The Times Ireland Edition: Rupert Murdoch.
    The Irish Examiner: See Irish Times.
    The Irish Sun: Rupert Murdoch.
    But yeah, go after Broadsheet.

    1. george

      They reported 2million in profit last year. What level of debt does the Irish TImes carry? What basis do you have for suggesting bankruptcy?.

      1. Joan.

        The profit the Irish Times reported 2017 depends on certain one-off factors. They can’t continue without those one-off injections of cash. The circulation will be less than 60,0000 next year. Their subscription model hasn’t brought in any decent income. The newspaper is over-reliant on property adverts which will cease once the bubble bursts. The Irish Times have been floating the idea that Government should subsidize the Press (meaning the print press, and meaning specifically them) in many recent articles (especially over summer). If you look at their publicly available company accounts, it’s clear that no one but a deranged optimist would back the Irish Times being around in ten/ twenty years without Government subsidies.

        1. george

          The increase in profits was a result of cost reductions. The benefits of those cuts will continue to be enjoyed in future years.

          1. Joan.

            Some of the profits were the result of cost reductions (i.e. staff reductions). But other inflows of cash are one-off. Plus, the Paddy Agnew (Rome Correspondent) trial could end up costing the Irish Times over a million.

    1. Starina

      noooo. that requires time investment. I want to be able to nip in for five minutes between tasks in work.

        1. Bertie Blenkinsop

          That’s The Old Boy, the best informed, cleverest contributor to the site?
          I’d let him away with John :)

        2. The Old Boy

          Bodger, that was not the intention and I apologise. It was an unworthy cheap gag but not intended to be mean-spirited.

      1. Lilly

        Yes, that probably sounds preposterous indeed right now, but I believe you’re onto something with BS telly. Hang in there, there’s no shame in being broke. At least you don’t have your noses in some dodgy trough. And you have the best headlines! ‘Drawers to Manual’… lol… brings out the green eyed monster in them.

        1. millie st murderlark

          Actually yes.

          Probably the only media outlet I’d actually be happy/proud/unashamed to support.

  4. giggidygoo

    Could it also be the unprecedented excellent coverage and explanations that BS did/does on subjects like the Maurice McCabe enquiry? Or the opinions and explanations of Legal Coffer Drinker.

    Funny that they’re so interested in a news website that doesn’t come on the radar when the awards are dished out.

    1. DataGlo

      Broadsheet is the only journalistic outfit in the country doing what journalists are meant to do, namely comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Keep up the good work, and put some feelers out for a backer. The timing of this approach is most interesting.

          1. Cian

            Possibly. It depends on what is counted as ‘journalism’. I’d exclude any copy-and-paste articles. And the Dan Boyle type opinion pieces. And newspaper roundup. And the BS on the tv. And the limerick a day… And the competitions. And the bake off.

  5. Clampers Outside!

    Ohhhhh ffs!

    My best Prep, Bodge and Chomsky!

    Any journo with any effort can go online check your site visits and impressions via desktop and / or mobile, check that against Google ad prices, and see the little money that the site can make.

    Again, my best to you!!

  6. Rob_G

    I always remember that BS had a policy of ‘no fees/favours accepted in return for posts’ – surely you should be rethinking that, if you have not already? Ask Golden Discs and the RTÉ Guide people to throw in a few quid for the posts that you do promoting them; I’m sure if you made clear that it was a sponsored post, your readership wouldn’t mind.

  7. Spud

    Once LJG gets his big break, I’m sure he’ll be pumping his millions back into the place that put him on the map…

  8. Ger Mc

    You could always get John Ryan to model and make a few bob. I can see him in an aran jumper . He has that look .

  9. Dub Spot

    Time to Pivot:

    1) Regular sections on technology, the arts and media, celebrities – an NPR model – combined with news
    2) Podcasts instead of On The Telly
    3) More visibility on TV chat shows, panels, etc.
    4) Call VIncent Browne for a loan
    5) Call Dinny O’Brien for a load
    6) Consolidate BS + Village Magazine + Dublin Insider media festival for free.
    7) I think an AMA Reddit-style session once a week in the run up to the Pres Election would be killer.
    8) Turn the whole think over to Michael O’Doherty to run in RIP and Stella style

    1. SOQ

      9) and more male strippers.

      Seriously, more music. The country is full of talent who are not getting exposure from the mainstream.

      1. Martco

        10) and putting an end to facilitating weirdos that run 4 or 5 different username characters so they can have a conversation amongst (himself) on certain posts i.e. sockpuppets

        there’s a balance to be struck on the anonymity thing, I get it, but users should be real users whatever their creed one way. I understand it’s not easy to achieve maybe only doable manually, but it’s a major turn off.

