August 5, 2010
There I Said It
Ryan O'Connor - Good DJ. Weak Columnist.
This has been bothering me for a while now. Independent Online Newspapers have really been pushing the fact that KFM DJ Ryan O’Connor writes an exclusive column for their website every Friday (see here). They have banner adverts on their website, and they even have regular print adverts in the newspapers. And after reading some of his stuff, I kind of have to wonder why?
Look, I’m not really a huge fan of his, nor do I have an axe to grind with him. When I hear him on the radio he sounds decent enough, and I’ve heard from various people that he is a pretty stand up guy.
But his columns?
Weak and pointless.
It just seems to be a platform for him to talk about the free stuff he received over the previous 7 days, and name drop some more products and brands. Even worse than his columns though, is the fact that IOL first moderated, than completely disabled the comments functionality on his most recent posts, after several people began questioning why he was being so heavily advertised when his columns were so consistently poor.
Read one of his most recent columns below to see why.
|
Suite Times – Written By Ryan O’Connor The O’Connor Suite on the 8th floor will now be one of my residences in the Mother City. It has magnificent views of the city and the Atlantic Ocean. Feel free to pop in and take a look when you’re in the area. Just tell Gary I sent you. This week I hosted the SA Cricket Awards Gala dinner with the stunning Kass Naidoo at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. The function was superb, if I do say so myself. The slick event was held to crown the best cricketers in the country. But it was also a chance to catch up with some the guys I hadn’t seen in a while. I’m impressed with how slim and trim our cricketers are looking. A few years ago, it looked like the guys were filling out their shirts a wee bit too much. But they look in good form at the moment. Well done to Hashim Amla who walked away with the most awards on the evening. He’s had a great season with the bat. A highlight of the week was managing to finally get my grubby paws on the latest iPad from my friends at Digicape. They aren’t officially in the country as yet but a travelling staff member brought one in for me. The one I have is the 64 gig 3G version and it works perfectly with a Vodacom micro-sim. I must say that I was a little sceptical as to how this would would replace the new 15-inch Macbook Pro i7 Digicape gave me a few months back. Did I really need one to make my life easier? The answer is a simple yes. The iPad is the most important innovation of the past year. For one, it’s the perfect size to travel with and really easy to operate. This week I had to do my breakfast show from Joburg, with email, internet access and document viewer a necessity for the broadcast. And they were all just a touch away with the iPad’s touchscreen. I also used the device during the live broadcast of the SA Cricket Awards. It doubled as a live tele-prompter clipboard (the machine which houses and rolls the script for presenters during tv shows) and a connection between live Tweets we received during the show. Although it certainly won’t ever replace the Macbook Pro I have and use on a daily basis it will allow me to do some of my daily activities on the move. In fact, I am writing this column on the iPad as my flight to Cape Town cruises above Bloemfontein. I was supposed to watching the Tour De France with Oakley SA this week but due to prior commitments I couldn’t make it. I have however been promised a yellow jersey! I’ll post a picture when it arrives. I’m going in search of some snow this weekend in Ceres and then heading to Franschhoek for some wine tasting with friends. Last weekend they celebrated Bastille Day at the festival so I am hoping this weekend is a tad quieter. I’ll also be getting out onto the golf course next week with Dave Murray, director of golf at Pearl Valley and Andrew Kalis from Taylormade to sort out my swing and let off a little steam. There is just something strangely soothing about whacking a golf ball. |
Thanks. For. That.
Seriously though, am I slightly bitter that he has a paid writing gig and I don’t?
Possibly.
Am I right in saying Ryan O’Connor’s columns are more than a little weak though?
I think so.
Do you agree?
Let’s hear your thoughts.
Oakes signing off.
Jeepers, that has got to be THE worst writing in the world! I actually am shocked…don’t really know what to say other than well spotted. Because I don’t read the newspapers anymore, they are so super boring.
@Sean,
I KNOW, right?
Thing is, I find myself so morbidly curious that I keep coming back to read what he has to say next.
It’s quite the train wreck.
Call me a grammar nazi. But every time he wrote a sentence like this is was physically painful to read.
Jesus, that was painful! I can’t believe they let somebody like that anywhere near a newspaper column.
In his defence it probably wasn’t his idea to write a column, and some over eager PR nutjob has forced him into this, and he’s doing the best he can? (Grief, I hope this is the reason – just call me optimist-girl)
I do find it kind of disjointed, and there is nothing wrong with disjointed if it’s funny, but that’s like watching someone else’s holiday videos. It may have been awesome for them, but you feel like killing yourself somewhere between the sand castle and the horseback riding.
ps. I lost you somewhere in my computer upgrade, I’ve missed you so.
I agree with Kerryn. Although it is a little mindless I think that’s what IOL wanted from him. He is a great guy who generally means well so I doubt that it’s harming anyone. I read them for the same reason I’ll open up a You mag or Heat mag. It might not be everyones cup of tea but it is appealing to a certain market obviously.
Well that was a minute in my life I’ll never get back! Really?! There was no continuous story-line or maybe I was half asleep by the time it all came together. Definitely agree Shaun, you’d do a much better job! I would totally organize a protest in you favour, although being in Nam I doubt whether the locals would understand, or allow me to passionately march up and down the street with a banner, chanting your name! :)
Keep up the awesome work though!
That read like my Standard 2 diary….
I see he didnt write a column thisweek…
Maybe they finally got the message that he is a kak writer?
mmmmm… yeah right!
Although we enjoy your blog Mr.Oakes, Ryan does have a large media following: FACT. I’m afraid it’s the same reason why we have the same old faces on TV etc. He might not be that great at writing but he draws the numbers, something that you will take much longer to do (wish it didn’t have to be like this).
Media people live under the spotlight all the time and thrive on people either ranting or raving about them because either way it’s publicity.
My 2cents worth is you’ve given this too much time of your day and IOL will love the fact that you’re talking (however good or bad) about it.
ryan dit is tweede oggend wat jy uitgevang word maar ek likes nog steeds jou shows
Hennie, he uitgevanged you lekker there. Ryan is smart like that, he got like 60 on his IQ
TO RYAN O’CONNOR HE HAS A COUSIN IN TOWN AT THIS TIME THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OF. WOULD LIKE HIM TO CONTACT HER BEFORE SHE RETURNS HOME,