    2. Rose

      As a podcast junkie, I’d second the podcast option for the Telly too. I usually listen to it without looking at the pics anyway….it’d save hours in makeup prior to show too

  10. Vanessa off the Telly

    I wonder what a particular Trollective think now
    The sect that are insisting I own and run the gaff I mean

    Incidentally, I don’t do Broadsheet’s accounts either
    Nor their taxes
    Although I would gladly, despite everything that has been going on, discuss Broadsheet’s viability and potential, assuming Authority and Instructions were received.

    V

        1. Andyourpointiswhatexactly?

          Well I know Vanessa is Frilly now (I had zero clue) so I did keep somewhat aBREAST of things.
          The ONE TIME I’m busy at work, hah? .

      1. FrillBake

        No you haven’t
        I actually haven’t seen it yet (moved the telly and swapped over to eir the same day and make a mickey out of the feed) and I didn’t get the time to grab the playback
        You know, with one thing and another

        But I promise I know nothing about it
        I haven’t checked @bakesheet or @frillykeane all week so I can stay open and unknowing

        So hopefully I get it up by Tuesday, before E6, and if Bodger has space

  11. Andyourpointiswhatexactly?

    I’ve no idea what this is all about but they* can shove it up their hoops.

    *not even sure who I mean by they, but they can still shove it.

  12. Gearóid

    Stick some ads on your app and lay off the conspiracy theories. Not a good look. On the positive side, always good for some pretty funny/ informative posts a couple of times per day.

    1. Martco

      that could work…

      (in the sense of ignoring authority not abusing employees I mean)

      humans spend a lot of time worrying about where the line is, playing safe. that’s not what BS is about. there may well be a few things that need fixing but overall I think this is a unique & useful presence online.

      sorry for the troubles

  13. Brother Barnabas

    i don’t fully understand the significance of this (!) but… fupp them, ignore them and just keep doing what you’re doing. best thing on the internet by far, imo.

    1. Bodger

      Brother, what this is trying to do is make light of something that is actually troubling (and I don’t mean our accounts).

  14. reidman

    Dropping the leather jacket guy would only improve things………. it’s woeful

    Good luck and keep it up otherwise

      1. FrillBake

        and more room for more cake!

        on that Millie, your Buttermill cake receipe was the inaugural here in the new kitchen

        I was hoping to write it up with pics etc
        but ya know
        with one thing an’ another

  15. Frilly Lilly Millie Bertie and her off the Telly

    I don’t understand the anxiety over LJG
    You don’t have to watch

    And seriously
    there’s room for everyone

    If I was pushed to close the door on anything
    It would probably be the cartoons and other posts that don’t have comments open

    And I would definitely encourage paid for placements like giveaways

      1. Andyourpointiswhatexactly?

        Funny like some of the funny lyrics in the Golden Discs’ competition were funny, you mean?

        1. Brother Barnabas

          i’d prefer not to have said this publicly but that possessive apostrophe has upset me a little

    1. reidman

      I don’t watch, trust me, I did try a couple of times – it’s his beardy mug grinning madly at me when I’m scrolling through is enough, and the fact he is unfunny – that and the universally poor comments, I’m sure I’m not alone with this guy, my last moan was deleted, there is much better stuff out there that we could watch and then complain about.

      But I read BS daily and hope it keeps going!

      Except for LJG

      :)

      1. bisted

        …I don’t really agree with censorship or trying to silence people but that leather gear guy is a bit of a winger…

    2. Tony

      f I was pushed to close the door on anything
      It would probably be the cartoons and other posts that don’t have comments open

      NNOOOOOOO! The cartoons are great! You just don’t like them because comments are closed and you can’t do yer oul bit’ta but’ta sum’ting craic!

  16. Bruce_Wee

    Ask for a donation page if you wanted to keep the site running. The amazing thing is that Broadsheet serves no master and have kept its integrity over the years (bar LJG), so why not try and ask for a small donation from readers who, given the loyalty of them to the site, would more than likely be happy to contribute.

    Maybe a gold package to include no moderation of their comments?

    The worst thing would be that you end up like this

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq2_wSsDwkQ

    Keep up the great work.

    Bruce

    1. DataGlo

      You couldn’t do away with moderation or they’d end up bankrupt! I agree though, a donations page similar to the Guardian’s is the way to go. Broadsheet is doing the State an important service.

  17. Frilly Keane

    I’ll happily take donations
    or Sponsorship

    Maybe do a Fenway Hurling Classic Special
    Sky Sports, Aer Lingus,
    ahem

    in fairness, they could do worse
    than have meself and a few bs.tv carry on

  18. Liam

    Maybe in offloading the dead wood you’d float to the top. Guests ending up on the receiving end of Vanessa’s temper is hard to stomach especially when they’ve çome on bsotv for help. Last night was excruciating to watch, first Vera got a lash then Kenny. Not cool.

  19. dylad

    Jaysus, this doesn’t sound good. Get sponsors. Do a nude calendar. Do some books. Raise funds on kickstarter. Donation or small fee for subscription.

    1. Bodger

      Dylad, we’ve been in this financial position for years. Don’t worry. The point of the piece is to show how the media operates in Ireland.

      1. johnny

        -cough,you sure nothing do with DOB and the simply amazing posts you have on here-its always about ME always:)

        1. Frilly Keane

          And you’re me too
          According t’ the troll’ops
          So
          Since I’m supposed t’be running the gaff
          ‘same crowd btw

          We’re all pretty eff’ed

          I like the idea of a calendar tho’
          It could even be a guess who?

          1. Martco

            if finance isn’t an issue what about tackling these “sockpuppets” (I believe is the correct terminology) for a start?

            lookit there’s a fair few on here who value BS’s existence. I don’t really 100% understand why Gemma went up for that stupid gig but as someone wrote here earlier she’s a disruptor – and certainly in journalism terms BS is a disruptor which I for one thinks the country could well do with as everything else is clearly owned or run by vested interests. so keep up ze good work I hope.

      2. Lilly

        Scratch the veneer of civility and this is what you get. Name and shame the intrepid “investigative journalists” who tried to set the Revenue dogs on you.

  20. SOQ

    At 8:5 on a Friday night.

    RTE 1 is broadcasting some sort of TG4 trad early nineties crossover moused hair and now veneered thing.

    Next up, news, then The Late Late. I have some CBD juice in the freezer for pain. Can you overdose?

    1. Johnny

      UK is largest medical marijuana producer in EU,tremendous generational opportunity to establish Ireland,as major player in this space and with Hemp (CBD oil).

      Deep bench from big ag and big pharma,but FG can’t get a few houses built,never mind take advantage off this opportunity,gift wrapped by Brexit.

  21. phil

    Im kinda unsettled , I think I know what they are hinting at , but if it is what I think it is , things are worse than I thought, I cant keep ignoring it ….

  22. Dub Spot

    Broadsheet.ie fills an important niche. Find a space and fill it and amplify it. Proper tech coverage, the topic of gentrification, taking on the social influencer buffoonery we see women subjected too, etc are all subjects MSM won’t touch because they’re up to their necks in it in cahoots and/or won’t criticise the paymistress.

    AND, I’d like:

    1. More from Legal Coffee Drinker and Ask a Broadsheet Reader. Engagement and participation is where it’s at. Will anyone pay for it? No.

    2. I hate to say it but more Sport would probably appeal – GAA and Soccer Third Bainisteoir type broadcast/podcast. Every one in four BS On the Jelly should be SPORT only.

    3. Ask Me Anything sessions WOULD be good.
    Here be my nominations:

    1) Mannix Flynn
    2) The White Moose Cafe
    3) Jane Ruffino
    4) Jay Bourke
    5) NCAD Thomas Street Boy (or whatever he was called). – ok then, a “Where Are They Now?” section
    6) David McSavage
    7) Liadh Ni Riada
    8) Terry Prone
    9) Joe Brolly
    10) Annalise Murphy

    4. FFS – stop driving traffic to the Irish Times and RTE for free. Fupp ’em. They have PR/Publicity/Advertising teams of their own.

    5. A section taking the mickey out of thejournal.ie and politics.ie would be great. No, wait – they already do that themselves…

  23. realPolithicks

    I have to say that I really enjoy Broadsheet and its very eclectic articles and commenters, as has been said by others I think it could benefit from some updating on the technical side of things. In addition I think that as a minimum you need to start publishing seven days a week, this 9-5 Mon-Fri, closed on holidays etc type of schedule is way out of date. I’d like to ask Bodger and Preposterous what do you see as the future of this site, do you have any particular plans or will things simply continue as is?

  24. Shayna O'Neill

    This post seems to have developed into a BS suggestion box. If it ain’t broke (pun intended) don’t fix it. My tuppence worth – perhaps, it’s a tad Dublin-centric – Tyrone is the capital of 9 counties and should be featured a lot more. Seán O’Casey was a Tyronian, also Sam Neil, both from Killyclogher to name two.

  25. Pat

    Bodger I see you deleted both my comments there. I thought all that was common knowledge. I’m not the first to say it but Very sorry – no offence meant

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